The road to the 2026 high school football season continued this week as Rochester hosted a competitive 7-on-7 and lineman competition featuring several of the area’s top programs.
Teams took the field to evaluate new talent, build chemistry, and fine-tune both offensive and defensive schemes before the start of fall camp. With plenty of new faces stepping into larger roles, the event provided an early glimpse at what fans can expect this season.
ILSportsWire was on hand highlighting several standout programs, including Rochester, Quincy, Mahomet-Seymour, and Morton. Every session featured competitive matchups, with quarterbacks and receivers finding rhythm while defensive units tested themselves against high-powered offenses. In the trenches, the lineman competition showcased the strength, technique, and physicality that will be key throughout the season.
While the scoreboard wasn’t the focus, the intensity and effort were evident from every program in attendance. Coaches had the opportunity to evaluate their teams against quality competition, and players gained valuable experience as preparations continue for Week 1.
It was an outstanding way to begin the 2026-27 football season, and if this week’s competition was any indication, fans are in for an exciting fall.
Rochester’s Khordell Gregory gets over to make the TD grab. #ilswrochester
Watch the adjustment that Khordell Gregory makes to secure this TD. Impressive from the junior from Rochester
Khornell Gregory with the TD snag in the championship for Rochester. #ilswrochester
JP Leonard with a DIME to Khordell Gregory for Rochester. #ilswrochester
Rochester with the SNAG for the TD in the championship #ilswrochester
Rochester lineman battle it out. #ilswrochester
Rochester’s JP Leonard squeezes this ball in for the TD to Eli Cox. BEAUTY.
Rochester with the lockdown defense #ilswrochester
Khornell Gregory gets UP to make the interception in the championship. #ilswrochester
Khordell Gregory with an IMPRESSIVE TD in the corner of the endzone for Rochester.
Eli Cox with the TD in the corner for Rochester. #ilswrochester
Quincy with a smooth catch over the middle.
Quincy with a NICE TD.
Morton with a SWEET TD in the corner
Morton Potters with a great TD catch in the endzone. #mortonil
Morton Lineman working hard today. #mortonil
Morton with the INT in the endzone. #mortonil
Mahomet with the smooth TD across the middle of the endzone. #ilswmahomet
Mahomet-Seymour with some great defense. #ilswmahomet-seymour
Mahomet-Seymour with a GREAT GRAB. #ilswmahomet-seymour
Mahomet-Seymour QB rolling out of the pocket throws a DIME TD
Mahomet-Seymour receiver shows off the wheels to score a TD up the middle. #Ilswmahomet-seymour
What a READ for the interception by the Quincy defender. #quincyil
Quincy with the great defense in the seconday. #quincyil