Five Northwest Herald teams – Burlington Central, Cary-Grove, Jacobs, Prairie Ridge and Richmond-Burton – remain in the IHSA state playoffs. Here is a preview of each team's second-round game.

Jacobs won its first playoff game in four years Saturday when the 22nd-seeded Golden Eagles beat No. 11 Addison Trail 36-27 in a Class 7A opener. That, plus news on Burlington Central, Prairie Ridge and Cary-Grove in the Northwest Herald football notebook.

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Cary-Grove faces Sycamore in an IHSA football Class 5A first-round playoff game on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at Al Bohrer Field on the campus of Cary-Grove High School in Cary.

Cary-Grove scored three first-quarter touchdowns and dominated Sycamore defensively, which was enough to provide a comfortable cushion that was never truly threatened in a 42-14 win.

Here is a look at the opening-round playoff matchups awaiting McHenry County area teams this weekend.

Both teams in last year's title game are in different classifications now leaving a wide open chase for this year's state title. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 5A Playoffs.

Cary-Grove freshmen Ty Tenopir and Leo Zavala combined for 175 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the Trojans' 44-29 win over host Jacobs on Friday night. And info on Crystal Lake South's season in the McHenry County Week 9 notebook.

Here are the 2025 IHSA football playoff pairings for McHenry County area teams. Dates and times will be updated.

Logan Abrams rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns, and Cary-Grove's football team featured three 100-yard rushers in its 44-29 win over host Jacobs on Friday night in the Fox Valley Conference teams' regular-season finale.