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Fox Valley playoffs have some intriguing matchups

There were viewing parties throughout the state Saturday as the Illinois High School Association revealed its 256-team playoff football field, but West Aurora High School proved to be the emotional epicenter.

After losing Friday's game in overtime against Metea Valley to slip to 5-4, the Blackhawks awoke Saturday morning ranked 255th in the projected field, teetering on the cutoff line with 35 playoff points.

West Aurora's situation became more precarious Saturday afternoon when Alden-Hebron rallied in Elgin to beat Westminster Christian to become playoff eligible with 5 wins and 42 playoff points, bumping the Blackhawks to No. 256.

Soon thereafter, however, the IHSA released its official list of playoff qualifiers. Gathered in the school's weight room, West Aurora's players roared in celebration and exchanged hugs and high-fives when coach Nate Eimer announced the Blackhawks had indeed made the playoffs for the first time since 1994.

"It's been a whirlwind of emotion," said Eimer, a 2001 West Aurora graduate. "What a program statement. Now we're considered one of the top 32 teams in (Class) 8A, which is big for our program. Before our victory over Waubonsie Valley last year, no one even talked about us.

"We're building a tradition here slowly and it's a huge deal for us to get in. I'm just so proud of this program, the kids, these parents, this coaching staff. I knew it would be a big deal to get in, but I'll never forget that moment."

Here's a look at the seeds and first-round matchups for teams throughout the Fox Valley area.

Class 8A

No. 31 Minooka (5-4) at No. 2 Huntley (9-0): Huntley completed an undefeated run through the Valley Division of the Fox Valley Conference, winning it for the first time. Led by linebackers Daniel Dennis and Tim McCloyn and quarterback Anthony Binetti, the Red Raiders are built for a deep playoff intrusion. "If you're really going to be successful in a playoff run, you have to have an experienced quarterback to compete at that level," Huntley coach John Hart told Comcast SportsNet. "Anthony Binetti has been there before and he's ready to lead this team in the playoffs."

No. 21 Evanston (6-3) at No. 12 South Elgin (8-1): The Storm join the Class 8A postseason fray with the highest seed in the school's 10-year history. Led by two-way senior linemen Mike Ribando (6-foot-4, 250 pounds), Matt Zimmerman (6-4, 285) and Brian Medina (6-5, 225), South Elgin makes its third playoff appearance and its first since 2010. Evanston makes its 21st playoff appearance, the first for the Wildkits since 2013. This could be a shootout. South Elgin averages 40.2 points per game; Evanston averages 35.4.

No. 28 Bartlett (5-4) at No. 5 Brother Rice (8-1): The Hawks are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2012, thanks to 4 straight victories to close the regular season. They draw the Crusaders, who entered the week ranked No. 7 in Class 8A, according to the latest AP poll.

"It's very nice after two years off that we're back at it," said Bartlett coach Tom Meaney, who has directed Bartlett to the playoffs 10 times in 13 seasons. "Brother Rice is a good team and it's going to be a very difficult game, but I like the (1-32 seeding) format. It's nice to have someone different and not play the same people all the time."

No. 32 West Aurora (5-4) at No. 1 Loyola Academy (9-0): The Blackhawks draw undefeated Loyola Academy, champion of the rugged Chicago Catholic League Blue Division. Coach John Holecek's Ramblers entered Week 9 ranked No. 2 in the latest Class 8A poll by the AP. In the playoffs for the first time in 21 years, the Blackhawks respect what they're up against but are eager for the challenge.

"Loyola is obviously a program with great tradition from a great conference," West Aurora coach Nate Eimer said. "We told the guys to enjoy this and celebrate but be ready on Monday to prepare to win a football game."

Class 7A

No. 29 Pekin (5-4) at No. 4 Batavia (8-1): Returning to a 1-32 format in classes 7A and 8A means Batavia doesn't have to face a first-round opponent like Mt. Carmel in the opening round ala last season, but this system isn't perfect either, Batavia coach Dennis Piron said.

