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Football: Previewing the area's first-round playoff matchups

Here is a preview of the area's first-round playoff matchups.

Class 8A No. 18 Glenbard West (7-2) at No. 15 Bartlett (7-2) When: 7 p.m. Friday The skinny: The Hilltoppers' Week 8 loss to Oak Park-River Forest cost them a home game, but the program was in the same spot two years ago and won at Neuqua Valley. Glenbard West will ride its defense, and talented back Tyquan Cox, who is already over 1,000 yards on the season. Bartlett's level of competition in the Upstate Eight is a bit suspect. Senior quarterback Jonah O'Brien, who moved to Bartlett from Wisconsin this year and has thrown for close to 1,500 yards, has the Hawks and first-year coach Matt Erlenbaugh in the playoffs for the first time since 2015. A second-round date with Lincoln-Way East looms for the winner. (David Toney)

By Joshua Welge

Class 8A No. 18 Glenbard West (7-2) at No. 15 Bartlett (7-2) When: 7 p.m. Friday The skinny: The Hilltoppers' Week 8 loss to Oak Park-River Forest cost them a home game, but the program was in the same spot two years ago and won at Neuqua Valley. Glenbard West will ride its defense, and talented back Tyquan Cox, who is already over 1,000 yards on the season. Bartlett's level of competition in the Upstate Eight is a bit suspect. Senior quarterback Jonah O'Brien, who moved to Bartlett from Wisconsin this year and has thrown for close to 1,500 yards, has the Hawks and first-year coach Matt Erlenbaugh in the playoffs for the first time since 2015. A second-round date with Lincoln-Way East looms for the winner. (David Toney)

Class 8A No. 24 Conant (6-3) at No. 9 Hinsdale Central (7-2) When: 1 p.m. Saturday. The skinny: The Red Devils have rebounded well from a Week 7 loss to Glenbard West. Matt Bobak, with over 800 rushing yards on the season, ran for 160 and two touchdowns in a Week 9 win over Hinsdale South. Matt Rush has thrown for close to 1,000. Conant, meanwhile, has bounced back from winning just one game over the last two seasons to win a share of the Mid-Suburban West and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2015. (David Toney)

Class 7A No. 25 Andrew (6-3) at No. 8 Nazareth (8-1) When: 1 p.m. Saturday What to watch: Roadrunners, who reached last year's Class 6A final, make foray into 7A bracket. Prolific Nazareth offense averaging 37.6 points per game is led by sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who has thrown for 1,929 yards despite playing only one half in six of nine games. Two-way starter Michael Love is one of the Roadrunners' many standouts. Quarterback Tom Schiller pilots Andrew's option offense. Two of Andrew's three losses are to 8A heavyweights Lincoln-Way East and Homewood-Flossmoor.

Class 7A No. 21 Benet (6-3) at No. 12 Maine West (8-1) When: 7 p.m. Friday The skinny: A rematch of last year's first-round game, which the Redwings won on the road 35-13 to spring them to their second straight Class 7A semifinal appearance. Benet, led by junior quarterback Colin Gillespie who has thrown for over 1,100 yards, is battle-tested in the East Suburban Catholic. Maine West has never won a playoff game. (Eric Ginnard)

Class 7A No. 19 Belleville West (7-2) at No. 14 Wheaton Warrenville South (8-1) When: 6 p.m. Friday The skinny: Traditionally strong Tigers have bounced back from three straight 2-7 seasons to return to the playoffs in their first year in the DuKane Conference. Noah Henkel has thrown for over 1,100 yards, but WW South's calling card is a strong, opportunistic defense led by Joe Ives and Jack Kelly that has allowed just 53 points in its eight wins. Belleville, on the other hand, averages over 40 points per game – but its two best wins are against 5-4 teams Alton and Granite City. Belleville is in the playoffs for the seventh straight year, but has just one win to show for it. Belleville sophomore wide receiver Dominic Lovett, who caught a school-record five touchdown passes from Jackson McCloskey against Belleville East, has broken school records for TD receptions in a season (23) and receiving yards (947). Illinois recruit Keith Randolph anchors Belleville defensive line. (Karen Naess)

Class 7A No. 31 Prospect (5-4) at No. 2 Glenbard East (9-0) When: 7 p.m. Friday The skinny: The Rams, led by senior quarterback Bret Bushka, are one of the year's best stories. This is Glenbard East's first playoff appearance since 1999, and it posted its first unbeaten regular season since 1965. Bushka has thrown for over 1,800 yards and 21 touchdowns. Jeremy Johnson, with over 40 catches and 16 TDs, is his top threat. Prospect, outscored on the season, sneaked in the playoffs with close wins over Wheeling and Elk Grove Village. Jimmy Martin ran for 115 yards and threw two TDs in Week 9. (Erica Benson)

