Daily Herald Suburban Chicago High School Football News, Schedules and Scores

Subscribe Log in

Week 9

Week 9

Playoff matchups set for eight football teams from Northwest suburbs

Palatine’s Dominik Ball leaves Hoffman Estates’ Alex Fernandez behind as he runs in a football game in Palatine on Friday. The Pirates will travel to Taft, while Hoffman plays host to Thornton Fractional South in the first round of the state playoffs next weekend.

After a year off in 2020 due to COVID and a shortened spring 2021 football season, it is finally high school football playoff time in Illinois. On Saturday, the Illinois High School Association announced the pairings for the 256-team field that will make up the 8 classes. It will culminate on Thanksgiving weekend with the title games this year being played at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Opening round days and times will be announced on Monday afternoon.

Batavia’s AJ Sanders carries the ball during the Bulldogs’ 36-29 double-overtime win at St. Charles North on Friday.

Football / Top 20 / How they fared in Week 9

As we head into the playoffs, here's how the Daily Herald football Top 20 fared in their Week 9 games.

Hinsdale Central’s Charlie Cornell (31) intercepts a pass during football game between Lyons at Downers Grove North. Oct 22, 2021.

Hinsdale Central shuts out Glenbard West to win Silver title

One touchdown was all the football fans at Glenbard West's Duchon Field saw on Saturday afternoon. It was all the Hinsdale Central defense needed. The visiting Red Devils defended that touchdown ferociously, hanging on for a 6-0 victory against Glenbard West even though the Hilltoppers spent much of the second half with a good view of the end zone.

St. Francis’ Adam Criter (2) tries to spin out the tackle from IC Catholic Prep’s Antonio Richardson (17) during the first half of a game in Wheaton on Friday, October 22, 2021.

Breaking down DuPage County first-round state playoff matchups

The IHSA football playoffs are always special. After all, not every team makes it. Those who do have to earn their way. But this year's playoffs are extra special, of course. After the reality check that was 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced an abbreviated season to last spring, minus a postseason.

The Batavia defense is a big reason for the Bulldogs’ 9-0 regular season. Batavia earned a No. 1 seed in Class 7A for the 2021 playoffs that begin next Friday and Saturday.

Trio of 9-0 teams leads Fox area postseason contingent

The IHSA high school football playoffs are back after a yearlong hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. For Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg, whose team is 9-0 and top-seeded in Class 6A according to pairings brackets released Saturday evening, there's much more to the story.

Warren’s Jailen Duffie looks for yardage after a reception against Lake Forest Friday night. Warren will host Barrington next weekend in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs.

Wauconda (9-0) leads 8 Lake County teams into playoffs

It's been about checking boxes this season for the Wauconda football team. And so far, the Bulldogs are 2-0. "At the beginning of the year, we talked to our kids and they had three big goals: they wanted to win our conference (Northern Lake County Conference) and they wanted to go 9-0," Wauconda coach Dave Mills said. "And we're just checking those boxes off." Check. Check.

Prospect and Hersey are among the nearly 50 Daily Herald area schools who have qualified for the state playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the IHSA state football playoffs

The IHSA state football playoffs were announced Saturday night. Check out all the matchups here.

Here are the pairings for the Class 8A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 8A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 7A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 7A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 6A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 6A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 5A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 5A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 4A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 4A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 3A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 3A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 2A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 2A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 1A state football playoffs.

Here are the pairings for the Class 1A state football playoffs.

Maine South quarterback Rowan Keefe throws a pass while being pressured by Glenbrook North’s Laith Salim earlier this season.

Friday night Northwest suburbs roundup: Maine South holds off New Trier to clinch CSL South outright.

Maine South bolted to its fifth consecutive undefeated Central Suburban South title in Winnetka on Friday. The Hawks built a 49-21 lead after three quarters and held off a late New Trier rally to win 49-42 in a game that was not as the final score would indicate.

Prospect and Hersey are among the nearly 50 Daily Herald area schools who have either qualified for the state playoffs ore are hoping to on Saturday night when the pairings are revealed by the IHSA.

The IHSA football playoff pairings have been announced: Here's where to find them

The IHSA Playoff Pairing Television Show is revealing the 2021 football playoff field on the IHSA TV Network. We're listing them online on our prep football page. Here's where to look.

Montini finishes season with loss to Joliet Catholic

Montini, which finished the season 3-6, struck first when quarterback Cole Teschner hit senior receiver Estevan Moreno with a 74-yard touchdown pass. The extra point by Colin May made it 7-0.

Mark Black / Shaw Media Illinois St. Francis’ Adam Criter (2) runs the ball in for a first-quarter touchdown against IC Catholic Prep during a game in Wheaton on Friday, October 22, 2021.

Criter sparks St. Francis to win over IC Catholic Prep

Adam Criter was in do-it-all mode Friday night. Throughout the season, the St. Francis senior running back/defensive back/punter/punt returner has been a jack-of-all-trades player for his team.

WEEK 8 TOP TEAMS

Rank	School	W	L	T	Notes
1	1	Neuqua Valley High School	8	0		vs. Naperville North
1	Notes: vs. Naperville North
2	2	Maine South High School	7	1		at New Trier
2	Notes: at New Trier
3	3	Warren Township High School	7	1		vs. Lake Forest
3	Notes: vs. Lake Forest
4	4	Batavia High School	8	0		at St. Charles North
4	Notes: at St. Charles North
5	5	Cary-Grove High School	8	0		at Hampshire
5	Notes: at Hampshire
6	6	Glenbard West High School	7	1		vs. Hinsdale Central
6	Notes: vs. Hinsdale Central
7	7	Wheaton North High School	7	1		at St. Charles East
7	Notes: at St. Charles East
8	8	Hinsdale Central High School	7	1		at Glenbard West
8	Notes: at Glenbard West
9	9	York Community High School	7	1		vs. Oak Park-River Forest
9	Notes: vs. Oak Park-River Forest
10	10	Prospect High School	7	1		vs. Rolling Meadows
10	Notes: vs. Rolling Meadows
11	11	John Hersey High School	7	1		at Buffalo Grove
11	Notes: at Buffalo Grove
12	12	South Elgin High School	8	0		at West Chicago
12	Notes: at West Chicago
13	13	Buffalo Grove High School	7	1		vs. Hersey
13	Notes: vs. Hersey
14	14	Hoffman Estates High School	7	1		at Palatine
14	Notes: at Palatine
15	15	Wauconda High School	8	0		at Round Lake
15	Notes: at Round Lake
16	16	Glenbard North High School	6	2		at WW South
16	Notes: at WW South
17	17	Naperville North High School	5	3		at Neuqua Valley
17	Notes: at Neuqua Valley
18	18	Naperville Central High School	5	3		vs. Metea Valley
18	Notes: vs. Metea Valley
19	19	Willowbrook High School	5	3		at Morton
19	Notes: at Morton
20	20	Grayslake Central High School	6	2		at North Chicago
20	Notes: at North Chicago

Photo Galleries

Glenbrook South’s Will Collins lunges toward the end zone as he scores a touchdown during Friday’s football game against Carl Sandburg.

IMAGES: GLENBROOK SOUTH 23, CARL SANDBURG 0

First day of Naperville Central High School football practice was held Monday and the players had time to stretch in between drills.

First official day of football practice for Illinois high schools

Rolling Meadows quarterback Michael Radon throws a pass during Saturday’s game at against Hersey.

Football action from Saturday, March 20

School Graduations More Galleries

Sections Search close

Search DailyHerald.com for articles