Ready for a run
October 27, 2023
QB Dylan Pembrook and the unbeaten Tigers set for playoffs
FOOTBALL PLAYOFFS 2023
50
¢
A special supplement to the
Jacksonville Journal-Courier
Football Section Page 2
West Central iron man squad set for playoffs By Dennis Mathes For the JournalCourier History tells of 300 Spartans who held off the Persian army for seven days at the Battle of Thermopylae in the year 480 BC.
The West Central football team must have some idea of what that was like. The Cougars started the season with fewer than 25 players and ended with a berth in the IHSA playoffs. “We’re sitting at 23 players right now, so we’ve dropped one or two since last time we talked,” West Central coach Matt Coultas said. “Kids just stepped away from the team. But, you know, keep plugging along week by week.” The Cougars finished 6-3 this season, losing to topthree playoff seeds Camp Point Central and GreenfieldNorthwestern, and dropping a close one to Carrollton, which also made the playoffs. Coultas was not surprised his team won six games, despite the low numbers. “Coming into the season, I thought we could be here, depending on how the kids performed and how they showed out ... whether they would win that many games, or if we wouldn’t win as many, or maybe we could have won more,” the coach said. “We feel like we missed West Central’s Chance Little (12) and Conner Turner (0) upend Greenfield-Northwestern’s Garrett Costello as he comes down after jumping to make a catch a couple opportunities. … during a game at Greenfield earlier this season. So I think it could have been (Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier)
better, but obviously it could have been worse as well.” The secret to the Cougars’ success is making sure each player is prepared to play different positions from week to week. “I think maybe it’s more game-planning than it is any kind of concerns with injuries or dings or dents,” Coultas said. “It’s more of getting into film and seeing who we’re up against and who we feel is going to give us a better chance in a one-on-one situation. We don’t want to put kids in a position where they’re gonna fail every time. But sometimes you’ve got to match up, whether it be on offense or defense, against your opponent. And that’s been more of our key, is to try to put kids in positions where we’re competitive in each spot. “We’ve done a lot of shuffling around the personnel,” the coach said. “I don’t know that we’ve had the same starting five linemen any one game this year. We’ve got kids that have filled roles across the front end of our offense. We’ve had kids that have filled roles on our defense, whether it be linebacker or defensive end or defensive line. I know Chance Little himself has been in three or four different positions. We even played him at safety one week. But it’s just shuffling kids around to give us the best opportunity. And the kids have been really, really good about taking on new roles as we’ve worked throughout the season here.” The coach’s biggest concern coming into the season was replacing offensive lineman Rylan Shaw and quarterback/ linebacker Tyson Brown – not just their positions, but their leadership ability. Little and Owen Barber have stepped up. “Those guys are buddies not only on the field but off the field, and they work pretty well together and they’ve done a nice job keeping everybody
in check and having the guys ready to go,” Coultas said. West Central has managed to avoid major injuries this season. “We’ve had moments,” Coultas said. “But you know what? We pride ourselves on the physicality of our program and our kids. And I’m not going to sit here and tell you that anybody can jump in and play with this squad. But they’re tough not only physically, but mentally. And that’s been a big thing for us. And kind of
the key to our success this year is that we don’t mind the banging. We go out there and bang with anybody in the conference. And, you know, most often, teams -- they know they’ve been in a game once they get off the field that night, win or lose.” Coultas wasn’t sure what to expect from this team. He found out the first week, when the Cougars went on the road and beat Mendon Unity on a hot Friday night. Reaching that standard in
week one showed players and coaches alike what the team could do, and set the stage for the rest of the season. West Central came from behind to beat Brown County in week two. The Cougars lost to Carrollton in week three but rebounded to stun Calhoun in week four. “We hang our hat on that Calhoun week,” Coultas said. “I mean, our kids came out and played amazing. We’re trying to get back to where we see that every night because it was
Page 3 Football Section
a full team effort that night against Calhoun.” It’s been a rewarding season for Coultas, now in his 25th year of coaching football. “Finally kind of hitting our stride, and our coaching staff’s kind of meshing a lot better now after the fourth, fifth year together and getting our kids prepared,” the coach said. “And we’re thinking along the same lines with each other now.” West Central, a No. 10 seed
in the Class 1A playoffs, will go on the road to play No. 7 Catlin Salt Fork (7-2) this Saturday. “Our goal is to get back home at some point during the postseason and get our fan base behind us, that have been great for us and traveled with us all year,” Coultas said. “And I think it’s just going to be a lot of fun for our boys and our program.”
