The playoff expanded football Top 20
First and 10
1. Maine South (8-1) Next opponent: Downers Grove South
Comment: The Hawks got beat 40-0 in their season opener against Lincoln-Way East — and have proceeded to win their next eight games by a 353-69 margin. Maine South can light up the scoreboard on offense behind QB Jameseon Purcell and RB Niko Kokosioulis while their defense is playing as well as any in the area. Joey Vieyra and Daniel Mensah lead the 5-4 Mustangs.
2. Montini (9-0) Next opponent: Chicago Urban Prep
Comment: After winning the Class 3A state championship last year, the Broncos move up to 4A this season and look like the team to beat. Montini’s junior QB Israel Abrams has thrown for 2,720 yards and 22 touchdowns in a perfect regular season. The Broncos enter the postseason with 19 straight wins, the final 10 games last season and the first nine this year.
3. Glenbard West (8-1) Next opponent: Willowbrook
Comment: The Hilltoppers return to the playoffs in style, winning the ultra competitive West Suburban Silver a year after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Now they are primed for a big run, led by the likes of quarterback AJ Rayford and running backs Jamarcus Kelly and Max Hetlet.
4. Batavia (7-2) Next opponent: Hoffman Estates
Comment: Another year, another DuKane Conference championship for Batavia, now six in seven years — and what looks to be another team poised for a long postseason run. It’s not the easiest first-round draw against the Hawks, who went 6-3 and have played their own share of talented teams like Fremd, Barrington and Palatine.
5. Barrington (8-1) Next opponent: Elgin
Comment: The Broncos share one comment opponent with their first-round opponent. Barrington defeated South Elgin 48-20; Elgin lost to South Elgin 64-21. Barrington’s balanced offense with an equally dangerous passing and running game look sure to cause problems for the Maroons.
6. Fremd (8-1) Next opponent: Huntley
Comment: It’s not always easy to properly rate Fox Valley Conference teams who play all nine of their games against fellow league opponents with no out-of-conference games to compare. Past playoff success of teams like Cary-Grove and Prairie Ridge will surely catch the Vikings’ attention, who will try to move past Huntley behind QB Johnny O’Brien and company.
7. Warren (8-1) Next opponent: New Trier
Comment: The Blue Devils capped a strong regular season with seven straight wins including three in the final three weeks over playoff-bound teams, 49-21 over Libertyville in Week 9. Illinois recruit Aarron Stewart added 221 yards and 5 TDs to his eye-popping totals in that win and will be a focus for the 5-4 Trevians, whose best win came in Week 1 over Naperville North.
8. Downers Grove North (7-2) Next opponent: Prospect
Comment: This matchup of 7-2 teams from excellent conferences is as good as any in the first round. The four losses these teams had — 37-34 to Palatine, 38-34 to Hersey, 35-21 to Glenbard West (missing Minnesota recruit QB Owen Lansu) and 24-20 to Lyons — all four losses to playoff-bound teams who could make postseason runs themselves.
9. St. Charles North (8-1) Next opponent: East Moline
Comment: The North Stars, co-champions of the DuKane Conference along with Batavia, bring a balanced offensive attack led by quarterback JT Padron and wide receiver Keaton Reinke, a Northwestern recruit. Central Michigan-bound linebacker Matthew Plumb anchors the defense.
10. Hersey (7-2) Next opponent: Payton
Comment: The Huskies enter the playoffs on a roll, winners of seven straight games since losing to Warren and Barrington — a combined 16-2 — to start the year. Their 31-point margin of victory is the best in the 7A field, and their 46.8 points per game trails only fellow MSL East foe Prospect’s 47.7. QB Jake Nawrot is enjoying a breakout season.
Second and 10
11. Carmel 7-2 Beat Fenwick 38-24 / Normal
12. Prospect 7-2 Beat Elk Grove Village 56-28 / at Downers N.
13. Lake Zurich 7-2 Beat Stevenson 49-9 / Grant
14. York 6-3 Lost to Lyons 34-16 / at Lyons
15. Naperville North 6-3 Beat Naperville C. 21-15 / at Oswego
16. Wauconda 9-0 Beat Lakes 31-14 / St. Patrick
17. Burlington Central 8-1 Beat Dundee-Crown 42-6 / Libertyville
18. IC Catholic Prep 6-3 Lost to St. Rita 38-21 / at Hope Academy
19. St. Francis 6-3 Lost to Nazareth 42-16 / at Morgan Park
20. Cary-Grove 7-2 Beat Jacobs 44-29 / Sycamore