Class 7A No. 28 Lincoln Park (5-4) at No. 5 Willowbrook (9-0) When: 6 p.m. Friday The skinny: The Warriors, despite graduating Suburban Life Player of the Year Jack Jessen off last year's Class 6A quarterfinalist, still put together their first 9-0 regular season since 1975. Junior quarterback Sam Tumilty, who has thrown for over 1,600 yards and run for over 1,000, leads Willowbrook's playmakers. Lincoln Park is making its fourth straight playoff appearance, but last won a postseason game in 2008. Dane Romberger leads a balanced offense with 23 catches and five touchdowns. (David Toney)

Class 6A No. 14 Lemont (5-4) at No. 3 Chatham-Glenwood (8-1) When: 7 p.m. Oct. 26 The skinny: The Indians needed wins the last two weeks to secure their 14th playoff appearance in 15 years. Josh Pack scored two touchdowns in Week 9 to help carry a Lemont offensive attack that was well-balanced. Quarterback Luke Bailey added a rushing touchdown and threw to Anthony Sambucci for another score. Alex Tagler also ran for 83 yards with an touchdown for Lemont. Chatham-Glenwood's only loss was in Week 9 to Class 4A title contender Rochester. The Titans, making their 16th straight playoff appearance, are led by junior quarterback Luke Lehnen has thrown for 1,236 yards and 20 touchdowns with just two interceptions, and also run for 739 yards and 15 TDs. Class 6A No. 12 Hinsdale South (6-3) at No. 5 Prairie Ridge (7-2) When: 1 p.m. Saturday. The skinny: A tough draw for the Hornets against the defending Class 6A champs. Fortunately, Samson Evans is now at Iowa. Hinsdale's Marquese Garrett is a talented runner with over 800 yards on the year. Jackson Willis, who had 185 yards rushing and three TDs, is a name to watch for a Prairie Ridge offense that averages 42.3 points per game. (David Toney)

Class 5A No. 14 Glenbard South (5-4) at Rockford Boylan (8-1) When: 1 p.m. Saturday The skinny: Raiders needed a Week 9 win to bounce back from three-game losing streak and reach playoffs for eighth straight year. Tavion Keith, with over 40 caches on the season, is the favorite target of quarterback Nick Plaso. Boylan, making its 32nd playoff appearance, has outscored its opponents by a 30-point average. Caleb Henderson, who ran for over 1,000 yards as a junior, has added linebacker to his duties and leads a much-improved defense that's given up just 8.7 points per game. Class 5A No. 11 Amundsen (5-4) at No. 6 St. Francis (7-2) When: 7 p.m. Friday The skinny: Great turnaround season in Wheaton, as the Spartans are back in the playoffs after back-to-back 1-8 seasons. Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, with over 1,000 yards passing, is a big reason why with playmakers like Henry Plamondon. Amundsen is making its first postseason appearance since 1976. Class 5A No. 13 Woodstock North (5-4) at No. 4 Montini (8-1) When: 1 p.m. Saturday The skinny: Broncos enter playoffs off rough Week 9 loss to Brother Rice, but their success in the first year in the Catholic League Blue would seem to bode well. Illinois recruit Nick Fedanzo, who has run for close to 800 yards, and Nate Muersch, who has caught seven touchdowns, are among a host of playmakers for rotating quarterbacks Deontay Bell and Robert Brazziel. Woodstock North has one playoff win in the 10-year history of the program. Ed Flores has run for 878 yards and nine TDs. (Erica Benson)

Class 4A No. 16 Chicago Raby (5-4) at No. 1 IC Catholic Prep (9-0) When: 7 p.m. Oct. 26. The skinny: The Knights, two-time defending Class 3A state champions, make the step up to 4A. By the looks of ICCP's sixth unbeaten regular season, it looks ready. Sophomore running back Kyle Franklin has run for 1,297 yards and 22 touchdowns. Khalil Saunders has thrown for 1,063 yards and 12 TDs. Kevin Cooke, with 100 tackles, leads the defense. Raby, last year's Class 4A runner-up, is no layup first-round game. Wide receiver Marshawn Foster, a 6-foot-4 Western Michigan recruit, is one to watch. Cornerback Romel Goston is committed to NIU. Class 4A No. 15 Wheaton Academy (5-4) at No. 2 Coal City (8-1) When: 7 p.m. Friday The skinny:The Warriors, who just missed the playoffs last year, return for their fourth appearance. They'll face a rugged defense, as the Coalers give up just 6.2 points per game – fewest in the 4A bracket. Noah Jones is the favorite target of Warriors' quarterback Noah Thorson, who has thrown for over 1,500 yards. (Karen Naess)