Every team has something meaningful to play for in Week 9
The focus this week naturally is on those football teams in the playoffs or fighting to get there.
It's a weekend filled with drama and intrigue. Who made it in? Who was left out? Who has the toughest road?
And late Saturday night, there are the annual questions directed toward Bloomington of why do we have to play them again, why can't we seed the field 1 through 32 and does anyone there understand geography?
It's all part of what makes high school football in Illinois unique. You still have to win at least five to get in and even that's becoming less and less of a given.
"It's the last pure sport, I truly believe," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci.
In every other sport, no matter how rough things might get in the regular season, there is always a chance for redemption in the postseason.
Not so in football. The majority of teams in Illinois will be packing up their gear after this weekend and waiting until next year.
And there will be plenty of tears from kids who know they will never be putting their school's uniform on again.
It's a lot of work for to prepare for a limited amount of opportunities.
"Nine months for nine games," was how Buffalo Grove coach Jim Farrell described it this week.
Some teams have been out of the playoff running for weeks. Others saw those hopes and dreams end just a week ago.
But there is still something to play for this weekend for everyone.
In Buffalo Grove's case, it's a chance to end someone else's playoff dreams as Prospect comes in looking for its fifth win.
"I think our kids always look forward to playing on Friday night," Farrell said. "(Saturday) morning when we watch film they're fired up and ready to get right back out there.
"That's really the great part about coaching these guys. They're always ready to get back on the field and hopefully we can come out and play the spoiler."
Wheeling will be looking to send head coach Dave Dunbar into retirement with a victory and trying to derail Elk Grove's hopes of an outright Mid-Suburban East title. And the Wildcats would love to finish with an effort similar to last week's 31-14 win over BG.
"I was really pleased with the outcome but more importantly the way we played," Dunbar said. "The guys kept hanging in there and kept battling and playing tough week after week."
Fremd is not used to being in this position after 16 straight years of playoff appearances. But the Vikings will be trying to send Donatucci, the winningest coach in MSL history, out as a winner for the 137th and final time in his 19 years in charge of the program.
"We know they'll put up their best for their coach," said Hoffman Estates coach Bill Helzer. "He's done a great job."
Hoffman will be driven to try and prevent that celebration. The Hawks would like to have one of their own for the first time this year against the program that has been the standard for success in the MSL West.
Maine West will also be trying to avoid a winless finish. Christian Liberty, St. Viator and Leyden hope to carry some late-season success into the offseason and next season.
"There's always an angle here," Helzer said. "The bottom line is high school football is supposed to be fun. You have to have fun."
Especially if it's the last chance to do that this weekend.
mmaciaszek@dailyherald.com