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Here are the first-round matchups for each Herald News area team. Dates and times will be updated when confirmed.
Class 2A
Julian at Wilmington
When: TBD
About Julian: After losing their first game of the season, the Jaguars responded with five straight wins, including a forfeit. Julian lost its last two games of the season, including a double-overtime loss to Comer. The team scored at least 30 points during its winning streak.
About Wilmington The top-seeded Wildcats started the season strong with a 23-0 win and never looked back. Wilmington finished the season undefeated and won the Illinois Central Eight title. The rushing attack of Karsen Hansen, JT Mandac and Ryder Meents will be important for the Wildcats.
Class 3A
Peotone at Reed-Custer
When: TBD
About Peotone: The Blue Devils make it into the postseason with a 5-4 record. They started the season strong with three straight wins but lost its next two. Peotone rebounded with a big double-overtime win over Streator and earned a fifth win over Herscher. Peotone ended the season with a 28-14 loss to Lisle.
About Reed-Custer: The Comets’ lone loss of the season came against top-ranked Wilmington, a 21-14 loss. The team scored at least 42 points in each of its first five games of the season and scored 47, 33 and 49, respectively, in its last three games. The Comets beat the Blue Devils 42-6 in the regular season. Senior running back Elliot Cassem is a dominant back who can put up big yardage.
Class 4A
Marengo at Joliet Catholic
When: TBD
About Marengo: The Indians’ season started with a 23-0 loss to top-seed Wilmington, but they responded well, winning their next three games scoring at least 39 points. They were shut out 42-0 by Morris and lost a tight battle to Rochelle, but regrouped to win to beat Plano and Sandwich. The team ended the season with a 42-24 loss to Richmond-Burton.
About Joliet Catholic: The Hilltoppers have looked dominant all season ever since it started the season with a 55-6 win over Simeon. Joliet Catholic is the top-ranked team in its bracket after it finished the season undefeated, winning the CCL/ESCC Orange division. Joliet Catholic is led by Illinois commit Jordan Anderson.
Class 4A
Coal City at Wheaton Academy
When: TBD
About Coal City: Coal City started the season with 1-2 before winning its next four games, including wins over Lisle and Peotone. The Coalers lost to playoff-bound Reed-Custer 33-9 before finishing the season with a 41-6 win.
About Wheaton Academy: After losing its first game in a tough 17-14 game against Brookfield East, the Warriors responded by winning its next four games, scoring at least 34 points in each game. The team lost to Immaculate Conception before finishing the season with St. Edward, Elmwood Park and Aurora Christian.
Class 5A
LaSalle-Peru at Morris
When: TBD
About LaSalle-Peru: The Cavaliers are in the playoffs after finishing the season with a 5-4 record. LaSalle-Peru edged out its opener with a 28-21 win over Morton before dropping its next game to Metamora. The team secured its fifth win against Woodstock before losing to Morris and Kaneland to end the season.
About Morris: The No. 2 Redskins are back in the playoffs yet again after finishing the season undefeated, winning their conference. Their tightest game of the season was their last, when they defeated Sycamore 28-21 on Friday. The offense scored at least 31 points in seven of its nine games this season. The defense only allowed more than 22 points once in the year.
Class 6A
Kennedy at Lemont
When: TBD
About Kennedy: Kennedy started its season strong, winning its first three games of the season, scoring at least 28 points. The five-win Crusaders dropped their next two games before winning two more to get to five wins. Kennedy finished the season with a loss to Clark.
About Lemont: The South Suburban Blue champions started the season with a commanding 47-6 win over St. Charles East and never looked back. The team scored at least 37 points in eight of its games this season. Lemont finished with impressive victories, including Nazareth, and earned the top seed in the south bracket.
Class 7A
Lincoln-Way West at Buffalo Grove
When: TBD
About Lincoln-Way West: The Warriors didn’t start their season strong, losing their first three games. The team rebounded, winning two more before falling to Lockport. The Warriors won their last three games of the season and earned their fifth win of the season in their regular-season finale against Homewood-Flossmoor.
About Buffalo Grove: Buffalo Grove started the season with a commanding 41-0 win over Lincoln-Way Central and scored at least 41 points in its first four games. The Bison’s lone loss of the season came against conference foe Prospect. Buffalo Grovehad two one-point wins over Rolling Meadows and Hersey on Friday night.
Class 7A
Plainfield East at Hononegah
When: TBD
About Plainfield East: The Bengals started the season by losing three of its first four games of the season. Plainfield East won big 55-6 over Joliet Central before losing to Plainfield Central. The team won its final two games of the season, earning its fourth playoff berth in 13 years with a win over district rival Plainfield South.
About Hononegah: The Indians showed that they can win both big and small. Hononegah started the season with a 14-6 win and then went on to win its next 30-7. The team finished the season undefeated, winning the Northern Illinois Conference.
