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Scouting Cook County first round football playoff games

Class 8A

No. 26 Schaumburg (5-4) at No. 7 Naperville Central (8-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last week: Schaumburg lost to Hoffman Estates 28-20; Naperville Central lost to Lincoln-Way East 28-7

Previous meeting: 1999, Naperville Central 56, Schaumburg 31

Advancement: Winner plays the winner of No. 10 Fremd vs. No. 23 Andrew

Outlook: The last time these two schools met was for the Class 6A title in 1999. Schaumburg is making its first playoff appearance since 2017. The Saxons got off to a fast start this year, winning their first four games. Sophomore Vince Heydecker, who had missed the past six weeks with an injury, returned last week to bolster the Saxons’ running game. He would finish with 34 carries for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Heydecker’s return should take pressure off quarterback Ray Black and Javonte McCoy, who have been shouldering most of the load offensively. Naperville Central is making its fourth consecutive playoff appearance. The Redhawks dropped their only game of the season last week to Lincoln-Way East. Running back Aidan Clark, who missed two games earlier this season with a PCL tear, is the key to the Naperville Central offense, which is averaging nearly 30 points per game.

No. 22 South Elgin (6-3) at No. 11 Barrington (7-2)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last week: South Elgin beat East Aurora 55-0; Barrington lost to Palatine 30-24

Previous meeting: Week 1: Barrington 64, South Elgin 21

Advancement: Winner plays winner of No. 27 Warren vs. No. 6 Palatine

Outlook: These two teams met in the opening week of the season and Barrington came up with the victory. The Broncos are looking to go on a long run in the playoffs like they did a year ago when they advanced to the semifinals. Nick Peipert continues his solid performance at quarterback completing nearly 70% of his passes for 1,989 yards and 19 touchdowns. Add in Calvin Jackson’s 1,313 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns has Barrington averaging 44 points per game. South Elgin has won its last five games. That includes their final two games where they have outscored their opponents 106-0.

No. 27 Warren (5-4) at No. 6 Palatine (8-1)

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Warren lost Libertyville 35-28; Palatine beat Barrington 30-24

Previous meeting: 1994: Palatine 42, Warren 6

Advancement: Winner plays winner No. 22 South Elgin vs. No. 11 Barrington

Outlook: Palatine has won 8 straight after losing their opener. Now the Pirates will look to get things rolling in the state playoffs. Unfortunately, they will have to do it without quarterback Will Santiago, who broke his arm last week against Barrington. However, new starting quarterback Detton Tietjens does have experience. He led the Pirates as starting quarterback his freshman and sophomore year with his team losing just one game. The senior moved to defensive back last year. Tietjens will have the luxury of playing behind the Pirates’ monster offensive line of Tony Balanganayi, Parker Brault, Nikki Jones, Evan Downer and Frank Stark along with tight end Jaylen Williams. Warren comes into the playoffs with four losses, all to playoff teams. The Blue Devils are led by running back Aaron Stweart, who is coming off of a 45 carry, 248-yard performance.

No. 23 Andrew at No. 10 Fremd (8-1)

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Andrew beat Neuqua Valley 41-21; Fremd beat Conant 52-6

Previous meeting: First meeting

Advancement: Winner plays the winner of No. 26 Schaumburg vs. No. 7 Naperville Central

Outlook: Fremd has not gone 8-1 or better in the regular season since 2009. In that year, the Vikings made a nice run in the playoffs, advancing to the quarterfinals. The 2024 Vikings look like they could be built for a deep run. They are averaging 42 points per game behind quarterback Johnny O’Brien, who has thrown for 2,636 yards and 31 touchdowns. Brennan Saxe has caught passes for 1,130 of those yards and 16 touchdowns. The Vikings will look to get up on Andrew early and force the Thunderbolts, who run a double-wing offense, out of their comfort zone.

No. 20 Maine South (6-3) at No. 13 Naperville North (7-2)

When: Saturday, 6 p.m.

Last week: Maine South beat Evanston 55-22; Naperville North beat Sandburg 44-34

Previous meeting: First meeting

Advancement: Winner plays the winner of No. 5 Marist vs. No. 28 Glenbrook South

Outlook: These two teams have combined to play in 181 playoff games, yet they have never met. Maine South has won five in a row after a slow start to their season. In those five wins, Maine South has outscored its opponents 221-74. Naperville North has also won five in a row with the Huskies outscoring their opponents 218-149. In their last two games, Naperville North has allowed 96 points. So, expect the Maine South offense, led by sophomore Jameson Purcell, to exploit that. The next playoff win for Maine South will be its 75th.

