CLASSES ARE IN SESSION HIGH SCHOOLS
Breaking down the playoffs, which begin Friday
The state football playoff schedule is nicely spread out in the first round. The first game is at 4 p.m. Friday at
Gately, Mount Carmel vs. T.F. South. Games continue through Saturday night. Here’s a breakdown of each class. For the first-round schedule, turn to Page 37.
CLASS 1A
Likely title game: Lena-Winslow
over Arcola. Dark horse: Aurora Christian.
Best first-round game: LeRoy at
Orr.
Possible first-round upset:
No. 9 Aurora Christian over No. 8 Annawan.
Fact: Three teams in the field have never won a state playoff game: Edwards County (0-6), Orr (0-3), Madison (0-2).
CLASS 2A
Likely title game: Gibson City over Maroa-Forsyth.
Dark horse: St. Teresa.
Best first-round game: Knoxville
at Hope Academy.
Possible first-round upset: No. 15 Routt over No. 7 Warrensburg.
Fact: Gibson City is averaging 49 points while allowing an average of only 3.
CLASS 3A
Likely title game: Byron over
Monticello. Dark horse: Carlinville.
Best first-round game: Dwight
at Lisle.
Possible first-round upset:
No. 19 Hall over No. 7 Clark.
Fact: UP-Englewood is allowing more points per game (17.1) than it’s scoring (16.7).
CLASS 4A
Likely title game: IC Catholic over
Rochester. Dark horse: McNamara.
Best first-round game: Herrin at
Pontiac.
Possible first-round upset:
No. 10 Johnsburg over No. 7 Ag. Science.
Fact: Rochester has won seven state titles.
CLASS 5A
Likely title game: Hillcrest over
Montini. Dark horse: Joliet Catholic.
Best first-round game: Back of the Yards at Elmwood Park.
Possible first-round upset:
No. 14 Joliet Catholic over No. 3 Metamora.
Fact: Joliet Catholic has won 13 state titles, the same number as the other 31 teams in the field combined.
CLASS 6A
Likely title game: Phillips over
Richards. Dark horse: Notre Dame.
Best first-round game: Crystal Lake South vs. Kenwood at Gately.
Possible first-round upset:
No. 14 Crystal Lake South over No. 3 Kenwood.
Fact: Von Steuben has had a football program for only four years.
CLASS 7A
Likely title game: East St. Louis over Batavia.
Dark horse: Mount Carmel.
Best first-round game: Lake
Zurich at DeKalb.
Possible first-round upset:
No. 22 St. Charles North over No. 11 Normal.
Fact: East St. Louis, which has won eight state titles, has scored more than 70 points three times this season.
CLASS 8A
Likely title game: Lincoln-Way East over Brother Rice. Dark horse: Maine South.
Best first-round game: Loyola at
Minooka.
Possible first-round upset:
No. 21 Naperville Central over No. 12 Plainfield South.
Fact: Barrington, the No. 20 seed, has played seven teams that made the playoffs, the most in the field. Want the latest information and analysis on high school football? Our team of Michael O’Brien, Beth Long and Annie Costabile will share the latest news, insights and weekly Super 25 rankings in a livestream show called ‘‘Sun-Times Game Week’’ at 4:30 p.m. every Monday. Like and follow our high school sports Facebook page and watch the show on Facebook Live. You also can ask questions using #suntimesgameweek.