The 2023 high school football season continued Friday across Peoria.

Each week, the Journal Star takes a look at the top-performing teams and players from weekend games in the Peoria area. Players from Dee-Mack, Eureka and Washington lead our list for Week 8.

Deer Creek-Mackinaw defense

The Chiefs kept El Paso-Gridley from scoring three times inside the 20 and held on for a season-saving 16-8 road victory on Friday. Dee-Mack is now 4-4 and can clinch a playoff berth next week with a victory over Colfax Ridgeview/Lexington. Brent Denniston (92 rushing yards) and Max Eccles (109 receiving yards) each had a TD for the Chiefs.

Week 8 coverage: All the scores | Recap | Takeaways | Morton wins | Peoria High, too

Mason Boles, Eureka

The running back set a pair of school records, rushing for 434 yards and seven touchdowns as the Hornets defeated Colfax Ridgeview/Lexington 54-20 on Friday night. The Hornets (5-3) also set a team mark with 518 rushing yards while becoming playoff-eligible.

Tyler Humphrey, Washington

The Panthers quarterback was accurate and effective on a rainy night at Babcook Field, connecting on 7 of 8 passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns during a 48-3 win over Canton. His TD tosses were to Kainon McQueary, Brayson Barth and Ian Nettles. The Panthers (7-1, 6-0) will face Morton (8-0, 6-0) for the Mid-Illini Conference title next weekend.

GB Kruzick, Morton

The senior was all over the field in Morton's 10-6 win over Dunlap. He had a 9-yard TD catch, then snagged a fourth-quarter interception. However, his biggest contribution came when his pass breakup with less than a minute to play secured the Potters victory, setting up a winner-take-all Mid-Illini Conference championship next week at Washington.

Jaiduan Cranford, Metamora

The running back rushed for 134 yards on eight carries and scored three touchdowns in a 62-46 shootout victory over East Peoria. He had two short TD runs before breaking off an 86-yarder to put Metamora up 48-16 late. The Redbirds (6-2), who ran for 353 yards in the game, have officially clinched their third consecutive playoff appearance and 36th overall in program history.

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Dalton Oakman, East Peoria

The Raiders quarterback ran for three short touchdowns and threw another — a 9-yard pass to Jeremiah Boatright — as EP (2-6, 1-5) set a record for most points scored against rival Metamora in a 62-46 loss to the Redbirds at EastSide Centre. EP added a defensive score from David Hartwell — a 65-yard fumble return — and an 81-yard kickoff return from Jaiden Seelye in the loss.

Maliek Ross, Peoria High

The running back rolled up 234 yards rushing and three touchdowns to help Peoria High (6-2) shake off Normal West, 62-41, on a rainy night at Peoria High. Quarterback Tino Gist added 233 pass yards and four touchdowns through the air, his top targets being Jaivyn Moore (5 catches, 132 yards, 3 TDs) and TQ Webb (6 catches, 79 yards, TD).

Bo Windish, Elmwood/Brimfield

The running back ran for 95 yards on 16 carries and had the game-winning score to help Elmwood/Brimfield (3-5) to a 22-14 victory over Abingdon-Avon. Windish's 29-yard touchdown run at the 3:55 mark of the third quarter broke a 14-14 tie. Windish also added a pair of two-point conversions.

Elijah Endress and Cameron Lemons, Bureau Valley

The duo ran for a combined 301 yards to lead the Storm past Aurora Central Catholic, 67-19. Lemons had 165 yards on 12 carries, while Endress finished with 136 yards on 21.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Week 8 Illinois high school top performers from around Peoria