West Central’s Ryker Ford takes the ball upfield during a football game against Greenfield-Northwestern at Greenfield earlier this season. (Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier)
Football Section Page 4
Greenfield-NW ready for a run
By Travis Zuellig For the JournalCourier The GreenfieldNorthwestern football team accomplished something no other Tiger team has done since 2007 — finished the regular season undefeated.
The GreenfieldNorthwestern football team accomplished something no other Tiger team has done since 2007 — finished the regular season undefeated. After winning backto-back WIVC-South championships after the COVID season, GreenfieldNW secured its third in dominating fashion. The Tigers made easy work of their schedule, the closest game a 14-0 win over Carrollton in week seven. Greenfield-Northwestern, which earned a No. 3 seed in its bracket, will host Nokomis (5-4) in the opening round of the IHSA Class 1A playoffs this Saturday. It is the Tigers’ ninth playoff appearance under head coach Joe Pembrook. “It was a great regular season for us. I am so proud of the focus the kids have had and the week-by-week improvement,” Pembrook said. “We talked about being 1-0 each and every week, and if you accomplish that feat, at the end of season, you are
Greenfield-Northwestern’s Nathan Nord takes the ball upfield during a football game against West Central at Greenfield earlier this season. (Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier)
Good Luck Tigers!
Home Generator Systems
217-436-2411 • www.wbsb.com
Bob Lamb Co., Inc. (217)368-2131 Greenfield, IL
GO TIGERS!
Cox’s Parts & Service Greenfield
217-368-2241
GO TIGERS Pharmacy Plus 502 Chestnut Street Greenfield IL
(217) 368-2667
Page 5 Football Section 9-0. I am just happy with the way the kids have progressed throughout the course of the year, and hopefully we can keep it moving forward come playoff time.” This year Greenfield-NW returned almost everybody from last season’s team, which lost only one game during the regular season and fell to Camp Point Central in the state quarterfinals. Returners included senior quarterback Dylan Pembrook and senior running back Kohen Vetter. Pembrook threw for over 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns while Vetter finished with 13 rushing touchdowns, making for a potent and balanced offense that scored 380 points on the season. “We knew we had a solid nucleus returning from last year,” coach Pembrook said. “We got a lot of valuable experience. We were fortunate enough to have a playoff run to also gain valuable experience at the end of the season. We relied on our athleticism and the guys that are returning to lead the way for us. I think as we have created more depth, new guys have stepped into the fold. It has just been a great progression.” The Tigers beat Brown County on the road to open the season before hosting three straight games, which included a 42-7 win over playoff-bound Mendon Unity. The other two were wins over Pleasant Hill and North Greene. GreenfieldNW traveled to Calhoun and came away with a 42-26 victory in week five. Greenfield-NW beat playoff-bound West Central and Carrollton in weeks six and seven. The 14-0 win over the Hawks was the closest for the Tigers all season. Greenfield-NW beat Routt Catholic and Triopia in the final two weeks by a combined score of 108-20 to close out the season. “I thought our conference was extremely balanced and very competitive over the course of the
year,” Pembrook said. “We had a three-week grind toward the middle part of the season where we played Calhoun, West Central and Carrollton. I thought that was a good test for us, and we were able to get through that and win a conference championship.” The Tigers will host Nokomis in the first round. It’s the fourth season in a row in which GreenfieldNW will host a first-round playoff game. The Tigers came away winners in the first three first-round playoff games, with victories over Calhoun, Salt Fork and Brown County. Nokomis snuck into the postseason after securing wins in the final two games, beating Toledo Cumberland
and Niantic-Sangamon Valley to reach five victories. Nokomis is back in the playoffs after missing out in 2022. “They are well-coached. They come from a pretty tough conference, and we know we are going to have our hands full,” Pembrook said. “They do some nice things formation-wise, and it looks like they are pretty solid up front. “We are blessed to have achieved to this point, but now we want to put our best foot forward and hopefully, continue our season. When it comes to the postseason, you want to advance to keep practicing another week, and hopefully our guys are ready to put in a good week of preparation.”
