May 01, 2024
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Soucie: Class 8A semifinal breakdown

By Steve Soucie

IHSA Class 8A Football: Lincoln-Way East at Loyola Academy Loyola Academy running back Mike Regan (22) runs the ball behind a block by tight end Jack Fitzgerald (87) during the first quarter of an IHSA Class 8A quarterfinal football game at Loyola Academy High School on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. The Ramblers won, 3-0. (Daryl Quitalig for Shaw Local/Daryl Quitalig for Shaw Local)

It’s an interesting cross section of teams in the Class 8A field, with several teams that have made an impact at this level at various times over the last few years.

Any combination of the four teams could easily find themselves dueling for the title in DeKalb.

First round picks: 12-4

Second round picks: 5-3

Quarterfinal round picks: 3-1

Semifinal matchups

Lockport (11-1) at Loyola (12-0): On paper this looks like it might be a pretty epic defensive struggle. Loyola comes into the semifinal fresh off 3-0 win against one of the premier programs in the classification in Lincoln-Way East, while Lockport has played really strong defense throughout the entire season. The Ramblers have been working piecemeal offensively, but they always seem to find their way to the right side of things. Lockport, if it can find a way to buy some time against Loyola’s defensive line, has the components to put some points on the board.

Pick: Loyola

Maine South (11-1) at Marist (9-3): Maine South has living dangerously through multiple games in the postseason, but ultimately one doesn’t get style points for victories. Maine South had better not dig a hole against Marist though, as it has been very dynamic in the postseason and absolutely blasted its way into the semifinals with a rout in the quarterfinals over Glenbrook South, which Maine South didn’t have nearly as easy a time with when they met in the regular season.

Pick: Marist