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.

The similarities were striking heading in to the final game of the regular season.Both Hersey and Buffalo Grove came into Friday night’s contest at Grant Blaney Stadium with 7-1 overall records, 3-1 in the Mid-Suburban East; each team had suffered their only loss of the season in heartbreaking fashion to Prospect; and both squads knew that there was a possibility to share the division championship if the Knights lost.

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.

Prospect’s Frank Covey wasn’t sure that he wanted to play quarterback anymore. A converted wide receiver, Covey, who is a junior, was having difficulty with the speed of the game and the college recruiters all were looking at him as a wide receiver. Covey has changed his mind about staying at quarterback and the recruiters may want to take another look as well. Covey threw for 167 yards and touchdown while rushing for 78 yards and another score as Prospect held off Hersey 24-23 Friday before an overflow crowd of 4,000 in Arlington Heights.

Here’s a look at Week 8 football games in the Northwest suburbs, including a key Mid-Suburban East clash between Prospect and Hersey, as well as an MSL West showdown between Barrington and Conant.

Maine South got through its tune-up just fine. The Hawks flew into Skokie Friday and exploded past Niles West 51-21 in their highest scoring output of the season.

Jimmy Makuh threw for 236 yards and 4 touchdowns to help Hersey to a 42-18 Mid-Suburban East win over host Wheeling Friday.

Here’s a look at Week 7 football games in the Northwest suburbs, highlighted by Conant playing at Hoffman Estates with first place in the Mid-Suburban West on the line.

Hersey remained undefeated with its sixth straight win, defeating Rolling Meadows 50-14 in the Mid-Suburban East contest before an overflow crowd Friday night.

Here’s a look at Week 6 football games in the Northwest suburbs, highlighted by Glenbrook South (5-0) visiting Maine South (4-1) in a Central Suburban League showdown.

Hersey recorded 464 yards of total offense in its 42-7 Mid-Suburban Conference win at Elk Grove Friday.

Here’s a look at Week 5 football games in the Northwest suburbs, highlighted by Buffalo Grove (4-0) at Prospect (3-1).

Elk Grove returned home to a huge crowd and scored a huge win Friday night. After playing on the road for the first three weeks this season, the Grenadiers made things look easy, rolling over Maine East 42-0.

Hersey showed domination on both sides of the football Friday night in its 42-0 nonconference win over Glenbrook North on Senior Night. Running back Josh Bontje and linebacker Jack Armstrong were dominant players in the win.

Here’s a look at the Week 4 football matchups in the Northwest suburbs, highlighted by Glenbrook South (3-0) at Barrington (2-1) and Glenbrook North (2-1) at Hersey (3-0).

The Mid-Suburban League wrapped up a successful football Friday night with its counterparts from the Central Suburban League. The MSL went 8-4 in their crossover games with the two conferences set to play again next Friday.

Here’s a look at Week 3 football games in the Northwest suburbs, as the Mid-Suburban League and the Central Suburban League clash again in nonconference action.

Welcomed back to its home field with packed stands at Roland Goins Stadium on Friday night, Hersey’s football team led start to finish with a a 31-24 triumph over Palatine. But the path to victory wasn’t complete until Sam Nudo secured an onside kick with 1:37 remaining.

Here’s a look at the Week 2 football games in the Northwest suburbs, highlighted by Warren, the No. 1 team in the Daily Herald Top 20, hosting No. 2 Maine South. Also, Prospect plays host to Fremd in one of six Mid-Suburban League crossovers.

Buffalo Grove, Hersey and Prospect all traveled to the Far South suburbs to open their respective seasons. It turned out to be a very productive trip for the trio of Mid Suburban East teams Friday night.

Scouting Week 1 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Football: Scouting the 2021 fall season in the Mid-Suburban League

Meet the All-Area Football Team for the Northwest suburbs

The Mid-Suburban League all-conference football team has been announced.

Fremd downed Hersey in a football game Friday night.

Scouting Week 6 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Ben Clawson ran for 180 yards and scored 5 touchdowns to help Hersey record a 49-21 Mid-Suburban League East Division win over Elk Grove Friday night.

Scouting Week 5 football games in the Northwest suburbs

It has been close to 10 years since either Prospect or Buffalo Grove have won the Mid-Suburban East football championship. On Friday, when the two unbeaten teams meet at Buffalo Grove at 7 p.m. the winner will go home with a trophy.

The scar is getting better every day. But it’s still there. It’s still fairly obvious, and it has given Hersey senior football player Max McCall a reputation...one that he is quite proud of, by the way.

Buffalo Grove downed Hersey in football action Friday night.

Scouting Week 4 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Prospect quarterback Alex “Gary” Moeller answers to a pair of names. But so far this season his opponents have yet to find an answer to stop the senior.

Prospect downed Hersey in a football game Thursday night.

Scouting Week 3 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Hsersey defeated Wheeling 41-20 in a football game Friday night.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s football games in the Northwest suburbs.

Buffalo Grove’s Ian Luyando is a true diamond in the rough. Luyando, who is a senior quarterback, had only played just one half of organized football before his start last Saturday for the Bison. And he was more than impressive.

Hersey snapped Rolling Meadows’ regular-season football win streak Saturday, 40-23. Meadows last loss in a regular-season game was on Oct. 20, 2017.

Here’s a look at Saturday’s football games in the Mid-Suburban League

Scouting the football season in the Mid-Suburban League

After a year in which COVID-19 wrecked havoc on everything in life, including sports seasons as we know them, 2021 will be the debut of spring high school football.

There won’t be madness in March. And masks will be required, even in competition. But at least high school basketball players in Illinois will have basketball again.