“We got a lot of valuable experience. We were fortunate enough to have a playoff run to also gain valuable experience at the end of the season. We relied on our athleticism and the guys that are returning to lead the way for us. I think as we have created more depth, new guys have stepped into the fold. It has just been a Greenfield-Northwestern’s Dylan Pembrook delivers a pass during a football game against great progression.” West Central at Greenfield earlier this season. (Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier)
Football Section Page 6
Carrollton glad to be back in playoffs
By Travis Zuellig For the JournalCourier The Carrollton football team is heading back to familiar surroundings as the Hawks travel to Sesser for a first-round playoff game against Sesser Valier this Saturday.
Carrollton beat Sesser Valier 37-14 in the 2018 playoffs. “They are a great program and have had a lot of success the last few years and it is a great atmosphere down there,” Carrollton coach Rodney Flowers said. “They have a beautiful field and a beautiful complex, and are very hospitable. They took care of our kids last time we were down there with a big meal.” Carrollton also is in familiar territory, figuratively speaking, with a successful return to the IHSA playoffs. Minus the COVID year, the Hawks qualified for the postseason every season over the past decade, except for one. That was last season under Flowers, in his first year as head coach. There was a bit of a learning curve for the Hawks and Flowers, a longtime assistant to younger brother Nick Flowers. Flowers was an assistant as the Hawks won numerous WIVC-South titles and reached the state championship game twice.
In his second year as head coach, Flowers steadied the ship, and the Hawks returned to the postseason after a fivewin season. Carrollton (5-4), a No. 15 seed, will travel two and a half hours south to Sesser to play No. 2 seed Sesser Valier (9-0). “Overall, I have been very happy with the attitude this year,” Flowers said. “We set some goals for ourselves to get bigger, stronger, faster and tougher, and we have done that. We were happy with the way we started the season and really wanted to go 5-0 knowing we had backto-back Calhoun, Greenfield and Camp Point. I was very happy with weeks one through five before we ran into the three big ones. It has been pretty humbling.” The Hawks started the season by winning five straight games, starting with a close road win over Beardstown and a 14-0 win over Triopia at home before hosting West Central. The Cougars led by 14 points early in the first half before the Hawks answered and won 30-26 to move to 3-0. Last season, West Central pounded Carrollton 52-0. Grant Cox helped lead the comeback, scoring two touchdowns, including the game-winner from two yards out. Flowers was proud of how his team responded after falling behind. “I think it was a game of momentum,” Flowers
Carrollton’s Lucas Howard heads upfield during a football game against Routt at the old MacMurray College football field in Jacksonville on Saturday. (Dennis Mathes | Journal-Courier)
said. “I think West Central got up on us. I tell a lot of people we can’t simulate a lot of strength and speed in our practices because our numbers are so low. There was no way to prepare for the speed and strength of West Central and to their credit, they came out and got up on us, 14-0. Our kids finally got a feel for the speed and the strength of the game. I thought from then on, we
never looked back, and our kids just wanted it.” The Hawks rattled off two more wins over then-winless Pleasant Hill and North Greene by a combined score of 83-6. Then, the tougher part of the schedule came for Carrollton. The Hawks were blown out in week six by Calhoun, but clamped down defensively against Greenfield-Northwestern,
falling 14-0 the next week. Losses to undefeated Camp Point Central and Routt Catholic in the final two weeks rounded out the season. Flowers feels like the games at the end of the season helped prepare Carrollton for the playoffs. “Those are the best teams and programs in the state, and we always prided
GOOD LUCK CARROLLTON!
