The first opening round of the Illinois High School Association's expanded football playoff format produced mixed results, but for several Southland programs it brought long-awaited celebrations. Chicago Tribune prep writer Steve Millar saw two games that were not remotely competitive, yet he also pointed to exciting finishes and wins that will be remembered in the communities involved.
Millar acknowledged that the debate over whether the expansion was necessary, and whether it lessens the importance of the regular season, is legitimate. He said he agrees with some of the complaints. Still, he argued, the new format gave local teams a chance to bring playoff success back to their schools for the first time in years.
Thornwood led the way with a 27-14 Class 6A win over Plainfield East. It was the school's first playoff victory since 1994, a gap of 32 years. Third-year coach Tramaine Weaver has worked to build up the program. In Class 4A, Leo played its first playoff game since 2013 and won for the first time since that season, beating Marengo 26-7. Terrence Wilson threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score.
Two South Suburban Conference teams also won in the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Reavis ended an 11-year drought with a 31-28 Class 7A victory at Elgin, and Christian Del Bosque ran for 143 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. In Class 5A, Tinley Park made the long bus trip to Woodstock North and won 20-8. Randy Ludke threw two touchdown passes, one to Cooper Verble and one to Mason Swaw. Millar noted that adds up to four streaks of more than a decade broken.
This week brings a pair of all-local matchups. Mount Carmel plays Marist on Friday night, and the teams met in Week 4. Mount Carmel won 56-26, but Millar said the game was an eight-point contest in the fourth quarter. He wants to see whether Marist can keep it close against a Mount Carmel team that appears to be peaking at the right time. On Saturday in Class 5A, Morgan Park faces Oak Forest. Millar called Morgan Park a definite state-title contender, while Oak Forest reached the semifinals last year and knows how to win in the postseason.
The winner of that game will meet the winner of Providence and Kankakee in the second round, in a part of the bracket Millar described as loaded with some of the best teams in the class. A second-round game of Mount Carmel hosting Sandburg is also possible. In Class 7A, if St. Laurence beats Plainfield South and Lincoln-Way West beats Plainfield North, the Vikings and Warriors would meet in the second round.
The most surprising score, in Millar's view, was Joliet Catholic's 44-3 win over Bradley-Bourbonnais. He had expected a closer game, given that the Hilltoppers' defense has played well all season, including in a 6-0 loss to IC Catholic in Week 9. Getting the offense going was the key, and Da'Sani Smart ran for three touchdowns.
The challenge grows for Joliet Catholic on Friday night at Wheaton-Warrenville South. Millar expects a great game and thinks the winner could make a run to the Class 6A semifinals. For the teams that ended their droughts, he said, the stories from this weekend are what high school sports are all about.
