Football Game Preview: Champaign Central Maroons vs. Danville Vikings + How To Watch

Champaign Central hasn't had much luck against Danville recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Maroons will face off against the Vikings at 7:00 p.m. Champaign Central will be strutting in after a win while Danville will be coming in after a loss.

Champaign Central proved they can win big last Friday (they won by 46) and on Friday they proved they can win the close ones too. They had just enough and edged out Richwoods 17-14. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Maroons have posted since September 27, 2024.

Ziyir Aker

Rushing Yards

09/26/25 vs Richwoods	142
09/19/25 @ Urbana	62
09/12/25 vs Peoria Notre Dame	195
09/05/25 vs Centennial	80
08/28/25 vs Springfield	42

Champaign Central's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Ziyir Aker, who rushed for 142 yards and one TD. With that strong performance, Aker is now averaging an impressive 104.2 rushing yards per game. Wyatt Christensen also helped out with an impressive 98 receiving yards.

Another reason for the win was Champaign Central's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank two different players for their defensive prowess: Maurice Dominick and David Ward, who each picked up one sack apiece. Dominick was another major factor on D, picking up a sack and making seven total tackles (3.0 for loss).

Meanwhile, Danville fell victim to Crete-Monee and their airtight defense on Friday. They were outmatched by the Warriors and fell 51-0. The contest marked the first time this season in which the Vikings were not able to get on the board.

Champaign Central's victory ended a three-game drought at home and bumped them up to 2-3. As for Danville, their defeat dropped their record down to 1-4.

Champaign Central couldn't quite get it done against Danville when the teams last played back in October of 2024 as they fell 44-31. Can the Maroons avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.