Nazareth ended Rolling Meadows' season Saturday in the Class 7A state semifinals.

Minutes after the alarm goes off each morning, the bed gets made. Because a made bed, in Nate Pedraza’s mind, can set the tone for the entire rest of the day.

Scouting the Class 7A semifinal between Rolling Meadows and Nazareth

Rolling Meadows advanced to the Class 7A semifinals with Saturday’s 20-3 victory at Wheaton Warrenville South.

Here's a look at Saturday's Class 7A state football quarterfinal playoff game between Rolling Meadows and Wheaton Warrenville South

Rolling Meadows defeated Prospect 26-14 in a Class 7A second-round football playoff game Friday night.

Scouting Round 2 of the playoffs in the Northwest suburbs

It’s one and done. End of discussion. That’s Fremd’s philosophy on defense.

Rolling Meadows, the No. 3 seeded team, advanced to the second round of the Class 7A state playoffs with a 33-12 triumph over No. 30 Lincoln Park of Chicago Saturday. The Mustangs (9-1), who will host No. 14 Prospect (8-2) next, held the Lions to 67 yards rushing.

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

Carson Schiller of Rolling Meadows and Xavier Bonds of Elgin are the Daily Herald football MVPs for Week 9.

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.

Rolling Meadows defeated Hersey 38-35 Friday night to win the Mid-Suburban East football championship.

The best defense in the Mid-Suburban League East, the Rolling Meadows defense, is the pride of Scott Otahal.

Scouting Week 9 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Northwest suburbs football statistics through Week 8

Rolling Meadows defeated Wheeling 63-14 Friday night.

Scouting Week 8 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Rolling Meadows downed Prospect 35-14 Friday night.

Scouting Week 7 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Northwest suburbs football leaders through Week 6

Rolling Meadows defeated Elk Grove 41-14 Friday night

Scouting Week 6 football games in the Northwest suburbs

It’s been a record-setting year for the Hersey football team. Last week, the Huskies rolled up 78 points on Wheeling to set a new school record for points in a game. The old record was 64 points, a mark that the Huskies just missed hitting in their 63-6 Week 3 win over Maine East.

Gavin Sarvis of Burlington Central and Ryan Shaputis of Antioch are the Daily Herald football MVPs for their efforts in Week 5 games.

Just like last year, the Rolling Meadows football team is off to a 5-0 start. But unlike last year, Rolling Meadows isn’t always “rolling” over its opponents with a heavy hand.

Northwest suburbs football statistics through Week 5.

Rolling Meadows downed Buffalo Grove 49-17 in Mid-Suburban East football action Saturday.

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.

Three defensive scores help Rolling Meadows blank Niles West 52-0.

Scouting Week 4 football in the Northwest suburbs

Mark Gronowski of Neuqua Valley and David Zieba of Rolling Meadows are the Daily Herald offensive and defensive MVPs, respectively, for their efforts on the football field in Week 3.

Rolling Meadows defeated Deerfield 31-24 in two overtimes Friday night.

Scouting Week 3 football games in the Northwest suburbs

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.

Rolling Meadows downed Palatine 24-7 in a Mid-Suburban League crossover football game Friday night.

Scouting Week 2 football in the Northwest suburbs

Scouting Week 1 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Rolling Meadows and Hersey are again the favorites in the Mid-Suburban East football race this season.

Scouting Rolling Meadows football