Area prep football teams excited about ‘Week Zero’ games

PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD/WYZZ) — Washington’s Todd Stevens is in his first year as head coach of the Panthers.

He’ll have an opportunity his predecessors never had. He has a chance to play a preseason game.

“I told the seniors they have an extra week of football guaranteed with the Week Zero scrimmage,” Stevens said. “It’s great for the fans and the community.”

This summer high school football teams are playing 7-on-7 games without pads, blocking, or tackling. Then typically a week before the season starts, they’ll play brief intrasquad scrimmages.

But this year the Illinois High School Association is allowing teams play a Week Zero game in August. That is a game against an outside opponent, with players fully-padded and working the contest.

Washington will host Peoria High on Aug. 23. That’s the night most teams are playing these preseason games. Manual will travel to Canton that night.

“Guys can look against the friends in practice but we want to see what it looks like with the lights on and cameras rolling,” said Manual Dennis Bailey. “And see that’s going on there.”

Teams will get 12 offensive plays in the first half and 12 in the second half of these preseason games. There will be no kickoffs, punts or special teams plays.

“I want to see our athletes making plays under the lights against a different team. You get into a comfort zone, forcing yourself,” said Pekin coach Doug Nutter. “This will be goof to face adversity with another team out there. Compete, play fast and physical.”

Pekin will host Richwoods in a Week Zero game. Not every team is playing one of these preseason game’s this year but the schools that have them on the school think they are a great way to judge their teams before opening night.

“We wanted to pick somebody with top-caliber talent and Peoria High is the one we called first. They’ll come here (to play),” said Stevens. “It’ll be a good experience for both schools. We’re going to treat it like an extra game week.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CIProud.com.