Week 1 playoffs, Metro Suburban: Glenbard South heads for the city

Class 5A

No. 16 Glenbard South (5-4) at No. 1 Westinghouse (8-1)

Game time: 7:15 p.m. Saturday at Lane Tech Stadium in Chicago.

Outlook: Odd that two straight losses probably took Glenbard South out of the Joliet Catholic/Nazareth bracket into a better playoff draw. Still, the fact that Raiders coach Ryan Crissey got an immediate post-pairing response from Westinghouse coach Sinque Turner indicates this Chicago Public League program is on the ball. The Warriors offer the expected combo of brawn - 6-6, 305-pound lineman Alfred Evans - and speed. Scatback Kylen Williams has run for 861 yards and receiver Milan Netisingha's 789 yards are nearly uniformly spread between receiving, rushing and return yardage. Glenbard South will bring its overall speed and physicality to bear, with defensive linemen Talha Ayman and Michael Ashe and linebacker Johnny LaPonte forcing the issue. Ashe turns right around on an offensive line that's helped Sean Cooke run for 1,520 yards, 26 touchdowns. The possible return of receiver Billy Bair boosts a Raiders offense with 11 of its 18 turnovers the last two weeks.

Advancement: The winner advances to a Class 5A second-round game against the winner of No. 9 Payton (7-2) at No. 8 Tinley Park (7-2).

No. 11 St. Edward (6-3) at No. 6 Richmond-Burton (8-1)

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday

Outlook: It's a contrast in styles as big, physical Richmond-Burton hosts athletic St. Edward, which counters with speed. The Rockets' only loss was to undefeated Big Northern East champion Marengo, 28-14. R-B's double-tight, wing-T offense dares opponents to stop running backs Joe Dittmar and Joe Wolfram, who have combined for nearly 1,500 rushing yards. "They're a typical Big Northern-type of team," St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said. "They're huge, they run the ball and they have tough kids and running backs. We like to think we have our own brand of toughness. Our kids have to play above their normal level, above their potential and rise to the occasion." St. Edward's offense is led by the school's career rushing leader, Dwayne Allen, who this season has 153 carries for 1,495 yards and 21 touchdowns. Reigning Metro Suburban East defensive player of the year Jake French enters with a team-best 71 tackles, including 9 sacks.

Advancement: The winner advances to a Class 4A second-round game between the winner of No. 14 Dixon (6-3) at No. 3 Rockford Lutheran (9-0).

Class 4A

No. 13 Wheaton Academy (6-3) at No. 4 Geneseo (8-1)

Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Outlook: Wheaton Academy makes its second playoff appearance and first since 2009; Geneseo's 39 appearances lead the state. The visiting Warriors run spread, led by quarterback David Thrasher's 23 touchdown strikes and 1,514 yards passing compared with the team's 1,426 yards rushing, 713 yards from Chase Martin. Geneseo quarterback Will Daniels' 476 yards passing (a crisp 31 of 43 on the bootleg) are a fraction of the Maple Leafs' 2,886 yards rushing, a Wing-T scheme stable since the 1960s. Yet Geneseo coach Larry Johnsen Jr. said Wheaton Academy is among the closest in style to his club, only with Daniels operating under center. Up to seven backs are led by Quinn Singbush's 917 yards rushing, 13 touchdowns. To counter Geneseo's sizable linemen such as Jacob Van Doren, Wheaton Academy coach Brad Thornton will bolster his defense with 6-4, 230-pound David McDonell. Remember: No. 16 Wheaton Academy's 20-19 win in 2009 over No. 1 Hillcrest.

Advancement: The winner advances to a Class 4A second-round game against the winner of No. 12 Herscher (6-3) at No. 5 Manteno (8-1).

Class 3A

No. 3 IC Catholic Prep (8-1) at No. 14 Winnebago (5-4)

Game time: 7:15 p.m. Friday at Plunkett Athletic Complex in Elmhurst.

Outlook: Their last meeting was Winnebago's 30-29 victory in a 2011 Class 3A first-round game. Winner of eight straight, Metro Suburban West champion IC offers tailback Jordan Rowell with 1,082 yards receiving, 17 touchdowns, 317 yards receiving. Sophomore Lazerick Eatmen also may rotate in after a solid Week 9. The difference maker in this game may be sophomore quarterback Luke Ricobene, who has completed 59 percent of his passes for 1,614 yards and 17 touchdowns, his primary target being Pat Jordan. Key to the Knights' go-go offense is how lineman Jimmy Kenneally will handle Winnebago's 6-foot-3, 330-pound nose tackle Dylan Connolly at the head of this 50 defense. Jace Warkentein and Justin Whitehouse are Winnebago's top tacklers and also fullbacks in a double-tight I-formation rotation with tailbacks Austin Leitzinger and Nate Alldritt. Winnebago is physical and downhill on both sides of the ball but one of two 3A teams to have allowed more points than it's scored.

Advancement: The winner advances to a Class 3A second-round game against the winner of No. 11 DePaul College Prep (6-3) at No. 6 Elmwood-Brimfield (8-1).