ROWVA/Williamsfield among those seeking football playoff spots Friday
GALESBURG — The ROWVA/Williamsfield Cougars are poised to qualify for their first playoff spot in four seasons at 7 p.m. Friday.
ROWVA/Williamsfield, 4-2 and 3-1 in the Lincoln Trail Conference will host 1-5, 0-5 United in a league game.
In an 8-game schedule, a win would clinch an IHSA playoff spot that traditionally goes to 5-win teams.
It would put the Cougars in the postseason for the first time since 2018 under then-coach Gary Denhart.
It would be a first trip for fourth-year coach Grant Gullstrand.
"We had a couple of goals for the season," Gullstrand said.
"Looking past United isn't part of getting in but it's one of the goals we had.
"They (United) were beating Knoxville at the half and they played a couple of other teams close.
"They beat us last year. At one point it was 40-8 in the fourth quarter.
"We can't overlook anybody."
On the brink of a 3-0 start this season, R/W slipped with a 50-27 loss to Macomb on Sept. 9, but have shown resilience since.
The Cougars bounced back to beat Princeville 30-18 the following week. Then after falling to Mercer County 48-28, they downed Stark County 34-13.
They posted some impressive statistics in that game, including a 20-for-25 passing performance with 203 yards and two touchdowns by quarterback Riley Danner and 122 rushing yards and a TD from Bryan Bertlsofer.
"We're playing pretty well, except for the Mercer County game where we didn't play well," Gullstrand said.
"We've played good complementary football with our running game and our passing game.
"Our offensive line has done a phenomenal job all season. We've scored over 27 points in every game all season.
"We've just got to make sure we carry on and build off it this week."
Among other Galesburg-area teams playing Friday, 4-2 Knoxville is hosting Carthage and 4-3 Monmouth-Roseville is also seeking playoff eligibility at Erie Prophetstown.
Galesburg-area football this week:
Friday's games
Abingdon-Avon (1-5) at Princeville (2-4), 7 p.m.
Carthage (3-3) at Knoxville (4-2), 7 p.m.
Monmouth-Roseville (4-3 at Erie-Prophetstown (3-3), 7 p.m.
Galva (2-4) at Ashton-Franklin Center (3-3), 7 p.m.
Saturday's games
West Central (6-0) at Milledgeville (4-2), 1 p.m.
Amboy-LaMoille (5-1) at Bushnell-Prairie City (2-4) 2 p.m.
Williams Bay, Wis. (0-3) at Ridgewood (5-1), 7 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: IHSA football playoffs: ROWVA/Williamsfield, Knoxville, M-R Titans
