Prep primer: Prepare for the playoffs

It's an exciting time of the year, as conference champions are decided, state tournament are held — and Saturday night, in particular, as Illinois' football playoff qualifiers find out who they'll play in the first round of the postseason.

Kevin Schmit provides a thorough breakdown of the always-impressive football outlook in DuPage County, Jerry Fitzpatrick examines Bartlett's rise to annual excellence and Patricia Babcock McGraw investigates the odd combination of three pairs of brothers in Lake Zurich's starting lineup.

And, as Marty Maciaszek explains, even the non-playoff teams have plenty to play for as the regular season draws to a close. Find your favorite team and investigate the Week 9 matchups.

Barrington snaps Hersey's streak: In girls volleyball, Hersey had reeled off three consecutive Mid-Suburban League championships, but that changed Thursday night as host Barrington topped the Huskies 25-22, 25-21.

Ÿ Rosary's Amelia Wegman reached her 1,000th career kill in a victory over Geneva on Thursday, and Timothy Christian's girls volleyball team saw its winning streak hit 28 with a regular-season-closing victory over Ridgewood on Thursday.

Tennis, anyone? Conditions in the first round of the girls tennis state tournament Thursday were dismal, but Prospect, which has hosted the event in 34 of its 40 years, is rightfully celebrating its final year as tourney host. The action continues today as tournament manager Jean Rezny and Co. aim to get the event back on track with a friendlier forecast.

Find your Focus: Joe Aguilar pays a video visit to Libertyville, where veteran football coach Randy Kuceyeski is wrapping up his final season with the Wildcats. It's been anything but a smooth ride as Kuceyeski has battled cancer, but the program has high hopes entering tonight's game against Lake Forest — a victory would clinch a playoff berth for Libertyville.