Daily Herald quarterfinal playoff previews

Class 8A

No. 7 New Trier (10-1) at No. 2 Huntley (11-0)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last week: New Trier 26, Homewood-Flossmoor 23; Huntley 42, Lane Tech 0

Outlook: Trailing Homewood-Flossmoor 15-12 last week, the Trevians reached into their trick bag for the go-ahead score, as quarterback Jackie Ryder threw the ball behind the line of scrimmage to Throy Nightingale, Jr., who tossed a halfback option pass to a wide-open John Baxter for a 49-yard touchdown. Earlier, Ryder threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Paul Liang. Ryder, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound senior, directs the Trevians’ offense, averaging 41 points per game. The Trevians possess a bonafide force in 6-foot-5, 250-pound senior tight end Harry Resis. Defensively, New Trier features linebackers Declan O’Meara, Mason Freiburger and Will Carlson, and cornerback/safety Rick Miller. The Trevians, who last finished above the .500 mark in 2022, own four shutouts in 11 games. Three weeks ago, New Trier earned a 42-28 victory over Evanston before a crowd of 26,000 at Northwestern’s new Ryan Field. The Trevians’ lone loss came in Week 4 against Maine South (35-28). The Red Raiders established a new single-season record for victories (11) against Lane Tech last week. Junior tailback Chase Hojnacki carried the ball 31 times for 245 yards and four touchdowns in Huntley’s second-round rout. Two years ago, Hojnacki was a freshman playing at Marian Central Catholic before transferring to Huntley. “I’m really proud of all these guys,” said Hojnacki, who has rushed for 1,579 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. “It felt great to come back to my hometown and play with the guys I grew up with.” Huntley coach Mike Naymola has a couple of junior standouts in Hojnacki and quarterback Malik Carter. “I feel fortunate to have him (Hojnacki) as a part of our program,” said the coach. “He’s an incredible kid who leads by example — a great football player.” Last week, Carter turned in another efficient performance, completing 15 of 20 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns. “His playmaking ability is one of the reasons why he’s one of the best quarterbacks in the state,” said Naymola. Carter has plenty of targets to choose from, including Matthew Schroeder, Jacob Marx, Carson Rowe and Brady Allegretti. Defensively, Tulowani Ajayi, Ashton Jones, Dominick Savino and Dechawn Jones anchor a unit that owns five shutouts.

Advancement: The winner advances to next week’s semifinals against No. 3 Loyola or No. 11 St. Ignatius.

Class 7A

No. 5 Prospect (10-1) at No. 4 East St. Louis (10-1)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Last week: Prospect 50, Guilford 10; East St. Louis 72. St. Patrick 12.

Outlook: Prospect is back in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2021. Their reward is a trip to play at defending 6A state champion East St. Louis, which opted to move up to 7A this season. “What a great opportunity,” Prospect coach Dan DeBoeuf said. “If you want to be the best you have the play the best. I always enjoy playing at schools I have never been to.” Prospect is coming off on explosive week. Led by Matthew Donnelly’s six-touchdown performance, the Knights cracked the 50-point mark for the second time in the playoffs and the fifth time this season. Donnelly, who runs behind Daniel Simon, Owen Dewey, Benaiah Johanson, Kevin Meyer and Liam McDonnell, has rushed for 1,599 yards and 23 touchdowns. Donnelly has also caught 34 passes for 443 yards and seven touchdowns. Jackson Cacini threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns last week. Cacini, an Eastern Illinois commit, has thrown this season for 2,432 yards and 23 touchdowns with Gordon Kemp catching 59 passes for 715 yards and 10 touchdowns. Prospect’s defense was buoyed by the return of Colin Fouch at linebacker. East St. Louis has outscored opponents 554-105. The Flyers, who beat Mt. Carmel 42-23 in the season-opener, are led by quarterback Reece Shanklin, who has thrown for 2,640 yards and 31 touchdowns. Shanklin’s many receivers include Kansas State commit Laron Baker (700 yards), Jahmori Ware (441 yards), Jamarion Flowers (432 yards) and Ronnie Gomiller, who has 582 receiving yards. Gomiller, committed to Cincinnati, is also the top rusher with 989 yards. Florida commit Raheem Floyd, a cornerback, and linebacker Omari Hogan lead the defense. “They have great team speed and explosiveness,” DeBoeuf said. “They are tough on both offense and defense. Obviously, a well-known program that will be a great test for us.”

