​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.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 seasonHere’s where to find the Week 5 scheduleThe Week 5 schedule for Peoria area teams can be found by tapping here.Here are the live scores for Week 5Check out the live-updated scores for Week 5 right here.It is playoff clinching timeFour 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.Don’t forget IHSA flag footballThe IHSA put out its playoff pairings for girls flag football on Friday, and there are three Peoria-area teams in the field.Richwoods is seeded No. 3 in the Richwoods Regional and will play No. 13 Hillsboro on Tuesday, Sept. 29.Peoria High School is the No. 7 seed in the Edwardsville Regional and will face No. 10 Belleville West on Tuesday, Sept. 29.Manual is No. 14 seed at Edwardsville, and faces No. 4 Belleville East on Wednesday, Sept. 30.IHSA football picks and predictions for Week 5Who’s gonna win? Check out Adam Duvall’s picks for Week 5, all in one place by tapping right here.Who are the best of the best? State rankingsCheck out the Illinois state rankings heading into Week 5 action by tapping here.Peoria-area football power rankingsTap right here to see how the Peoria-area teams stack up.Takeaways from Week 4The 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 footballMore: ‘That was awesome’: How Dunlap’s QB handles strike zone and red zone to deliver victoryMore: ‘My year’: East Peoria running back makes name for himself in team record bookDavis scores again08:55 PM ET, September 18 2026, Dave EminianThe Potters force Dunlap into a quick three-and-out and take the ball back.Potters hammer it down the field for a 14-0 lead with 13:50 left when Isaac Davis takes a draw, breaks through contact at the line and then runs through a tackler at the 10 on the way to a 22-yard scori