Talking with ‘Edgy’ Tim: Takeaways from the opening round of the IHSA football playoffs

Last weekend was odd. There’s no getting around it.

We enjoyed the “opening” round of the IHSA football playoffs, while all the top seeds enjoyed a week off and a bye into the “first” round.

It’s good timing for another edition of Talking with “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran, the Rivals prep football expert who will sort it out for us in this week’s conversation with Daily Herald columnist Kevin Schmit.

Let’s get to it.

Kevin Schmit: When it comes to the Daily Herald area, did anything surprise you last week from the opening round?

“Edgy” Tim: Not a lot, but I thought the area did well. I was a little surprised Aurora Central Catholic won (against Carver) because they’ve been up and down all year. And they’re probably going to win again this week (against Noble/Rauner).

Lisle losing to Sandwich the way they did, getting blown out. I thought that game would be closer. I wasn’t surprised with Rolling Meadows beating Addison Trail. I thought that’d be a good game, and it was.

I thought Naperville Central played well against Warren. Got to see a good game with some good players. Got lucky picking that one to see in person. Got to see (Naperville Central junior receiver) Mark Williams and some other guys up close.

But overall, I thought the area stood up pretty well. I don’t know if that was a surprise, but I didn’t know what to expect from some of those teams.

KS: What kind of impact will the bye week have on the higher seeds?

ET: I’ve talked to a lot of coaches about it. That’s one of the first things I talked to them about, what their approach has been, and everyone’s had a different approach.

Some guys give an extra day or two of rest and pick it back up this week. There’s been a lot of crossing state borders to get answers because other states have been doing this for a while. So our coaches have been seeking their advice.

I don’t think it’ll have a very big impact. Obviously if a higher seed loses, can they use that as an excuse? I don’t know, maybe. It’ll be interesting to see if teams come out flat. I don’t think it’ll happen but you never know.

Until we get through the round, I don’t think we’ll have an answer. But it’s interesting because everyone’s taking a different approach. Some aren’t treating it any differently than any other week, some are giving kids days off. We’ll see. This is something new for all of us.

KS: Power conferences like the DuKane and the West Suburban Silver dominated last week. Will that dominance continue?

ET: I think the West Suburban Silver for sure is going to continue to dominate. I’ve got Hinsdale Central, Lyons, York, Glenbard West, Downers North all winning.

The DuKane is interesting. I think St. Charles North loses to Brother Rice. That’s a tough matchup. Batavia against Lincoln-Way Central could be close. Lincoln-Way Central is very well coached. The last time they played (in 2024), Lincoln-Way Central built a 21-0 lead and Batavia stormed back to win 25-21. So Batavia knows how dangerous they can be. That’ll be one worth watching.

Glenbard North, I have a feeling they’ll play Jacobs tough. St. Charles East is playing Harlem from the Rockford area, so that’s interesting. I think Geneva wins against Carmel.

I think one of the most interesting games this weekend is Wheaton Warrenville South against Joliet Catholic. I think the winner of that game can go a while in Class 6A. For both teams, this might be a tougher matchup than a round or two down the road.

KS: Which area teams might be sleepers heading into this weekend?

ET: Barrington’s interesting. I think Sandburg could be a good game for them. Fremd and Naperville North could be a good game.

I like Naperville Central. I don’t know how good they’ll do against Oswego, but they’re a little better than I thought they’d be. I don’t consider York a sleeper this week even though they’re the lower seed against Downers South.

St. Francis against Kaneland should be a really good game, but I think St. Francis might be the favorite even though they’re the lower seed.

I think we’ll see a fair share of blowouts, but maybe not as many as past years. Some of the Chicago Public League teams like Morgan Park and Simeon and King might be able to advance.

KS: Where are you headed this weekend?

ET: For Saturday, I got a sign — Carbondale at Thornton Fractional North. I went to Thornton Fractional North and I spent quite a bit of time in Carbondale while going to Southern Illinois. I have to go to that one. Like I said, it’s a sign.

Friday it’s either going to be St. Francis at Kaneland or Joliet Catholic at Wheaton South.