Class 7A

No. 24 Lincoln-Way Central at No. 9 Maine West (8-1)

When: Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Last week: Lincoln-Way Central beat Rich Township 51-12; Maine West beat Niles North 41-7

Previous meeting: First meeting

Advancement: Winner plays the winner of No. 25 Hoffman Estates vs. No. 8 Lincoln Park

Outlook: This is the second consecutive year Maine West is hosting an opening round playoff game. It should be a great ground battle between a pair of teams that feature their running back. Maks Makota has been the huge cog in Maine West’s offense. He has rushed for 1,284 yards on 166 carries and scored 22 touchdowns. But if Lincoln-Way Central stuffs the box, Maine West will have Tely Litas, who has completed 84-of-153 passes for 1,247 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dante Hicks is the go-to on the receiving end with 35 catches for 553 yards and 7 touchdowns. Lincoln-Way Central will counter with running back Tyler Tulk, who has 1,108 yards on 115 carries and 15 touchdowns.

No. 25 Hoffman Estates (6-3) vs No. 8 Lincoln Park (8-1) at Lane Tech

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last week: Hoffman Estates beat Schaumburg 28-20; Lincoln Park beat Payton 14-7

Previous meeting: First meeting

Advancement: Winner plays the winner of No. 24 Lincoln-Way Central vs. No. 9 Maine West

Outlook: Hoffman Estates is making its fourth consecutive state playoff appearance. Hoffman went 4-0 against 7A opponents this season, outscoring those opponents 190-52. Nate Cleveland continues to lead the Hawks on both sides of the ball. The senior has thrown for 797 yards and 10 touchdowns while rushing for 582 yards and 12 touchdowns. And he is a leader on defense at linebacker. Lincoln Park has not played a team outside of the Chicago Public League this year. They have also not played a team that has finished the season with a record better than 5-4. The Lions have played great defensively this season, allowing just 44 points while posting 5 shutouts.

No. 11 Hersey (6-3) at No. 22 Prospect (7-2)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last week: Hersey beat Wheeling 61-0; Prospect beat Buffalo Grove 71-27

Previous meeting: In week 7, Prospect beat Hersey, 30-27

Advancement: Winner plays the winner of No. 6 Normal vs. No. 27 West Chicago

Outlook: This is a huge first round rematch between teams that battled for the MSL East title. Both teams can light it up offensively, with each of them averaging nearly 40 points per game. Hersey comes in behind a fired-up Colton Gumino, who has taken his game to another level this year. Gumino has completed 61% of his passes for 1,484 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 445 yards and 13 touchdowns. Brandon Jenkins takes some of the pressure off of Gumino and has piled up 1,324 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. Prospect has won seven in a row with their only losses coming to Class 8A powers Lyons and Palatine. The Knights have their own two-headed monster. Quarterback Jack Skoog has completed 65% of his passes for 1,565 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 310 yards and four touchdowns. Noah Easter has busted off 1,075 yards on the ground and has scored 16 touchdowns.

No. 30 Rolling Meadows (5-4) at No. 3 St. Charles North (8-1)

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Rolling Meadows lost to Elk Grove 21-13; St. Charles North beat Geneva 35-21

Previous meeting: 2018: St. Charles North 24, Rolling Meadows 17

Advancement: Winner plays the winner of No. 14 Harlem vs. No. 19 Mt. Carmel

Outlook: First-year head coach Robbie Gould has Rolling Meadows back in the playoffs. Quincy Johnson’s play has been on the reasons why. The senior stepped into the quarterback role quote nicely and guided the Mustangs, completing 60% of his passes while throwing for 1,097 yards and 14 touchdowns. Meadows has also relied on the backfield of sophomore Luke Harvey, Vinny Piccolo and Keeling Murray. The trio have combined for 1,289 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Mustangs have a tough first round opponent in St. Charles North and their quarterback Ethan Plumb. The four-year starter who has a pair of D-1 offers leads a North Stars offense that is averaging 36 points per game.

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