Advancement: Winner plays the winner between No. 1 Normal and No. 8 Brother Rice.

No. 2 Hersey (11-0) at No. 23 Lincoln-Way West (8-4)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Last week: Hersey 31, Glenbard West 21; Lincoln-Way West 21, St. Laurence 14.

Outlook: The Huskies are looking to get to the semifinals for the first time since 1987 when they won the state title. Last week Hersey showed how tough it can be when the game was on the line. Led by Ryan Haefke, Drew Sather, Ryne Sather, Johnny LaMonica and Spiro Zarafonitis, the Huskies turned away Glenbard West on four plays from inside the two-yard line late in the game. Hersey’s Jackson Travis then ran the ball behind Ben Zebron, Charlie LaMonica, Justin Carrillo, Taetum Mulder and Johnny LaMonica for 10 consecutive plays in the final 5:11 to close out the game. Travis, who gained 126 yards in the game, now has 1,335 yards and 17 touchdowns. Jake Nawrot, who was named national player of the week by the Maxwell Football Club for his three touchdown passes and long touchdown run last week, continues his onslaught against opponents. The Kentucky commit has thrown for 2,859 yards and 38 touchdowns thanks to options like Josh Riggs, Jaxon Saint Paul, Dom Wentink, Kye Parker Peterson, Zel Walton and Travis. Lincoln-Way West finished sixth in the Southwest Suburban Conference. The Warriors entered the playoffs with a 5-4 record, which included a forfeit win over Kankakee. The Warriors, led by running back Jacob Howard and wide receiver Braydon McNulty, average 21.5 points while allowing 15.2. “We are excited for the challenge going on the road (against) a great opponent,” Hersey coach Tom Nelson said. “They are a great team, and they are in the quarterfinals for a reason.”

Advancement: Winner plays the winner between No. 3 Downers Grove North and No. 11 Richards.

No. 3 Downers Grove North (10-1) at No. 11 Richards (9-2)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Last week: Downers Grove North 17, St. Rita 7; Richards 21, Glenbard North 18

Outlook: When in doubt, Downers Grove North leans on its stingy defense for support. Trailing St. Rita 7-0 following an early pick-six by the Mustangs, the Trojans received a big effort from senior safety Jack Purgatorio last week. Purgatorio recorded a team-high 11 tackles and sealed the decision with his fourth-quarter interception. Reaching the state quarterfinals for the fourth consecutive season, Downers Grove North has been a recent model of consistency throughout the western suburbs. “We’ve got the best coaching staff in the state,” defensive back Connor Crawley said following last week’s victory. Senior tailback Grant Georgas carried the ball 20 times for 119 yards and a 26-yard touchdown with 6:13 remaining against St. Rita. Tailback Kevin Jay, who added 97 yards rushing on 15 carries, put the Trojans on top for good with a one-yard touchdown run. Defensive end Declan Davies recorded a sack last week, as the Trojans limited St. Rita to 121 total yards of offense. Downers Grove North, allowing eight points per game, owns four shutouts. Richards has won nine straight games since opening the season with losses to DePaul College Prep and Homewood-Flossmoor. Last week, bruising 6-foot-1 junior tailback Jordan Lewis rushed for 292 yards and a pair of touchdowns on a career-high 37 carries during the Bulldogs’ come-from-behind victory over Glenbard North. Senior quarterback Eric Jacobs, who has only recorded eight pass completions in two playoff games, hurt Glenbard North with legs, running for 121 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. Junior receiver Naquan Griffin, who caught touchdown passes of 65 and 78 yards in their first-round win over Niles North, had three receptions for 71 yards.

