EDWARDSVILLE — The O’Fallon Panthers moved closer to a berth in the expanded playoffs with a 17-13 victory over Edwardsville on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, marking a milestone in the football program’s three-year comeback.
The road victory was O’Fallon’s fourth win, a threshold Panthers’ Head Coach Joe Speaks said would secure a postseason spot.
“That fourth win is what guarantees you a playoff spot,” Speaks said after the victory, “so, that’s a big deal for us, trying to get the program rolling in the right direction. It was a big win for the kids tonight. I can’t say how proud I am of these kids.”
Speaks said the contest reflected the physical play and difficult matchups teams expect in the Southwestern Conference.
“When you play in our conference, the games are going to be tough,” Speaks said. “Even when teams seem like they’re down a little bit, they’ve got guys, and it’s always physical, it’s always tough. So, it’s the expectation.”
The Panthers face Belleville East next as they look to continue improving and prepare for the postseason should they qualify.
“We just have to keep getting better,” Speaks said. “We play Belleville East next week; our whole thing is we just try to get the kids to do their job each and every play, and get better. We have to keep working, keep grinding.”
