The long bus ride didn’t matter. Neither did the continuous downpour. The only thing that Rolling Meadows’ Connor Fennelly and his Rolling Meadows teammates would have liked to change was the outcome. Rolling Meadows fell 42-7 to host St. Rita Friday in the opening round of the Class 7A playoffs. But despite the disappointing loss, Fennelly looked at his team’s appearance as a huge win.

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 wasn’t just plug and play, but the connection at Rolling Meadows has been electric. Wide receivers Ethan Groark and Michael Brigham have played football on the same youth team in Rolling Meadows, together since they were 5 years old. But after the spring season the pair, who were juniors at that time, needed a new quarterback for their senior season. Junior Evan Grace has stepped into the starting role quite nicely.

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.

Rolling Meadows upset Prospect 26-24 Friday night and became playoff eligible in the process.

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.

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.

Buffalo Grove hung on to down Rolling Meadows 15-14 Friday night.

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.

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.

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.

Hoffman Estates used a high-scoring first half and then a stubborn second-half defense to hold off host Rolling Meadows Friday night. The Hawks turned away the Mustangs twice in the fourth quarter to hold on for a narrow 34-32 win in the Mid-Suburban League crossover football game.

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.

Glenbrook South defeated Rolling Meadows in a football game 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.

Schaumburg’s foootball team and Mike DiGioia had a big night Friday in Wheeling.

Scouting Week 6 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Palatine is giving its opponents a blank stare. For the second week in a row, the Pirates posted a shut out as they cruised past Schaumburg 44-0 Friday in Palatine.

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.

Prospect defeated Rolling Meadows in a football game 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.

Charlie Schmidt ran for 121 yards on 13 carries and scored 2 touchdowns to help Rolling Meadows to a 43-13 win over Elk Grove in Mid-Suburban East action Thursday night.

Scouting Week 3 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Buffalo Grove defeated Rolling Meadows 35-14 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

High school football was last played on Thanksgiving weekend of 2019. That made Wednesday’s official return to the gridiron even more special for the student-athletes and coaches whose 2020 fall season was postposed to spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.