Scouting Fox Valley playoff football quarterfinals
Class 7A
No. 3 St. Charles North (10-1) at No. 6 Brother Rice (10-1)
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
About the North Stars: While the conditions for the second round were not ideal for St. Charles North, a 26-23 over No. 14 Carmel was a more-than ideal result to advance to the quarterfinals for the second time in four seasons. The North Stars trailed 16-7 with 9:30 remaining in the second quarter before scoring 19 consecutive points, thanks to some break-out plays from running backs Carsen Durante and Tommy Vendl, who each scored touchdowns in the game. The defense, meanwhile, locked down the usually explosive Corsairs offense, forcing three consecutive turnovers and three turnover on downs. Quarterback JT Padron only completed three passes in the game, which included two touchdown passes to Durante and Braden Harms. However, with clear skies in the forecast, expect the pass game and the talented wide receiver room that includes Northwestern commit Keaton Reinke to fully come alive. St. Charles North is looking for its first semifinals berth since 2018.
About the Crusaders: Brother Rice, which finished second in the CCL/ESCC Blue Division behind undefeated Mt. Carmel, came into the playoffs as one of the heavy favorites to take the Class 7A title, and it has proven why in its first two games. The Crusaders have opened the playoffs not allowing a single point, getting a 57-0 victory over No. 27 Jefferson before following it with a 46-0 win over No. 22 Jacobs in the second round. Senior running back Jaylin Green was the main catalyst in the contest, taking 14 carries for 171 yards and four touchdowns, his second four-touchdown performance in the last three games. Joshua Garcia and Decatur Washington also scored in the contest. Army commit CJ Gray only completed one pass for 20 yards in the game, but has thrown for 1,446 yards and 20 touchdowns on the season, while the defense has been led by sophomore standout edge rusher Kameron McGee. The Crusaders enter the game averaging 38.9 points on offense while allowing just under 10 points a game on defense.
Advancement: Winner takes on the winner of No. 7 Lincoln-Way West (10-1) at No. 15 Downers Grove North (9-2).
No. 21 Glenbard North (8-3) at No. 13 Batavia (9-2)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
About the Panthers: Glenbard North has been the feel-good story of the western suburbs this season, going from two wins over the past two seasons to two wins in the playoffs. The Panthers grinded out a 22-14 victory over No. 5 Moline to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since it last made the playoffs in 2021. Senior running back Donato Gatses continued his incredible 2025 campaign, rushing for 235 yards and two touchdowns in the contest. He’s now up to 2,138 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns on the season, while also recording at least 100 rushing yards in all but one game this season, which just so happened to be the Panthers’ 41-13 loss to the Bulldogs back in Week 3. However, in that same game, senior quarterback Kyle Melody recorded a season-high 188 passing yards. And with senior wideout Zechariah Morris coming off a season-high 136 receiving yards last week, it may just add a bit of depth needed to beat Batavia for the first time since joining the DuKane Conference. Also playing a big part in the Panthers’ postseason success has been the defense, which shutout No. 12 Yorkville to open up the playoffs before only allowing two touchdowns against Moline.
About the Bulldogs: Batavia is back in the quarterfinals for the fourth straight season and 10th time since 2011 after getting a 42-21 victory over No. 4 Glenbard East in the second round. The Bulldogs continued to show their versatile roster in the game, with junior quarterback Michael Vander Luitgaren throwing to eight different receivers in the contest, finishing the night with 254 passing yards and three touchdowns. Senior tailback Henry Hahn got the most touches of the running back carousel, rushing for 103 yards and two touchdowns off 18 carries, with Preston Brummel close behind with 12 carries. The rush defense also was excellent in the contest, holding the Rams to just 50 yards on the ground and marking the sixth consecutive game that an opposing team hasn’t eclipsed over 100 rushing yards. The Bulldogs have defeated the Panthers in all seven DuKane Conference matchups, and also beat them 21-7 in the opening round of the Class 7A playoffs in 2017, when Batavia would eventually go on to win the state title.
