EDWARDSVILLE – Edwardsville opened its 2026 football season with a 28-7 loss to Kankakee Friday night, Aug. 21, 2026, at Tiger Stadium.
The Kays finished last season 7-4 and made it to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs, while the Tigers wound up at 4-6 and lost in the first round of the Class 7A tournament.
Kankakee concluded an 11-play, 68-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown run by Kymabi Billings late in the first quarter to give the Kays a 6-0 lead after missing the conversion.
Edwardsville struck back in the second quarter on a one-yard run by Cohen Followell to give the Tigers their only lead 7-6. Kankakee immediately scored on the next drive on a 10-yard pass from Phil Turner to Isaiah Robinson to give the Kays a 12-7 halftime lead.
On the second play from scrimmage in the second half, an Edwardsville player was tackled in the end zone for a safety to make it 14-7 for Kankakee. The Kays got two more touchdowns from Billings to make the final 28-7.
Edwardsville opens at 0-1 and plays at Jackson, Mo., next Friday at 7 p.m.
