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Libertyville looking to take final step to state

CLASS 7A

No. 3 Libertyville Wildcats (12-0) at No. 23 Bradley-Bourbonnais Boilermakers (9-3)

When: 3 p.m., Saturday

Radio: WRLR 98.3 FM or WRLR.FM; pregame show begins at 2:30 p.m.

Last week: Libertyville def. Normal Community, 41-27; Bradley-Bourbonnais def. Niles North, 28-17.

Road to the semifinals: Libertyville has defeated: No. 30 Downers Grove North, 56-24, No. 14 Lincoln-Way East, 27-17 and No. 6 Normal Community, 41-27; Bradley-Bourbonnais has defeated: No. 10 Glenbrook North, 60-59, No. 7 Geneva, 41-22 and No. 31 Niles North, 28-17.

Playoff history: Libertyville is making its second straight playoff appearance and its fourth in five years. The Wildcats won the Class 7A title in 2004. Last year, Libertyville was eliminated in the Class 7A semifinals by Cary-Grove, 41-7 … Bradley-Bourbonnais is making its ninth playoff appearance in the last 11 years. The Boilermakers missed in 2006 and 2011. The longest playoff run in school history came in 1991. That year, Bradley-Bourbonnais lost in the quarterfinals. Last season, the Boilermakers lost in the first round to Belleville West, 24-7.

Head coaches: Mike Jones, Libertyville; Mike Kohl, Bradley-Bourbonnais.

Skinny: This is a historical playoff run for Bradley-Bourbonnais. The Boilermakers have never before, dating back to their first playoff berth in 1975, advanced to the state semifinals. There has been only one time that Bradley-Bourbonnais has advanced to the quarterfinals, and head coach Mike Kohl was on that 1991 team. Libertyville, meanwhile, is one win away from going to its second state championship game in 11 years. "Our mentality in the off-season and on all of our T-shirts was 'One More,'" Libertyville quarterback Riley Lees said. "After getting to the semifinals last year, our goal was to play just one more game than we did last year. We have the opportunity to do that and it's exciting. It's awesome for everyone. We're all excited."…Bradley-Bourbonnais went 6-3 in the regular season, losing Southwest Suburban Red Conference games to Lincoln-Way North (28-14), Thornton (39-9) and Lincoln-Way West (28-18). The Boilermakers are averaging 33.6 points per game and are allowing 20.3 points per game. They pitched one shutout, a 49-0 win over Lincoln-Way Central, and have had 3 games in which they allowed less than 10 points … The Libertyville defense is giving up just 13.8 points per game, has 2 shutouts and has allowed fewer than 10 points six times this season. "Our defense has stepped up and made plays all season," Libertyville coach Mike Jones said of a defense that is led by lineman Ben Kimpler and linebacker Riley Buncic, who got dinged up making a tackle last week on the goal-line that denied Normal a touchdown … The Bradley-Bourbonnais defense will have to contend with one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in the state in Libertyville senior Riley Lees, who will be playing at Northwestern next year. Lees, who can get out of just about any jam, has rushed for 2,162 yards and 30 touchdowns on 182 carries. He has thrown for 1,658 yards and 24 touchdowns. His top targets are receivers Henry Schmidt (802 yards, 12 touchdowns), Tim Calamari (406 yards, 4 touchdowns) and Cam Shaffer (370 yards, 6 touchdowns). One question mark is fullback Noah Moderwell, who has rushed for 694 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. He got hurt last week but backup Jason Tse filled in nicely … The Bradley-Bourbonnais offense is led by quarterback Owen Starr, who has thrown for 2,200 yards. The Boilermakers will sometimes use the athletic Camron Harrell, usually a receiver, as a Wildcat quarterback. Harrell threw the winning touchdown pass in a nail-biter win over Glenbrook North in the first round. Harrell has caught 19 touchdown passes himself this season and has tallied 800 receiving yards. The Boilermakers' other top receiver is Colin Bedell (700 yards). On the ground, Bradley-Bourbonnais splits carries between Noah Fritz and Donnie Ringo, who have combined for 1,200 rushing yards.

Up next: Winner gets a berth in the Class 7A state championship game at 4 p.m. on Nov. 28 at Northern Illinois University against the winner of today's other semifinal between No. 1 Glenbard West (12-0) and No. 5 Cary-Grove (11-1) at Glenbard South High School.

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