Loyola defeated Maine South 14-6 in a Class 8A first-round playoff game Saturday night.

Scouting the first round of the football playoffs in the Northwest suburbs.

The high school football playoffs are here. That means a Class 8A instant classic between Loyola and Maine South is in the works.

Here are the football statistics through Week 9 in the Northwest suburbs.

The IHSA state football playoff field was announced Saturday night and it has nearly all of the same Northwest suburbs participants as last season.Undefeated Rolling Meadows leads eight Northwest teams into the playoffs this year. Fremd, Maine South, Barrington, Conant, Hersey, Maine West and Prospect are all making a return appearance in the hopes of advancing to the title games, which will be held Thanksgiving weekend at Northern Illinois University.

Scouting Week 9 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Northwest suburbs football statistics through Week 8

Maine South defeated Glenbrook South on Friday night, securing a playoff spot for the 27th consecutove year.

Scouting Week 8 football games in the Northwest suburbs

It was a defensive struggle in Schaumburg’s 10-7 upset win of previously undefeated Conant last week. The Saxons got star-studded games from three of their top defenders — Jeremy Serio, Blake Buchanan and Mike DiGioia.

Ian Ridge of Elk Grove and Michael Rogers of Wheaton Warrenville South are the Daily Herald football MVPs for their efforts in Week 7 games.

Maine West clinched its third consecutive playoff berth as the Warriors rolled over district rival Maine East 47-6 Friday in Des Plaines.

Scouting Week 7 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Northwest suburbs football leaders through Week 6

Maine South handled Evanston 41-0 Friday night.

Scouting Week 6 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Northwest suburbs football statistics through Week 5.

Friday's inclement weather has created several changes in the Northwest suburbs' football schedule for this weekend.

Scouting Week 5 football games in the Northwest suburbs.

Maine South pulls away late to defeat Palatine

Scouting Week 4 football in the Northwest suburbs

Maine South pulls away from Fremd

Scouting Week 3 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Peter Skoronski, a highly-touted and fiercely recruited 6-foot-4, 275-pound two-way lineman for Maine South, isn’t like your typical elite high school recruit.

The sun is not the only thing that is rising in the east. High school football is on a huge upswing in the Mid-Suburban League East Division in the last four seasons.

Banged up Maine South drops 21-7 decision to Mount Carmel

Scouting Week 2 football in the Northwest suburbs

Lightning can strike twice. Just as the Maine South football team. It has been struck with early quarterback injuries for two straight seasons.

Football: Glenbard West rushed for 437 yards in a 45-28 victory over Maine South.

Scouting Week 1 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Scouting Maine South football