The deck was stacked in Prairie Ridge’s favor before it set foot on its soggy field Friday night against Vernon Hills. The Cougars had not seen mainly spread offenses, with no triple-option opponents. They had played eight of their nine games on artificial surface fields. Prairie Ridge used all of that to jump on Vernon Hills from the outset and cruise to a 49-0 victory in their Class 6A playoff game.

Here’s a look at the fisrt round of the football playoffs in Lake County, including games being hosted by Warren and Wauconda.

Here’s a look at the first round of the IHSA football playoffs in the Northwest suburbs, including games being hosted by Prospect, Hersey, Buffalo Grove, Hoffman Estates and Maine South.

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.

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.

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.

Here’s a look at Week 9 football matchups in Lake County, including big games between Warren and Lake Forest, as well as Antioch against Lakes.

Here’s a look at Week 9 football games in the Northwest suburbs, including key matchups between Hersey and Buffalo Grove as well as Hoffman Estates and Palatine.

The running men paced their way to another win Friday in Buffalo Grove. The Bison (7-1, 3-1 Mid-Suburban East) piled up 282 rushing yards on their way to a 35-7 win over Wheeling in a game that Buffalo Grove did not break open until the fourth quarter.

With one week to go in the high school football regular season, the playoff picture in Lake County is starting to come into much better focus.