ourselves to be one of those programs over the past 20 years, so when you talk about the WIVC in general, it is a tough conference,” Flowers said. “We have gained credibility. We have been to the state title game twice in the last 10 years. Camp Point has been there twice. With that being said, we want the challenge from Camp Point and Greenfield and Calhoun and West Central, and that has prepared us for the postseason.” The Hawks qualified for the playoffs in 14 of 18 seasons (minus 2020) under Nick Flowers. That stretch included five 10-win seasons. Seniors on this year’s team were sophomores during the state runner-up season in 2021. Making the playoffs all those years – and this year, too – provides extra practices and preparations that will be invaluable in years to come. “We are proud of our program, and we are proud of our experience and we are not afraid to play anyone in the postseason, and that is what we are looking forward to,” Flowers said. “I am proud of how our community rallied around these kids and have supported them. We started flag football and had over 60 kids out. Our JFL program did well this year. Expectations haven’t been lowered around Carrollton, and it won’t be with our staff.”
Page 7 Football Section
Big finish puts Calhoun in playoffs By Travis Zuellig For the JournalCourier The Calhoun football team returns to the IHSA Class 1A playoffs after winning four straight games. The Warriors are hitting their stride at just the right time.
Calhoun started the season 2-3 and needed that streak over the past four weeks to clinch a postseason bid with a 6-3 record.The Warriors did it in style, outscoring their opponents during that fourgame stretch by a combined score of 186-0. One of the wins came against playoffbound Carrollton in week six. Head coach Aaron Elmore said his team dictated tempo in those four wins to conclude the regular season. “I think it was a matter of us executing well on offense and defense,” Elmore said. “(We were) trying to dictate the momentum of the game from the get-go, and maintaining that momentum and doing the little things right that we emphasize each and every day in practice. I think we have been lucky enough to do those things the last three weeks.” Coming into the season, Calhoun returned plenty of starters from last year’s team, which also made the playoffs. Calhoun finished 5-4 in 2022 before falling to Greenfield-Northwestern in the first round of the playoffs. Seniors Miles Lorton and Chris Stanley have led the way offensively for a team Elmore describes as “a little bit older and a little bit wiser.” “We have a lot of the same guys, just a year older,” Elmore said. “You are smarter and more physical because of physical maturity and weight lifting. I think we have just
Calhoun QB Miles Lorton reacts after a 2-point conversion draws the Warriors even with Greenfield-Northwestern at 18-18 in the third quarter of a WIVC-South football game in Hardin earlier this season. (Greg Shashack | Hearst Illinois )
grown as a team. We have some seniors that have been playing for three years now, and some juniors who started since freshman year.” Calhoun started the season with a 50-14 win over Routt Catholic before traveling to Camp Point Central, where the Warriors fell 30-22 to the eventual WIVC-North champion. Calhoun followed that loss with a victory over winless North Greene before
dropping back-to-back games against West Central and Greenfield-Northwestern — both playoff teams. With Carrollton, Pleasant Hill, Brown County and Beardstown left, the Warriors need three wins to qualify for the playoffs. The won all four games in a rout, starting with a 61-0 win over playoffbound Carrollton. “Any time you beat a program like Carrollton that
has had a lot of success over the last 15 years, it’s a big win. I think we have been building upon it ever since,” Elmore said. “We have a great group of guys, and I am very happy to get these guys into the playoffs and let’s see what we can do.” The Warriors followed that win with back-to-back 42-0 victories at Pleasant Hill and Brown County before blowing out Beardstown 41-0
at home. The Warriors will travel two and a half hours northeast to Heyworth (7-2) for their first-round playoff matchup. Heyworth finished tied for first place in the Heart of Illinois (Small) Conference with LeRoy and Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley. This is the Hornets’ first playoff appearance since 2013. “Since the beginning of the
year, we have had some ups and downs,” Elmore said. “Early on, we played really well. I’d say over the last four or five weeks, I think we have improved each and every week, so I feel pretty good about our team right now. “Any time you get into the playoffs, it is a big deal. We are just looking to be better than we were last year.”
