The Panthers will look to return to the playoffs for the third straight season after posting a 6-4 record last year with an opening round playoff loss to Aurora Christian.
EP will host four games and travel for the other five. All home games will be played in Prophetstown with the exception of any home playoff games, which would be played in Erie due to field requirements.
The season opens on Friday, August 21st as the Panthers will face a tough test out of the gate as they host Monmouth-Roseville. The following week finds the Panthers in Mendota with a second home game against Kewanee in week three. The only Saturday game of the regular season will take place on September 12th with EP traveling to Sterling to take on the Newman Comets. Week five has the Panthers hosting Orion followed by a trip to Rockridge in week six. October has the Panthers hosting Mercer County on the 2nd with the regular season wrapping up with a pair of road trips to Riverdale and Hall.
All EP home games will be played in Prophetstown this season.
EP Panther 2026 Football Schedule
Fri. Aug. 21 vs Monmouth-Roseville 7PM
Fri. Aug. 28 @ Mendota 7PM
Fri. Sept. 4 vs Kewanee 7PM
Sat. Sept. 12 @ Newman 1PM
Fri. Sept. 18th vs Orion 7PM (Homecoming)
Fri. Sept. 25 @ Rockridge 7PM
Fri. Oct. 2 vs Mercer County 7PM
Fri. Oct. 9 @ Riverdale 7PM
Fri. Oct 16 @ Hall 7PM
Fri.-Sat. Oct 23-24 Opening Round Playoffs
Following last season the IHSA proposed expanding the playoffs by adding sixteen additional teams to each class. The proposal passed 377-252 with 96 school expressing no opinion. The proposal also included moving the season up one week, adding an extra round of playoffs.
The new “Opening Round” of playoffs as they will be called will begin October 23rd with the top 16 seeded teams in each class receiving byes. The state finals will be held at Illinois State University on November 27th-28th.
AroundPtown.com will once again be providing weekly conversations with head coach Tyler Whitebread with complete game coverage and highlights following each contest.
Three Rivers Conference Schedules
