Week 5 of the Illinois high school football season includes a move deeper into conference play, and clinching playoff spots.
Three Peoria-area teams – El Paso-Gridley, Macomb and Dunlap – have all reached four victories and clinched an IHSA postseason berth.
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On the conference rivalry front, Peoria Notre Dame is at undefeated Normal West on Friday night in the Big 12.
In the Mid-Illini Conference, Morton (3-1, 2-0) is at undefeated and state-ranked Dunlap.
There is a full slate of games from teams in the Peoria area.
Here is the Journal Star preps experience for Week 5, your one-stop shop as we look around the Peoria-area football landscape in the fifth week of the 2026 high school season:
Watch IHSA football games on NFHS Network all season
The Week 5 schedule for Peoria area teams can be found by tapping here.
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Check out the live-updated scores for Week 5 right here.
Four is the magic number for football teams in the IHSA in 2026.
Under the state’s new playoff system, four victories will earn a team a trip to the postseason.
Three teams from the Peoria area had already earned playoff berths before Week 5 kickoff on Friday night.
El Paso-Gridley, Macomb and Dunlap are in. There could be more as the night moves on in Week 5 action, and we’ll track them here.
Who’s gonna win? Check out Adam Duvall‘s picks for Week 5, all in one place by tapping right here.
Check out the Illinois state rankings heading into Week 5 action by tapping here.
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Tap right here to see how the Peoria-area teams stack up.
The Journal Star’s Adam Duvall delivers his four takeaways from Week 4 of the 2026 prep football season in the Peoria area. Just tap here to see them.
More: How an Illini commit helped Morton snap rival’s 27-game league win streak in Week 4 prep football
More: ‘That was awesome’: How Dunlap’s QB handles strike zone and red zone to deliver victory
More: ‘My year’: East Peoria running back makes name for himself in team record book
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Illinois high school football recap: Peoria-area highlights from IHSA Week 5
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