Football Section Page 8
2023 FOOTBALL PLAYOFF SCHEDULE
Class 1A No. 16 Rockford Lutheran (5-4) at No. 1 LenaWinslow (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 9 Ottawa Marquette (7-2) at No. 8 Forreston (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 13 Mackinaw Deer Creek (5-4) at No. 4 Kewanee Wethersfield (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 12 Fulton (6-3) at No. 5 Morrison (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 15 Princeville (5-4) at No. 2 Toulon Stark County (9-0), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 10 Oneida ROWVA (7-2) at No. 7 Sterling Newman Central Catholic (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 14 Peru St. Bede (5-4) vs. No. 3 Chicago Hope Academy (8-1) at Altgeld Park, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 11 Gibson City Melvin-Sibley (6-3) at No. 6 Aurora Christian (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 16 Bridgeport Red Hill (5-4) at No. 1 Camp Point Central (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 9 Hardin Calhoun (6-3) at No. 8 Heyworth (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 13 Tuscola (5-4) at No. 4 Belleville Althoff Catholic (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 3 p.m. No. 12 Villa Grove (6-3) at No. 5 LeRoy (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 15 Carrollton (5-4) at No. 2 Sesser Valier (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 10 West Central (6-3) at No. 7 Catlin Salt Fork (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 14 Nokomis (5-4) at No. 3 GreenfieldNorthwestern (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 11 Toledo Cumberland (6-3) at No. 6 Casey Westfield (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. Class 2A No. 16 Dwight/Gardner-South Wilmington (5-4) at No. 1 Seneca (9-0), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 9 Taylor Ridge Rockridge (8-1) at No. 8 Westville (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 13 El Paso Gridley (6-3) at No. 4 Downs TriValley (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 12 Aledo Mercer County (6-3) at No. 5 Wilmington (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 4 p.m. No. 15 Palos Heights Chicago Christian (5-4) at No. 2 Maroa-Forsyth (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 10 Knoxville (7-2) vs. No. 7 Momence (8-1) at Bradley-Bourbonnais High School, Saturday, Oct. 28, 12 noon No. 14 Mendon Unity-Payson (6-3) at No. 3 Bloomington Central Catholic (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 7 p.m. No. 11 Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin (7-2) at No. 6 Farmington (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 3 p.m. No. 16 Quincy Notre Dame (4-5) at No. 1 ArthurLovington-Atwood-Hammond (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 9 Pana (6-3) at No. 8 Nashville (6-3), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 13 Piasa Southwestern (5-4) at No. 4 Athens (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 12 Chester (5-4) at No. 5 Red Bud (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 15 Trenton Wesclin (5-4) at No. 2 Shelbyville (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 10 Vandalia (6-3) at No. 7 Lawrenceville (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 14 Auburn (5-4) at No. 3 Johnston City (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 11 Breese Mater Dei (6-3) at No. 6 Carmi White County (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m.
