Few teams made as rapid of an ascent as Reed-Custer did last season, improving from 1-8 in 2019 to a 10-2 record in 2021 with a Class 3A quarterfinals appearance. Now, the Comets focus on maintaining and improving upon that massive growth.

The road map for football teams was laid out by the IHSA on Thursday. Here's a closer look at what lies ahead for Herald-News area squads.

Meet the Herald-News Fall 2021 All-Area Football Team.

Get ready for this weekend's semifinal round with our game previews from around Will County and the Joliet area.

Get ready for this weekend's semifinal round with our game previews from around Will County and the Joliet area.

Top-seeded Byron uses TD pass with 9 seconds left to advance to their four-straight Class 3A playoff semifinal and end No. 4 Reed-Custer’s magical season, 28-24.

Friday Night Drive’s Brian Hoxsey has live coverage from Saturday’s Reed-Custer vs. Byron football game here

Get ready for this weekend's quarterfinal round with our game previews from around Will County and the Joliet area.

Reed-Custer advanced to the quarterfinal round of the postseason for the first time in school history as it easily dispatched visiting Chicago Clark, 55-6, on Saturday afternoon.