"I don't think seeding makes any difference because I think there are matchups that don't make much sense because the seeding is based on an arbitrary system that's assumptive that the more points you get, the stronger a schedule you had," Piron said Saturday night. "We'll see how it plays out. Just play the team in front of you and do the best job you can. If you survive, do it all over again. I'm just glad we have our first game at home."

No. 28 Belleville West (5-4) at No. 5 Cary-Grove (8-1): The 2014 state runner-up in Class 7A is the class' smallest entrant in 2015 with an enrollment of 1,803. In the playoffs for the 12th straight season, the Trojans have won at least one playoff game every year since 2004. The Maroons finished third in the Southwestern Conference, which is located in suburban St. Louis. Belleville West will make the 319-mile, 5-hour drive to make its fourth consecutive playoff appearance.

No. 19 Jacobs (7-2) at No. 14 Lincoln-Way East (7-2): The Golden Eagles are back in the playoffs after a one-year absence, marking the sixth time Jacobs has gone to the postseason since coach Bill Mitz arrived. They travel to Frankfort for this first-round game against the Griffins, whose only losses were to Oak Park-River Forest and Homewood-Flossmoor.

No. 21 St. Charles North (7-2) at No. 12 Benet Academy (7-2): This is an intriguing matchup between a St. Charles North offense that led the Upstate Eight River with 40.6 points per game against a Benet defense that limited East Suburban Catholic foes to 20.5 points an outing. The Redwings finished tied for third place in the ESCC behind Joliet Catholic and Notre Dame. The North Stars finished third in the UEC River behind Batavia and Geneva.

Class 6A

No 9 Belvidere North (6-3) at No. 8 Kaneland (6-3): The Knights are back in the playoffs after a one-year absence. The Blue Thunder make their third straight postseason appearance. These teams are near mirror images of themselves statistically. Kaneland scores 29.6 points per game; Belvidere North averages 30.9. Defensively, the Knights limit opponents to 22.1 points; the Blue Thunder hold teams to 22.6.

No. 12 Hampshire (6-3) at No. 5 DeKalb (7-2): Hampshire is back in the playoffs for the second time in three seasons and for the first time under second-year coach Mike Brasile. This matchup represents a contrast in styles. Hampshire does its damage via the air in the spread offense run by junior quarterback Jake Vincent. The Barbs do much of their damage via a ground game led by senior fullback David Long.

No. 15 Crystal Lake South (5-4) at No. 2 Prairie Ridge (8-1): CL South is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2012. The Gators will attempt to snap a 3-game slide with an upset of crosstown rival Prairie Ridge, which has developed into an offensive juggernaut. Since losing to Cary-Grove 21-14 in the season opener, the Wolves have averaged 51 points per game, thanks to a stout offensive line and sophomore quarterback Samson Evans helming the triple option.

Class 4A

No. 11 St. Edward (6-3) at No. 6 Richmond-Burton (8-1): In the playoffs for the third straight year and fifth time in seven seasons, the Green Wave face the Rockets, who finished second to Marengo in the disbanding Big Northern East. St. Edward is led by the school's career rushing leader, Dwayne Allen. The senior running back has rushed 153 times for 1,495 yards and 21 touchdowns (9.8 avg.).

Class 1A

No. 13 Westminster Christian (6-3) at No. 4 Polo (9-0): The Warriors make their first playoff appearance in the program's third season of varsity football. Their last-minute loss to Alden-Hebron on Saturday probably cost them a shot at an opponent with an 8-1 or 7-2 record. Instead, they face the undefeated Marcos, champions of the Northwest upstate Illini Conference's upstate Division. Westminster's chances could depend on how quickly quarterback junior Tannor Park and senior two-way lineman Zach Anderson heal from injuries suffered in the regular-season finale.

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