When the Northern Illinois Big 12 Conference began play in 2010, the league had the makings of a great football conference.

Especially in the league’s East Division.

In the East, there’s the strong tradition of schools such as Morris, a playoff fixture nearly every year and winner of three state championships, the latest coming in 2005. Joe Thorgeson built Kaneland into a power, won state titles in 1997 and 1998 and handed the keys to Tom Fedderly in 2007. The past two seasons, Kaneland has knocked on Champaign’s door, falling in the state semifinals.