Football Game Preview: Salem Wildcats vs. Freeburg Midgets + How To Watch

Two dominant backs in Trey Clark and Cooper Kisgen are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Salem Wildcats will face off against the Freeburg Midgets at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The squads are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Salem has struggled recently with three losses in a row, while Freeburg will arrive with three straight victories.

On Friday, Salem was just a hair shy of victory and fell 7-6 to Columbia. While losing is never fun, the Wildcats can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Illinois football rankings (they are ranked 313th, while the Eagles are ranked 148th).

Meanwhile, Freeburg got themselves on the board against East Alton-Wood River on Friday, but East Alton-Wood River never followed suit. They blew past the Oilers 63-0. That looming 63-0 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Midgets yet this season.

Salem better keep an eye on James Thomas. He was instrumental in Freeburg's win, rushing for 80 yards and one TD.all of that, rushing production came thanks to one massive run Brady Kerr also helped with two touchdowns in total.

Freeburg was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 403 rushing yards. The team's really been improving in that area: they've now improved their rushing yard total in three consecutive games.

Freeburg didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Kerr and Kyle Stinchcomb.

Freeburg's record is now 6-1. As for Salem, their defeat dropped their record down to 2-5.

Salem might still be hurting after the 33-7 loss they got from Freeburg in their previous meeting back in October of 2024. That contest was all but decided by halftime, at which point the Wildcats were down 20-0.