Class 3A No. 16 Chicago Noble/Hansberry (5-4) at No. 1 Byron (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 9 Peotone (6-3) vs. No. 8 Chicago Crane (6-3) at Rockne Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 13 Stillman Valley (5-4) vs. No. 4 Chicago Noble/Johnson (8-1) at Gately Stadium, Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 12 Oregon (5-4) at No. 5 Pecatonica Du-Pec (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 15 Paxton Buckley-Loda (5-4) at No. 2 Princeton (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 10 Monmouth-Roseville (5-4) at No. 7 Poplar Grove North Boone (6-3), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 14 Fairbury Prairie Central (5-4) vs. No. 3 Chicago North Lawndale Charter (8-1) at Lane Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 28, 12 noon No. 11 Eureka (5-4) at No. 6 Lombard Montini (6-3), Friday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. No. 16 Monticello (5-4) at No. 1 DuQuoin (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 9 Tolono Unity (7-2) at No. 8 Williamsville (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 13 Benton (5-4) at No. 4 Mt. Carmel (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 12 Clinton (6-3) at No. 5 Sullivan-Okaw Valley Coop (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1:30 p.m. No. 15 Fairfield (5-4) at No. 2 Greenville (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 10 Litchfield (6-3) at No. 7 Stanford Olympia (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 14 Paris (5-4) at No. 3 Roxana (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 3 p.m. No. 11 Carlinville (6-3) at No. 6 St. Joseph Ogden (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. Class 4A No. 16 Chicago Agricultural Science (5-4) vs. No. 1 Chicago Dyett (8-1) at Gately Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 28, 11 a.m. No. 9 Norridge Ridgewood (6-3) at No. 8 Sandwich (6-3), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 13 Chicago Phoenix (5-4) at No. 4 West Chicago Wheaton Academy (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 8 p.m. No. 12 Arlington Heights St. Viator (5-4) at No. 5 Richmond-Burton (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 15 Chicago Phillips (5-4) at No. 2 Rockford Boylan Catholic (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 10 Geneseo (6-3) at No. 7 Elmhurst IC Catholic (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 5 p.m. No. 14 Plano (5-4) at No. 3 Dixon (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 11 Burbank St. Laurence (6-3) vs. No. 6 Chicago Vocational (7-2) at Gately Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m. No. 16 Lincoln (5-4) at No. 1 Rochester (9-0), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 9 Normal University (7-2) at No. 8 Coal City (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 13 Cahokia (5-4) at No. 4 Breese Central (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 12 Effingham (5-4) at No. 5 Mt. Zion (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2:30 p.m. No. 15 Taylorville (5-4) at No. 2 Murphysboro (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 3 p.m. No. 10 Freeburg (6-3) at No. 7 Charleston (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 14 Peoria Notre Dame (5-4) at No. 3 Kewanee (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.
No. 11 Harrisburg (6-3) at No. 6 Carterville (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m.
Chatham Glenwood (6-3), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m.
Class 5A No. 16 Sterling (4-5) vs. No. 1 Chicago Payton (90) at Lane Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 28, 4 p.m. No. 9 Rochelle (7-2) at No. 8 Wheaton St. Francis (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. No. 13 Chicago Corliss (5-4) vs. No. 4 Chicago Morgan Park (8-1) at Gately Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2:30 p.m. No. 12 Evergreen Park (6-3) at No. 5 Sycamore (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 15 LaGrange Park Nazareth Academy (4-5) at No. 2 Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 10 Chicago Noble/UIC (7-2) at No. 7 Glen Ellyn Glenbard South (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 6 p.m. No. 14 Chicago Englewood STEM (5-4) at No. 3 Antioch (9-0), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 11 Chicago Lindblom (7-2) at No. 6 Mundelein Carmel (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 16 Tinley Park (5-4) at No. 1 Morris (9-0), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 9 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (6-3) at No. 8 Calumet City Thornton Fractional North (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 13 Troy Triad (6-3) at No. 4 Mahomet Seymour (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 12 Joliet Catholic Academy (6-3) at No. 5 Peoria (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 15 New Lenox Providence Catholic (5-4) at No. 2 Morton (81), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 10 Country Club Hills Hillcrest (6-3) at No. 7 Carbondale (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 14 Mt. Vernon (6-3) at No. 3 Highland (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 11 Decatur MacArthur (6-3) at No. 6 Metamora (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m.