Advancement: The winner advances to next week’s semifinals against No. 2 Hersey or No. 23 Lincoln-Way West.

Class 6A

No. 7 Wheaton North (8-3) vs. No. 6 Fenwick (8-3)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Triton College, River Grove

Last week: Wheaton North 36, Geneva 35; Fenwick 38, Rockton Hononegah 13

Outlook: Following a 42-14 week eight loss to Geneva, the Falcons made the most of their second chance, capping an 80-yard scoring drive over the final 1:23 with a 17-yard touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Grant Neibch to Johnny Clayton in the back of the end zone with 1.6 seconds remaining. Neibch, who took over due to a midseason injury to his older brother, Burke, completed 24 of 39 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns as the Falcons won their third straight game. Senior tailback Mac Murray rushed for 97 yards and a three-yard touchdown, while Drew Mazeska recovered a fumble in the end zone for another score. Neibch connected with Ryne Shroff for an 18-yard touchdown pass. The Falcons also used some trickery, as kicker Rory Burke tossed a two-point pass to Shroff. Wheaton North began the playoffs with a 35-0 win over Rolling Meadows two weeks ago. Fenwick, the defending 6A state champion, counters with quarterback Myles Hill, who finished 18 of 22 for 340 yards and four touchdowns last week against Rockton Hononegah. Hill connected with Jack Thies (four catches, 99 yards) for three touchdowns, while tossing a 69-yard scoring strike to Jimmy Watts (two catches, 80 yards). Tailback Rocco Nero carried the ball 19 times for 85 yards and a touchdown, while Jean-Patrick Bordeaux-Walsh booted a 42-yard field goal. The Friars, who outgained Rockton Hononegah 469-143 last week, have won four consecutive games since their week seven loss (42-21) to Class 7A powerhouse Brother Rice.

Advancement: The winner advances to next week’s semifinals against No. 1 Harlem or No. 12 Niles Notre Dame.

No. 2 Normal West (10-1) at No. 6 Wheaton Warrenville South (8-3)

When: 2 p.m. Saturday

Last week: Normal West 33, Pekin 21; WW South 45, R-B 14

Outlook: Tigers junior quarterback AJ Rogers enters the quarterfinals on a heater with seven touchdown passes for 629 yards in the team’s first two playoff contests. Last week, Rogers completed 18 of 25 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns against R-B. Trailing 7-0 early, the Tigers grabbed a 21-14 halftime advantage before outscoring the Bulldogs 24-0 in the second half. Rogers has plenty of targets to choose from, including senior tight end Jacob Bellows, and junior wideouts Blake Ittersagen, Steven Harvey, and Keenan Yarbrough. Junior tailbacks Malachi Thomas (14 carries, 130 yards) and Trent Simpson (nine carries, 68 yards) each added touchdown runs last week, as the Tigers reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 2019. Defensively, senior safety Saajan Ray and junior cornerback Sean Lyle added two interceptions apiece against R-B. Sophomore kicker Drew Maletich provided another highlight with a 52-yard field goal late in the third quarter. Normal West, making its 16th consecutive postseason appearance, has scored 30 points or more in 10 of its 11 games. The Wildcats’ lone loss came against Normal Community High (42-15) in week nine. Sophomore quarterback Sammy Fornelli directs the Wildcats’ offense, flanked by senior receiver CJ Porter, junior wideout Kshaun Jones, and tailbacks David Burgert and Sean Golden. Maddox Watson recorded an interception to lead the Wildcats’ defense last week. Normal West has scored 88 points in its two postseason games.

Advancement: The winner advances to next week’s semifinals against No. 9 Quincy or No. 20 Nazareth.

