It’s a loaded Saturday in the second round of the IHSA state playoffs. Here are previews of a few of the best games.
Class 8A: Bolingbrook at No. 11 Warren, 7 p.m.
Warren (9-1) is one of the state’s most one-dimensional teams, throwing barely nine passes a game. But what the Blue Devils do, they do very well. Aaron Stewart, a senior committed to Illinois for football and wrestling, has 295 carries for 2,634 yards and 44 touchdowns. Warren has won eight in a row since a Week 2 loss to Maine South and owns notable wins over Hersey and Lake Zurich. Bolingbrook (8-2) went from last in the Southwest Prairie West in 2024 to conference champ this year. The Raiders also have a productive running back in junior TJ Lewis, who has 1,487 yards and 19 TDs.
Class 8A: No. 4 Maine South at Hinsdale Central, 1 p.m.
Maine South (10-1) lost 41-0 to Lincoln-Way East in Week 1, but has been dominant since with quality wins over Warren, Palatine, Barrington and Glenbrook South. The Hawks have good balance offensively with Indiana commit Jameson Purcell at quarterback and Niko Kokosioulis at running back. Purcell threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns last week vs. Downers Grove South and Kokosioulis scored five TDs. Hinsdale Central (7-3) was tested often in the deep West Suburban Silver and has a signature win over Lyons. Senior quarterback/safety Riley Contreras is one of the area’s elite two-way players.
Class 7A: No. 10 Downers Grove North at No. 7 Glenbard West, 1 p.m.
This is a rematch of a Week 4 game won 35-21 by Glenbard West with one major difference: Downers North quarterback Owen Lansu, who was out with an injury that day, is back. Glenbard West (9-1) led that one 28-0 in the first quarter and was never seriously challenged. Dynamic quarterback AJ Rayford adds an extra dimension to a Hilltoppers offense that, as usual, has a deep group of talented running backs. For Downers North (8-2), Lansu has another Big Ten commit to throw to: Illinois-bound tight end Will Vala.
Class 7A: Kenwood at No. 22 Lincoln-Way West, 2 p.m.
Kenwood (9-1) has won nine straight since losing by four to St. Francis in Week 1 and is the Public League’s best hope for a deep playoff run. Kenyonte Louis is the Public League’s top quarterback with 2,278 passing yards and 28 TDs. He’s also the Broncos’ leading rusher with 754 yards and 16 scores. Lawrence Carr and Drake Harris have combined for 1,461 receiving yards and 19 TDs. Lincoln-Way West (10-1) shared the Southwest Valley Red title with Lincoln-Way Central and Bradley-Bourbonnais. The Warriors have one of the state’s top kickers in Zach Hermanson, who has field goals of 52, 50 and 49 yards this season.
No. 13 Carmel at No. 14 St. Charles North, 7 p.m.
Expect plenty of scoring in this one. Carmel (8-2) averages 47 points a game, while St. Charles North (9-1) averaged 32 points in its nine wins. Carmel quarterback Trae Taylor, a Nebraska commit, is completing 82% of his passes for 3,302 yards and 36 TDs with three interceptions. He also has run for 505 yards and 10 scores. St. Charles North (9-1) also has an elite quarterback in JT Padron.