Prep Football Playoff Pairings: First-round information for Daily Chronicle area teams

Here are the first-round matchups for each Daily Chronicle area team. Dates and times will be updated when confirmed.

Class 7A

Neuqua Valley's Adam Filburn (left) and Miles Miskel wrap up DeKalb's Talen Tate during their game Friday, Oct.14, 2022, at DeKalb High School. (Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com/Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.co)

No. 23 DeKalb (6-3) at No. 10 Moline (8-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Barbs: They won two straight games to close the regular season and clinch an automatic playoff berth, starting with a 14-0 upset of Neuqua Valley in Week 8, the last of three shutouts, although they have not allowed a touchdown since Week 7. They beat Waubonsie 28-3 to end the regular season. The Barbs are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

About the Maroons: They only played three teams with a winning record this season, but won all three games. The program last played DeKalb in 2017, losing 49-21 at home en route to a 7-3 record. They’ve made the playoffs every year since that 2017 season but have won only two playoff games during that stretch.

Up next: The winner will face either No. 26 Libertyville (5-4) or No. 7 Yorkville (8-1)

Class 6A

Kaneland’s Troyer Carlson (10) directs his offense while rolling out of the pocket against Sycamore during a football game at Kaneland High School in Maple Park on Friday, Sep 30, 2022. (Sean King for Shaw Local)

No. 10 Riverside-Brookfield (6-3) at No. 7 Kaneland (6-3)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Bulldogs: A Week 9 win against McNamara snapped a two-game skid – although those losses against IC Catholic and St. Francis came against a pair of teams that finished the regular season 8-1. It’s the third straight playoff berth, although they’ve lost in the first round each season. They last won a playoff game in 2015.

About the Knights: They’ve given up less than half as many points as they did a year ago, surrendering less than 16 points per game this season. They haven’t allowed more than one score in a game since a 28-7 loss to Sycamore (9-0) in Week 6. Kaneland is in the postseason for the fifth straight year.

Up next: The winner will face Prairie Ridge (8-1) or Crystal Lake South (5-4)

Class 5A

Sycamore's Elijah Meier splits two Morris defenders during their game Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, at Sycamore High School. (Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com/Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.co)

No. 16 Westinghouse (5-4) at No. 1 Sycamore (9-0)

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

About the Warriors: They rolled past Brooks 46-0 in the final week of the regular season to claim a playoff spot. They played three teams with winning records this year, losing all three games. It’s their first playoff berth since 2017. In 2014, the Warriors made the postseason as a No. 5 seed and hosted Sycamore in the playoff opener but lost, 55-0.

About the Spartans: The Spartans haven’t given up a point since Week 7, and the two shutouts have come against a pair of playoff teams. They had their first 9-0 regular season since 2013 and are looking for another deep playoff run – last season they reached the 5A semifinals and lost to eventual state champ Fenwick. It’s the third straight postseason appearance for the Spartans, the 11th in the past 12 full seasons and 14th in Joe Ryan’s 19 years with the team.

Up next: The winner will face No. 8 Chicago Noble/Bulls (7-2) or No. 9 Carmel (6-3).

Class 3A

No. 9 Elmwood (6-3) at No. 8 Genoa-Kingston (7-2)

Genoa - Kingston's Maddox Lavender looks for running room against Dixon on Friday Oct.7,2022 in Genoa. (Karen Naess for Shaw Local )

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

About the Trojans: They went 6-2 in the nine-team Prairieland Conference, losing to the two teams ahead of them in the standings. They won their final two games of the regular season by a combined score of 98-12. It’s the 17th playoff berth for Elmwood since 2002, all under coach Todd Hollis.

About the Cogs: They’re surging into the playoffs after handing Stillman Valley its first loss of the season in Week 9, 32-28 despite falling behind two touchdowns in the first half. It’s the seventh straight playoff berth for the Cogs who have advanced past the first round in each of the past five seasons.

Up next: The winner will face No. 1 Princeton (9-0) or No. 16 Peotone (5-4).

Eight-man

Hiawatha (6-3) at Polo (7-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Marcos: Polo went through the season losing only to Amboy (28-12) and Milledgeville (54-38). Those also were their two lowest offensive outputs of the season. The Marcos beat Hiawatha 44-32 in Week 5. They also are the defending state champions.

About the Hawks: The Hawks started the season 4-0. In each of their five on-field victories, they scored at least 56 points and reached 60 points four times. The team is in the 8-man playoffs for the second straight year under coach Nick Doolittle. Before that, they reached the 1A playoffs in three seasons between 2016 and 2019. That 2016 berth was the first postseason trip since 1987.

Up next: The winner will face either No. 3 Cambridge Ridgewood or No. 14 South Fork.