Class 5A

No. 4 Wauconda (9-2) at No. 9 Sycamore (8-4)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Last week: Wauconda 40, Belvidere North 14; Sycamore 32, Antioch 28

Outlook: Wauconda is in the state quarterfinals for the second time in school history and first time since 1992, and heads west to Sycamore to face a Spartans team coming off a much-talked-about win against previously unbeaten Antioch. “Sycamore is a physical team that has the ability to move the ball through the air and on the ground,” Wauconda coach Chris Prostka said. “They have good size on both lines and players that move well.” Wauconda’s ground game is led by Brody Rudolph (1,296 rushing yards, 23 total touchdowns), while Luke Sickmeir has 948 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns. Mason Porten had 15 tackles last week and “had a strong game on the perimeter and pursued the ball,” Prostka said. Cashton Silton, who is the team leader with 90 tackles, had 14 tackles. Offensively, Brody McKenna ran 18 times for 200 yards last week. “Brody had one of his best games of the year. He ran tough,” Prostka said. Sickmeir leads the defense with nine interceptions. “Our defense has continued to gain a better understanding of assignment football,” Prostka said. Silton has been strong at linebacker while Brody Drozd, Khamryn Brown, Finn Loomis, Colton Zak and Jayden Sanders have been tremendous up front, Prostka said. “They are good pass rushers, but also tough against the run,” he added. Sycamore is led by junior running back-linebacker Dylan Curtis, who has 1,780 all-purpose yards, sophomore quarterback Chaz Wright, senior two-way lineman Will Rosenow and senior tight end-linebacker Peter Gehrig, who leads the team with 74 tackles. “Wauconda is a strong team that plays fast and physical,” Sycamore coach Rob Stover said. “They run the ball well and get the ball to playmakers through the air. Defensively, they play fast and get to the ball on every play. They score on special teams. It will take a great effort in all three phases on Saturday to be successful. Wauconda is playing with confidence right now, so it will be important to get off to a fast start. We need to control what we can control and execute in key situations.” A Wauconda win would tie the program record for most wins in a season, held by the 2021 team that went 10-1.

Advancement: Winner plays No. 18 St. Francis (7-5) or No. 6 Cary-Grove (9-2) in the 5A semifinals.

No. 18 St. Francis (7-5) at No. 6 Cary-Grove (9-2)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Last week: St. Francis 42, Woodstock 14; Cary-Grove 43, King 14

Outlook: After a 1-4 start to the season, the Spartans are beginning to look like the defending 5A state champions. Led by junior quarterback Jadon Wilson, the Spartans have scored 161 points in three lopsided postseason victories. Last week, coach Bob McMillen’s squad employed a trick play to grab a quick lead over Woodstock, as Tivias Caldwell, Jr. took a handoff from Wilson and pitched the ball back to his quarterback, who tossed a 51-yard touchdown pass to Greg Bess-Henning just 13 seconds into the game. Scoring on their first six possessions, the Spartans’ lead increased to 42-0, setting off a running clock midway through the third quarter. Caldwell, Jr. carried the ball 17 times for 137 yards and three touchdowns, while Wilson added a 15-yard scoring strike to Noah Turner. Defensively, senior safeties James McGrath and Tyler Dunlap, linebackers Bren Kolinski and Tyler Harris, and linemen AJ Redmon, Frank McMillen and Dragan Spasojevic headline a unit playing its best football of the season. Now, the defense prepares for Cary-Grove’s triple-option attack featuring a four-headed monster in quarterback Jackson Berndt and backs Shamrion Prude, Luke Cerasa and Ty Tenopir — with Travis Evelo providing depth off the bench. Berndt scored a pair of touchdowns, including a 13-yard run, and tossed a scoring pass to Tenopir last week against King. Leading 15-8 early in the second quarter, the Trojans tallied three straight rushing touchdowns to build a 30-8 halftime advantage. Prude scored on a 64-yard run as part of his 150-yard performance. Henry Kaiser and Zach Witt headline the Trojans’ defense.

Advancement: The winner advances to next week’s semifinals against No. 4 Wauconda or No. 9 Sycamore.

