Matt Daniels

FITHIAN — Jesse Johnson won't win a game for the Oakwood football team this season. But the Comets don't win any games this season without the assistance of Johnson.

➜ The Bulldogs (3-0) play at Taylorville (2-1) at 7 p.m. on Friday and are one of seven area programs in the Top 10 of their respective class.

Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what's going on around the area: Three reasons we love sports today

With an expanded playoff field this season, Sports Editor Matt Daniels expands The News-Gazette's weekly high school football rankings from a Top 10 poll to a Top 25 poll.

Bunnies pick up seventh straight win. Other notable feats: Zumarraga nets hat trick for Champaign Central boys' soccer, Westville boys' golf continues superb season and Sanders delivers again for Monticello

➜ . The duo is our latest winners of The News-Gazette's high school Athletes of the Week. Read more about the pair Monday at our website and in Tuesday's print edition.

TOLONO — Lane McKinney is the St. Joseph-Ogden quarterback. Who played like, well, a linebacker on Friday night. Like a linebacker with a vintage neck roll.

➜ . The former Illinois men's tennis player who helped the Illini win the 2003 NCAA title announced his retirement from tennis on Thursday after his run at the U.S.

In boys' soccer Cornjerker Classic At Hoopeston. Monticello defeated Oakwood/Salt Fork 2-0 in the championship game to give the Sages the tournament title.

Other notable feats: Monticello boys' soccer wins Cornjerker Classic, Clinton boys' cross-country wins marquee race at Detweiller and O'Donnell shines in the pool for Mahomet-Seymour