Class 7A No. 32 Summit Argo (5-4) at No. 1 Normal Community (9-0), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 17 St. Charles North (6-3) at No. 16 BradleyBourbonnais (6-3), Saturday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m. No. 25 Addison Trail (6-3) vs. No. 8 Chicago Lincoln Park (8-1) at Lane Stadium, Friday, Oct. 27, 6 p.m. No. 24 Machesney Park Harlem (6-3) at No. 9 Lombard Glenbard East (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 29 Wheaton Warrenville South (5-4) at No. 4 Arlington Heights Hersey (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m. No. 20 Chicago Kenwood (6-3) at No. 13 Downers Grove North (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 28 Collinsville (5-4) at No. 5 Des Plaines Maine West (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 3 p.m. No. 21 Hoffman Estates (6-3) at No. 12 New Lenox Lincoln-Way West (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 31 Rockford Auburn (5-4) at No. 2 Rockton Hononegah (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 18 Yorkville (6-3) at No. 15 Villa Park Willowbrook (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 26 Chicago Brother Rice (5-4) at No. 7 Batavia (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 23 Algonquin Jacobs (6-3) at No. 10 New Lenox Lincoln-Way Central (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 30 West Chicago (5-4) at No. 3 Quincy (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 19 Wheaton North (6-3) vs. No. 14 Chicago Whitney Young (7-2) at Rockne Stadium, Friday, Oct. 27, 6 p.m. No. 27 Chicago St. Rita (5-4) at No. 6 Chicago Mt. Carmel (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 22 Buffalo Grove (6-3) at No. 11 Mt. Prospect Prospect (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m.
Class 6A No. 16 Crystal Lake Central (5-4) at No. 1 Lake Zurich (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 9 Maple Park Kaneland (6-3) at No. 8 Riverside-Brookfield (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 13 Chicago Amundsen (6-3) at No. 4 Belvidere North (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7:15 p.m. No. 12 Fox Lake Grant (6-3) at No. 5 Wauconda (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 5 p.m. No. 15 Lake Forest (5-4) vs. No. 2 Chicago Lake View (7-2) at Winnemac Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 28, 11 am No. 10 Chicago Senn (6-3) at No. 7 Geneva (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. No. 14 Libertyville (5-4) at No. 3 Cary Grove (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m. No. 11 Highland Park (6-3) vs. No. 6 Chicago Mather (7-2) at Winnemac Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2:30 p.m. No. 16 Midlothian Bremen (5-4) at No. 1 Kankakee (9-0), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 9 Dunlap (6-3) at No. 8 Blue Island Eisenhower (6-3), Friday, Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m. No. 13 Lemont (5-4) at No. 4 East St. Louis (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 3 p.m. No. 12 Chicago Simeon (5-4) at No. 5 Normal Community West (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 15 Danville (5-4) at No. 2 Washington (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 10 Champaign Centennial (6-3) at No. 7 Crete Monee (6-3), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 14 Chicago Hubbard (5-4) at No. 3 Oak Lawn Richards (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m. No. 11 Bloomington (5-4) at No. 6
Class 8A No. 32 Plainfield North (4-5) at No. 1 Wilmette Loyola Academy (9-0), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 17 Palatine (6-3) at No. 16 Naperville Neuqua Valley (6-3), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 25 Skokie Niles West (6-3) at No. 8 Huntley (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 24 Chicago St. Ignatius (6-3) at No. 9 Joliet West (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 29 Aurora West Aurora (5-4) at No. 4 Edwardsville (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 2 p.m. No. 20 Naperville North (6-3) at No. 13 Glen Ellyn Glenbard West (7-2), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 28 Homewood-Flossmoor (5-4) at No. 5 Elmhurst York (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 21 LaGrange Lyons (6-3) at No. 12 Lincolnshire Stevenson (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 31 Chicago Taft (4-5) at No. 2 Frankfort Lincoln-Way East (9-0), Friday, Oct. 27, 6 p.m. No. 18 Orland Park Sandburg (6-3) at No. 15 Minooka (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 26 Chicago Lane (6-3) at No. 7 South Elgin (8-1), Saturday, Oct. 28, 1 p.m. No. 23 Oswego (6-3) at No. 10 Gurnee Warren (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 30 Glenview Glenbrook South (4-5) at No. 3 Barrington (9-0), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 19 Downers Grove South (6-3) at No. 14 Naperville Central (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 7 p.m. No. 27 Lockport (5-4) at No. 6 Park Ridge Maine South (8-1), Friday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. No. 22 Aurora East (6-3) at No. 11 Belleville East (7-2), Friday, Oct. 27, 6 p.m.