Class 3A

No. 3 IC Catholic Prep (10-1) at No. 2 Byron (11-0)

When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Last week: IC Catholic Prep 42, Johnsburg 7; Byron 47, Pontiac 8

Outlook: The state’s two top-ranked Class 3A squads collide in a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal clash — won by Byron (28-6). IC Catholic Prep, the state’s top-ranked Class 3A team according to the latest Illinois Media poll, scored 35 unanswered second-quarter points during last week’s second-round victory over Johnsburg. Sophomore tailback Jakobe Baldwin carried the ball 19 times for 197 yards and a touchdown last week, while backup quarterback Jake Yost completed 6 of 8 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns in place of injured starter Nate Lang. Grant Bowen (11 touchdowns), Jaden Penna (eight touchdowns) and Anthony Carroccio (six touchdowns) all caught touchdown passes last week. Defensively, Donnel Sallis, Jalen Banks and Bowen recorded interceptions, while Penna recovered a fumble. Coach Bill Krefft’s Knights have captured four 3A or 4A state titles since 2016. They will face another perennial powerhouse in Byron, the state’s second-ranked 3A squad. The defending 3A state champion Tigers own a remarkable 49-1 record the past four seasons — with the lone loss coming in a 14-13 second-round decision against Montini two years ago. Byron, winners of three state titles in five years, averages 51 points per game behind senior quarterback Denton Shank and tailbacks Landon Bonvallet, Dylan Dach, JJ Edmondson and Kole Aken. Bonvallet suffered a first-half lower body injury and did not return last week against Pontiac. Byron coach Jeff Boyer has guided the team to 12 consecutive postseason appearances. Defensively, the Tigers allow six points per game with three shutouts. Led by linebackers Ben Hiveley and Kaden McGough and linemen Dariel Rivera, Anthony Materazzo and Will Julian, just two teams have reached double figures against Byron this season.

Advancement: The winner advances to next week’s semifinals against No. 1 Richmond-Burton or No. 12 Hope Academy.

Class 2A

No. 3 Aurora Christian (10-1) at No. 2 El Paso-Gridley (11-0)

When: 5 p.m. Saturday

Last week: Aurora Christian 28, Maroa-Forsyth 7; El Paso-Gridley 41, Warrensburg-Latham 6

Outlook: The Eagles get an opportunity to face the state’s top-ranked Class 2A team, unbeaten El Paso-Gridley, which has outscored its opponents by a staggering 419-83 margin. Aurora Christian, which owns victories over 8A Elgin, 5A Wheaton Academy, and 3A Hope Academy, averages 35 points per game with an offense featuring sophomore quarterback Jesus “Juju” Vasquez and sophomores Jalen Callaway and Luke Baumann. Vasquez got the Eagles on the board last week with a four-yard touchdown run before they kicked it into another gear in the second half, outscoring Maroa-Forsyth 21-0. Callaway, who has accounted for 2,041 yards of combined rushing (1,477) and receiving (564) this season, took a direct snap for a 25-yard touchdown run, while adding a 77-yard scoring reception of a screen pass from Vasquez. Baumann, whose two interceptions on defense tied the school’s single-season record of eight, ran for 130 yards last week highlighted by a 46-yard touchdown run. “It’s great to have both Jalen and Luke — great to have a double punch,” said Eagles coach David Beebe. Junior defensive back Carson Moreno added an interception for the Eagles, who have won six straight games. El Paso-Gridley, which set a school single-season mark with 12 victories on its way to the 2A semifinals a year ago, features 6-foot-3, 200-pound quarterback/linebacker Owen Adams and receiving targets Braden Gibson (6-4), Braden Hayes (6-2), and Chavon Maxon (5-10). Tailback Aaden Adams added a pair of touchdown runs for the Titans last week. Defensively, linebackers Christian Clark, Owen Adams, lineman Connor Davenport, and cornerback Maxon anchor a unit that has held seven foes to single digits this season. The Titans’ closest game came in Week 5 — a 28-7 win over Tri-Valley.

Advancement: The winner advances to next week’s semifinals against No. 5 Wilmington or No. 8 Peotone.