Round 3 | Forreston vs Princeville Preview
Forreston -
The IHSA quarterfinals take place this weekend, where the #3 ranked Forreston Cardinals will play host to the Princeville Princes. The winner of this game will advance to the semifinals and play for a chance to make the trip to DeKalb. This is the first time these two teams have ever met.
The Class 1A playoffs have once again been dominated by the NUIC, as they placed 5 teams into the 2nd round, only having the opportunity of 3 teams advancing, and the NUIC conference tournament continues on.
The Cardinals are the only NUIC team to advance this far without going through a conference opponent, but a win here Saturday will change that. Forreston is making their 7th trip to the quarterfinals in school history, with this being their 5th trip to the quarterfinals in the last 7 seasons. This game will also mark their 5th game in the last 6 seasons against a Lincoln Trail opponent, as they have played Stark County 4 times in the previous 5 seasons. Forreston comes into this quarterfinal match-up with a 3-3 record in quarterfinal games, winning their last two trips on their way to state titles in 2014 and 2016. Forreston has looked the part of a defending state champion, as their only blemish on the season came in week 2 against conference rival Lena-Winslow, where they lost 28-14. Since then, the Cardinals have been rolling, and have faced arguably the toughest draw in the 1A North playoffs.
Princeville has taken a more adventurous route to the quarterfinals, both in travel and game excitement. The Princes are making their 5th trip to the quarterfinals in school history, and this is their first appearance since 1985, where they lost 6-0 to Hamilton. Princeville comes into the game with a 1-2 record against the NUIC in the playoffs, where that lone win came just two weeks ago in Dakota in double overtime. Princeville is 2-2 in quarterfinal games, with their last win coming in the 1979 playoffs. The Princes were rolling early in the season, as they jumped out to a 5-0 start before being set back by conference foe Annawan-Wethersfield 14-6 in week 6. They closed the season with another loss to Mercer County 26-13 in week 9, which moved them from hosting a 1st round game to sending them on the road to Dakota. After the upset of Dakota, they got their revenge on the Titans of Annawan-Wethersfield, as they won another overtime game to give them their opportunity this weekend.
Forreston Cardinals 10-1
Conference: NUIC Northwest
State Titles: 2014, 2016
Playoff Record: 26-20
Trips to Playoffs: 23
Consecutive: 8
Points/Game For: 41
Points/Game Against: 11
How They Got Here:
1st Round: Won 50-14 Salt Fork
2nd Round: Won 30-6 Fulton
Princeville Princes 9-2
Conference: Lincoln Trail
State Runner-Up: 1975
Playoff Record: 15-19
Trips to Playoffs: 20
1st trip since 2015: Lost 55-14 Le-Win 1st Round
Points/Game For: 38
Points/Game Against: 11
How They Got Here:
1st Round: Won 27-24 Dakota 2 OT
2nd Round: Won 21-20 Annawan-Wethersfield OT
Predictions:
Calpreps: Forreston 38 Princeville 14
Massey: Forreston 41 Princeville 7