Talking with ‘Edgy’ Tim: Can Barrington, York keep magic going? Who you got in Hersey vs. Glenbard West?

Now that we’re through the rough edges of the expanded IHSA football playoffs, the brackets are returning to normal.

How did it go? This week’s edition of Talking with “Edgy” Tim O’Halloran dives into that and more as the Rivals prep football expert sits down again with Daily Herald columnist Kevin Schmit.

Let’s get to it.

Kevin Schmit: Now that we’re through the first couple rounds, how do you think it went with the debut of the expanded playoffs?

“Edgy” Tim: Has it really changed a lot? Not really. I mean, I guess it has with more kids playing an extra game. You don’t get a lot of opportunities to play an extra game in football. So that’s nice, getting kids an extra game.

There’s going to be blowouts. There were blowouts in the old system and there are blowouts in the new system. I don’t think there were many more lopsided scores this year than there were in past years.

Again, I’m in favor of kids playing more. As long as it’s safe and everything’s cool from that angle. I don’t think it’s wrong to have more kids playing.

It felt a little weird, and I don’t think the crowds were great, but no harm no foul. There also weren’t great crowds in the old system. I don’t know how you’d want to measure it, but I think it was good.

KS: Barrington and York are teams that have survived two rounds in the expanded playoffs. Can they keep it going this weekend against Class 8A powers Mount Carmel and Loyola, respectively?

ET: At this time of year, it’s about matchups. Obviously (running back Lamar) Osterhues has been huge for Barrington and he’s been their main threat offensively. But if you’re a one-man show, that one man better be spectacular against Mount Carmel.

It’s a different level of athlete and player at Mount Carmel. Barrington will give it everything they have, but I think that’s a really rough matchup against Mount Carmel.

York is a little more interesting. I think style of play and the way (Don) Gelsomino coaches them, he does a great job. They want to establish the run, they want to control the clock. They’re not going to deviate too much from what they’ve done all year. The quarterback, (Zack) Assaad, is more than capable of throwing the ball when they need to and keeping them off-balance a little bit defensively.

If York can control tempo and run their offense, that game could be interesting. Still don’t like them winning at Loyola. But I think York has a better shot of winning.

KS: Batavia has been so successful in the playoffs in recent years. But the Bulldogs have defending Class 7A champion Brother Rice up next in the second round. What will it take to beat the Crusaders?

ET: The offense has got to be on its game, and it has been all year. (Quarterback Michael) Vander Luitgaren, I’ve been impressed with him. I’ve been impressed with his running, which is something he’s really worked on. He’s definitely a weapon with his feet. Love the skills, he’s got some great receivers.

But they’re going up against a Brother Rice defense that’s got some serious, serious talent. Brayden Parks is a four-star defensive tackle committed to Notre Dame. Defensive lineman Kameron McGee is the No. 1 prospect in the nation. He already looks like a college sophomore. He’s physically ready to play college football right now and still has another year of high school.

The scariest thing about Brother Rice is Sam Holcomb, the freshman quarterback. He’s played in big games already and doesn’t seem fazed by it.

Batavia’s got to get into a shootout. They’ve got to mix things up offensively. They’ve got to do everything they can to keep Brother Rice off its game. That’s kind of what Lincoln-Way East did in Week 1.

KS: Hersey against Glenbard West in Class 7A … who you got?

ET: Offensively, I think Glenbard West can hang with them. But to me the matchup is going to be Glenbard West’s defense against (quarterback Jake) Nawrot and Hersey’s offense. We’ll see if that defense is able to man up those receivers and throw them off their routes a little bit.

And bring pressure. I saw Nawrot against Prospect and they didn’t bring a lot of pressure. Glenbard West is going to bring pressure. They’re going to bring a blitzer or mix things up. I don’t see (Hilltoppers coach Chad) Hetlet sitting back and letting a quarterback pick them apart out of the pocket.

It should be interesting. In an upset, I’ll take Glenbard West. They can be their own worst enemy, but I don’t know how tested Hersey has been this season.

KS: Where are you going this weekend?

ET: Friday I’m seeing St. Rita at Downers Grove North. It should be under two hours, unless it goes overtime. Both play really good defense, both like to run the ball. Both have capable quarterbacks. Just old-school, hard-hitting defense.

Saturday I’ll see Montini at Morris because I’m 15 minutes away from Morris. I like both quarterbacks. Morris’ Marion Persich is like 6-foot-3, maybe 230 pounds. He’s like a guard coming at you, and he’s very athletic. He’s tough. And then you’ve got the Izzy special at Montini with Israel Abrams. It’ll be interesting with both those quarterbacks going back and forth.