Class 7A
Yorkville at Plainfield Central
When: TBD
Yorkville: The 5-4 Foxes are making their third consecutive playoff appearance, a rousing 48-26 win over Southwest Prairie West co-champion Oswego in Week 9 sealing the postseason bid. Juniors Andrew Laurich and Jake Davies lead a strong defensive line, the best unit on the team. Junior defensive back Blake Kersting is another playmaker in a talented, young defense that starts half underclassmen. Senior QB Nate Kraus, a running threat, topped 200 yards passing for the first time in Week 9 as the Foxes scored their most points in a game since 2018. Yorkville lost to Plainfield Central 28-13.
About Plainfield Central: The Southwest Prairie East champions started the season strong with a 58-0 win over Addison Trail and gave a preview of how it would flex its muscle throughout the season. Plainfield Central’s lone loss of the season came against West Aurora in a 28-21 loss in Week 3. The Wildcats scored 64 and 58, respectively, in its last two games of the season.
Class 8A
Glenbard North at Bolingbrook
When: TBD
About Glenbard North: The Panthers started the season hot, winning its four games of the season. Batavia and Wheaton North each defeated Glenbard North 21-20, but the Panthers regrouped by winning its next two games. The team finished the season with a 6-3 record with losses to Batavia, Wheaton North and Wheaton-Warrenville South.
About Bolingbrook: The Raiders also started the season the way the Panthers did, winning its first four games of the season. Lincoln-Way East handed Bolingbrook its first loss of the season and then Lockport handed Bolingbrook its second two weeks later. The Raiders finished the season 7-2, winning 52-10 against Stagg to end the regular season.
Class 8A
Oswego East at Lincoln-Way East
When: TBD
About Oswego East: Wolves are making their sixth straight playoff appearance, seventh in eight seasons. Oswego East started the season 5-0, but lost three of its last four games in the Southwest Prairie West. Illinois-bound outside linebacker Jared Badie leads an opportunistic Wolves’ defense that has feasted off turnovers, particularly early in the season. Junior QB Tre Jones, in his first year back in his home district after transferring from Montini, is a threat passing and particularly running the football. Oswego East’s offense has used the big play to be successful with talents like Jones, Ty Carlson and Darquel Sanders but has struggled to sustain drives with a young offensive line.
About Lincoln-Way East: The 2019 state champions return to the postseason with a 7-2 record. The Griffins lost to Naperville Central in Week 2 and unexpectedly lost to Sandburg. Lincoln-Way East rebounded with three straight wins to end the season and win the Southwest Suburban Blue. Quarterback Brennan Stolarek leads the way offensively for the Griffins.
Class 8A
Lyons at Lockport
When: TBD
About Lyons: The Lions earned a playoff spot thanks to a win in their last game of the season. Lyons started the season off with a loss to playoff-bound New Trier and added losses to Hinsdale Central and York as the season went on. The team blew out Proviso West and Leyden before losing to Glenbard West. The Lions won their fifth game of the season in their last game of the year against Downers Grove North.
About Lockport: The Porters didn’t allow a point in its first two games of the season and only allowed one touchdown in its third game. Lockport shut out four teams during the season. The team’s lone loss of the season came to Lincoln-Way East in a 12-10 home loss. Lockport ended the season with a 45-15 win over Andrew.
Class 8A
Evanston at Plainfield North
When: TBD
About Evanston: The Wildkits started the season 1-2 without some of its strongest players, including North Carolina commit Sebastian Cheeks. They rattled off four straight wins before losing 31-23 matchup against Maine South. Evanston ended the season with a 35-14 win over playoff-bound Glenbrook South.
About Plainfield North: The Tigers started the season in commanding fashion, winning 56-12 over Plainfield East. The team won three of its next four games before losing 24-17 in double overtime to Oswego. Plainfield North earned its fifth win of the season with a win over Minooka.
Class 8A
Minooka at York
When: TBD
About Minooka: The Indians battled back in their last two weeks of the season. After losing its first game to Bolingbrook 52-28, They responded by winning their next two games before dropping three of their next four games. Minooka took down Yorkville 20-17 in overtime and punched its ticket in its last game, winning 20-14 against West Aurora.
About York: The Dukes, under fourth-year coach Mike Fitzgerald, are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2011 with the most wins since 2010. A 12-10 Week 6 win at Glenbard West, York’s first win over the Hilltoppers since 2007, is the Dukes’ marquee win. Their only loss came in Week 7 against Hinsdale Central, when York lost a 16-point fourth-quarter lead in a 27-23 defeat. Junior QB Matt Vezza, who took over as starter in Week 4, has emerged as a huge deal threat. He threw for 245 yards and four TDs and led a two-minute drive to beat Oak Park-River Forest 36-33 in Week 9. The Dukes’ defense, besides Week 7 and Week 9 hiccups, allowed just 44 points in the other seven games.