The final week of the regular season is here for high school football. For the majority of seniors, this will be the last time they strap on the pads and play football.

For the players at Washington and Morton, they know they’re heading to the post season, but there’s still plenty on the line Friday night, including local bragging rights, in our main Red Zone Game of the Week presented by Illinois National Bank.

6-2, 5-1 Washington still has a shot at winning its third straight Mid Illini title. The Panthers need to win, then get help from a 5-3 Canton team (that just beat Morton last week) to upset 8-0 Dunlap in the finale. Washington would tie with Dunlap for the title in that scenario.

For 6-2, 4-2 Morton, the Potters have a chance to tie for second place in the MI standings with a victory over nearby Washington. Under second year head coach Tim Brilley, Morton is heading to the IHSA state playoffs for the first time in a half dozen years, on the heels of 3-win and no-win seasons.

Our Red Zone main game of the week from Morton will mark our first visit to Carper Field since the multi-million dollar renovation in 2015. Tony Johnson, Tyler Busch and I will be there for the call.

For the fourth time this season, Tom Meredith will be watching and calling play by play for the defending Class 5A state champion Peoria High Lions game. The Lions are playoff eligible with a 5-3 record, but need a sixth win to clinch a spot in the post season, a given for most fans at the start of the season. Peoria High hosts Galesburg, the only team to beat the Lions last year (in week 9), at the Stadium in our secondary games.

You can hear our Red Zone broadcast on the radio, of course, but also online at this site and with a smart phone anywhere by downloading our free station app.

The Red Zone Game of the Week Friday night begins with the pregame show at 7 pm…presented by Illinois National Bank on Peoria’s home for classic rock and football, 95.5, GLO.

Doc Watson