Advancement: Winner takes on the winner of No. 25 St. Rita (7-4) at No. 16 Hersey (8-3)
No. 2 Burlington Central (10-1) at No. 11 Fenwick (8-3)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
About the Rockets: Central is looking to achieve program history, as no Rockets team has ever advanced to the state semifinals. The Rockets lost in the quarterfinals in 2000 (Class 3A), 2003 (Class 4A) and 2006 (Class 4A). They have beaten No. 15 Libertyville (21-17) and No. 7 Harlem (24-14) in their first two postseason games this season. Playing in a steady rain against Harlem, the Rockets kept the ball on the ground and relied on the downhill-running style of quarterback Landon Arnold. The senior didn’t complete a pass but came up with a 56-yard run — after Harlem pulled to within 17-14 with 5:36 left — to set up his own 3-yard TD run. Arnold ran for a game-high 139 yards on 18 carries. Senior Tyler McGladdery had 55 yards on 10 carries, including TDs of 3 and 8 yards. … For the season, Arnold has rushed for team-leading totals of 755 yards and eight TDs, while also throwing for 904 yards, 13 TDs and only three interceptions. … While Central is averaging 32.9 points a game during its seven-game winning streak, its defense has been its biggest strength all season. Led by LB Noah Hedlund (72 tackles, 61 solos), DL Aidan Nuno (seven sacks, 29 pressures), LB McGladdery (8.5 TFLs) and LB Liam Schultz (55.5 tackles, 4.5 TFLs), the Rockets have allowed only 118 points (10.7 a game).
About the Friars: Fenwick is back in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2021, when it went on to win the Class 5A title. The Friars are coming off an impressive 45-7 win over Rolling Meadows. Jake Thies rushed for 151 yards, had 201 total yards of offense and scored four TDs in the win. Jamen Williams threw for 219 yards and TDs to Thies and Raphiel Stewart, and also ran for a score. Excelling on both sides of the ball, Fenwick has topped 40 points in seven games and allowed either zero or one score in six of its 11 games. That defense has clearly got it back together after allowing a combined 73 points in losses to Mount Carmel and Carmel to close the regular season.
Advancement: Winner plays the winner of No. 4 Lake Zurich (9-2) at No. 1 Nazareth (10-1).
Class 5A
No. 2 Belvidere North (11-0) at No. 6 Cary-Grove (9-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Blue Thunder: Belvidere North won the Northern Illinois Conference 10 with a 9-0 record. The Blue Thunder opened the playoffs with a 49-20 win over No. 15 Chicago Noble/Bulls and then rallied to beat No. 7 Kaneland 30-25 on Friday in their second-round game. North trailed 25-24 late in the fourth on its home field, after being down 17-3 early in the second half. The Blue Thunder’s winning drive started at the Kaneland 42. Three plays later, QB Andrew Bucci went 32 yards up the right side for a score on his longest run of the night. … The Blue Thunder average 35.5 points a game and allow 13 a game. … Belvidere North is playing in the quarterfinals for the third year in a row and fifth time overall since the school opened in 2007. … Cary-Grove beat the Blue Thunder 42-7 in the quarterfinals last year in Cary.
About the Trojans: Cary-Grove hasn’t lost since starting the season with losses to Fox Valley Conference champ Prairie Ridge and Burlington Central, which is playing in the Class 6A quarterfinals. Led by QB Jackson Berndt and all-state FB Logan Abrams, the Trojans’ triple option has continued to pile up yards. Freshmen Ty Tenopir and Leo Zavala have complemented Berndt and Abrams, who’s rushed for 1,195 yards and 18 TDs in nine games. The Trojans opened the playoffs by beating No. 11 Sycamore 42-14, then pounded No. 14 St. Patrick 55-21 Saturday night at Triton College. They had seven runs of 40 or more yards and generated more than 400 yards in winning its ninth game in a row. Jason Ritter Jr. had two interceptions, and Brady Elbert had one to fuel the defense. Berndt had 122 rushing yards on only three carries, including a 72-yard score. Zavala (three rushes, 131 yards) had TD runs of 65 and 66 yards. … The Trojans are seeking a return to the semifinals for the third year in a row and fourth time in five years. They won the Class 6A title in 2023, before losing to host Geneva 28-26 in the semifinals last year.
Advancement: Winner plays the winner of No. 9 St. Francis (8-3) vs. No. 13 King (7-4).
— Joe Aguilar and Joel Boenitz from Shaw Local News Network contributed to this preview.