Illinois high school football playoffs kicked off this week with 48 teams in each classification advancing toward the state championships at Illinois State University. The opening round saw a full slate of games across all eight classes, with teams competing for a spot in the next round and a chance to play at Hancock Stadium the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving.
Friday’s schedule featured a broad range of matchups, including Peoria-area clashes and contests across the state. In Class 1A, Abingdon-Avon, ranked ninth with a 7-2 record, hosted Morrison, the 24th seed at 2-7. Ottawa Marquette (13th, 6-3) faced Princeville (20th, 3-6), while Dwight (12th, 6-3) took on Bureau Valley (21st, 3-6). Cumberland (15th, 5-4) hosted Red Hill (18th, 4-5). These games began at 7 p.m., setting the tone for the weekend.
Class 2A saw Illini West (9th, 7-2) welcome West Hancock Coop (24th, 2-7). Other contests included Stillman Valley (15th, 4-5) against Reed-Custer (18th, 4-5) and Warrensburg-Latham (10th, 6-3) facing Georgetown-Ridge Farm (23rd, 3-6). The round also featured Chester (9th, 5-4) hosting Wesclin (24th, 2-7), Hamilton County (12th, 5-4) against Sangamon Valley (21st, 3-6), and Central A & M (14th, 5-4) hosting Marshall (19th, 3-6).
Class 3A’s opening round kicked off with Olympia (9th, 7-2) hosting Columbia (24th, 2-7), Greenville (14th, 6-3) taking on PORTA (19th, 5-4), and Sandwich (13th, 5-4) facing Lisle (20th, 4-5). Chicago Christian (15th, 5-4) hosted Prairie Central (18th, 4-5), with Genoa-Kingston (14th, 5-4) playing North Boone (19th, 4-5), while Hope Academy (12th, 5-4) welcomed Monmouth-Roseville (21st, 4-5).
Class 4A’s schedule included Dixon (10th, 6-3) hosting Plano (23rd, 2-7) and Rochelle (14th, 5-4) taking on Illinois Valley Central (19th, 3-6). Metamora (12th, 6-3) faced Alton Marquette (21st, 4-5), Salem (15th, 5-4) hosted Richland County (18th, 4-5), and Taylorville (14th, 6-3) played Waterloo (19th, 4-5). Cahokia (11th, 6-3) welcomed East Peoria (22nd, 4-5), while Woodstock North (16th, 4-5) faced Tinley Park (17th, 4-5).
Class 5A matchups included Payton (16th, 5-4) hosting Glenbard South (17th, 5-4) and Sycamore (9th, 5-4) welcoming Crystal Lake South (24th, 2-7). Belvidere North (12th, 5-4) faced Freeport (21st, 4-5), Grayslake North (15th, 5-4) against St. Francis (18th, 4-5), and Deerfield (14th, 5-4) hosted Grayslake (19th, 4-5). Lemont (13th, 5-4) was at home against Peoria (20th, 5-4), Mascoutah (12th, 6-3) faced Washington (21st, 3-6), and Oak Forest (14th, 5-4) played Danville (19th, 4-5).
Class 6A began with Elk Grove (16th, 4-5) hosting St. Charles East (17th, 3-6) and Burlington Central (9th, 6-3) welcoming Rockford East (24th, 2-7). Addison Trail (10th, 6-3) faced Rolling Meadows (23rd, 2-7), while United Township (16th, 5-4) hosted Champaign Central (17th, 5-4). Quincy (9th, 6-3) received Thornton Fractional South (24th, 3-6), Shepard (13th, 5-4) played Nazareth (20th, 4-5), and Thornton (10th, 6-3) faced Richwoods (23rd, 3-6).
Class 7A’s opening round featured Glenbard East (17th, 6-3) hosting Bartlett (48th, 2-7) and Lincoln-Way Central (24th, 5-4) welcoming Jefferson (41st, 3-6). Elgin (29th, 5-4) hosted Reavis (36th, 4-5), St. Patrick (20th, 6-3) took on Collinsville (45th, 3-6), and Zion-Benton (21st, 6-3) played Glenbrook North (44th, 3-6). Yorkville (31st, 4-5) faced Palatine (34th, 4-5), Moline (18th, 6-3) hosted Benet Academy (47th, 2-7), and Lincoln-Way West (23rd, 5-4) welcomed Mundelein (42nd, 3-6).
Class 8A’s first-round games included Aurora East (32nd, 5-4) against Oak Park-River Forest (33rd, 4-5) and Hinsdale Central (17th, 6-3) hosting Lake Park (48th, 2-7). Marist (25th, 5-4) played Neuqua Valley (40th, 3-6), Barrington (24th, 5-4) faced Waubonsie Valley (41st, 3-6), and Naperville Central (29th, 5-4) hosted Gurnee Warren (36th, 4-5). Fremd (20th, 6-3) welcomed Taft (45th, 3-6), Lockport (28th, 5-4) faced Stevenson (37th, 3-6), and Lyons (21st, 6-3) hosted Metea Valley (44th, 3-6).
Saturday’s games continued with Class 1A matches such as Galena (16th, 5-4) hosting Orr (17th, 5-3) and LeRoy (15th, 5-4) against Orion (18th, 4-5). Lena-Winslow (10th, 6-3) played Momence (23rd, 3-6), Newman Central Catholic (14th, 5-4) hosted Tremont (19th, 4-5), and Fulton (11th, 6-3) welcomed Monmouth United (22nd, 3-6). Carrollton (16th, 5-4) faced Athens (17th, 4-5), Oakwood (9th, 6-3) hosted Pleasant Hill (24th, 2-7), Havana (13th, 6-3) played Triopia (20th, 3-6), and Winchester West Central (12th, 6-3) hosted Sesser-Valier (21st, 3-6).
The Illinois High School Association will continue updating results as the playoffs progress, with over 300 games scheduled in the coming weeks. The state championship games will take place at Hancock Stadium on November 27 and 28, wrapping up a season that has drawn attention across the state.
According to Yahoo Sports.
