Playoff football pairings: at first glance

Class 8A

No. 12 York (6-3) at No. 5 Warren (8-1)

At first glance: After beating 7-2 Highland Park and Downers South to start the season, York lost to the next three playoff teams on its schedule. Warren lost only to unbeaten Maine South, 35-21. So watch for York quarterback Tom Judge's Charlie Goro imitation.

No. 10 Glenbard North (6-3) at No. 7 Loyola Academy (7-2)

At first glance: Despite a better record than last year, the Panthers have a much tougher draw. A showdown between the state's top conferences - the DuPage Valley and the Chicago Catholic Blue. Getting RB Tyler Doll's ankle healthy is crucial for the Panthers.

No. 9 Hinsdale Central (7-2) at No. 8 Downers South (7-2)

At first glance: The West Suburban Gold champion Mustangs host the Silver's runner-up. Keep an eye on two of the state's top junior QBs as the Red Devils' John Whitelaw and Downers South's Chandler Whitmer, who has an offer from Illinois, go head to head.

No. 15 Simeon (6-3) at No. 2 Naperville North (9-0)

At first glance: After a unbeaten run through the DuPage Valley, it's hard to imagine the Huskies struggling in this one. Avoiding a letdown from Friday's thriller over WW South is the focus. That and keeping RB Nick Mlady and the double-wing run game churning.

No. 14 Waubonsie Valley (6-3) at No. 3 Lincoln-Way E. (8-1)

At first glance: Avoiding its third one-and-done appearance in four years will be a tough task for Waubonsie. Then again, Warriors quarterback Tyler Castro is outstanding, the defense tight, the ground game has improved and Paul Murphy won't be outcoached.

No. 11 Naperville Central (6-3) at No. 6 Mt. Carmel (7-2)

At first glance: A Redhawks upset would avenge a 2006 quarterfinal loss. One of two showdowns between the DuPage Valley and the Chicago Catholic Blue, the challenge is on the Redhawks' defense: Mt. Carmel's averaging 44 points since starting out 2-2.

Scouting Class 8A: Among the many teams with a title shot, Naperville North's 8A defense is of particular interest. While Bolingbrook (9-0) and Lincoln-Way East (8-1) also roam the lower 16, unbeaten Bartlett and Maine South are favored in the upper 16.

Class 7A

No. 8 Wheaton North (5-4) at No. 1 Glenbard West (9-0)

At first glance: Two traditional powers meet for the third time in the postseason, the first time since 1989. A big factor will be the health of Northwestern-bound Falcons RB Mike Trumpy (hamstring) and Notre Dame-bound Hilltoppers OL Chris Watt (ankle).

No. 7 Downers N. (5-4) at No. 2 WW South (8-1)

At first glance: While the Trojans got their playoff-clinching win on Saturday, WW South looks to rebound from its first regular-season loss since 2004. The Tigers need to slow Downers North's option. The Trojans need to contain WW South's overall team quickness.

Scouting Class 7A: If the top seeds advance in the lower bracket, you'll see Glenbard West and WW South in the quarters. A semifinal against either St. Rita (8-1) or East St. Louis (8-1) likely awaits. Three of the four unbeatens, however, dominate the upper bracket.

Class 6A

No. 11 Riverside-Brookfield (6-3) at No. 6 Glenbard S. (7-2)

At first glance: Warm up the scoreboard. Glenbard South's defense has a week to figure out the Bulldogs' high-flying A-11 offense where everyone's potentially an eligible receiver. Led by QB Trace Wanless, the Raiders can put up big numbers as well.

Scouting Class 6A: Several bright spots in the Raiders' draw include having defending 6A champ Joliet Catholic, Sacred Heart-Griffin and Providence in the opposite bracket. And, unlike last year, the top seed (Lemont) wouldn't be seen until the semis.

Class 5A

No. 16 Clark (5-4) at No. 1 Montini (9-0)

At first glance: The Broncos' win over Driscoll earned the upper bracket's top seed over 9-0 Robeson. If Montini wins its first two games against Clark and the Marshall-Hillcrest winner, it could face St. Francis - or former Driscoll coach Tim Racki's No. 5-seeded Nazareth team.

No. 13 Belvidere North (5-4) at No. 4 St. Francis (8-1)

At first glance: Coach Greg Purnell, his staff and a great senior class have been awesome. But provided St. Francis beats Belvidere North a probable second-round awaits with Nazareth, which lost (big) to only Joliet Catholic and Carmel - and beat Clark 51-6.

Scouting Class 5A: Montini, St. Francis, Nazareth ... all fine and dandy. But in the southern half of the state lurks two No. 1s - speedy Cahokia and the top team in 5A all season, defending state champion Metamora, on a 23-game winning streak.

Class 4A

No. 13 Herscher (5-4) at No. 4 Driscoll (7-2)

At first glance: A "low" seed for Driscoll? The Highlanders were a No. 5 seed in 2006 and went on to win the sixth of their seven straight titles. Placed one class higher than predicted, Driscoll may have a quarterfinal against No. 1 Aurora Christian (9-0) on its plate.

Scouting Class 4A: Breese Mater Dei, which Driscoll beat 35-0 in that 2006 title game, is one of two No. 1 seeds in the lower half of 4A. With two-time defending 3A champ Plano now No. 16 in 4A, the northern half is up to Driscoll, AC, even No. 3 Reed-Custer.

Class 3A

No. 13 Lisle (5-4) at No. 4 Aledo (8-1)

At first glance: For battling to make the playoffs Lisle earns a trip to play a team that averaged 39.4 points and beat five 2008 playoff teams. The Green Dragons have reached 12 straight 2A playoffs, winning it all in 2001 and 2002, placing second in 2005 and 2006.

Scouting Class 3A: Should Lisle survive Aledo it'll probably face No. 5 seed Stillman Valley (8-1). Illini West, Aledo's only loss, is the upper bracket's top seed. Wilmington earns a No. 3 for its 9-0 season. Lower bracket No. 1 Greenville (9-0) lost by a point to 2008 runner-up Columbia in the semifinals.

Class 2A

No. 15 Immaculate Conception (5-4) at No. 2 Orion (8-1)

At first glance: The word out of the Suburban Catholic Conference is if IC can make it past the first round, as in 2005, the Knights (50 playoff points) could make a long run. That'll be tested by an Orion team that outscored its opponents by a total of 367 points to 129.

Scouting Class 2A: Defending 2A champion Dakota is a No. 2 seed in Class 1A; 2007 runner-up Westville (7-2) is in the southern bracket. That opens it up for such teams as No. 1 seeds Momence and Auburn, perennials Casey-Westfield and Bureau Valley.

- Dave Oberhelman and Kevin Schmit