Five quarterfinal playoff games to watch

Wheaton North (8-3) at Fenwick (8-3)

We've got two games to go until the state championship, and if there's one wish from our weekly five games to watch column, it's two more wins for Wheaton North and Wheaton Warrenville South to set up an all-Wheaton 6A final. The Falcons won a classic last week, reversing a 28-point loss to Geneva four weeks ago. They led Geneva almost the entire way in the rematch, fell behind for the first time with 1:23 remaining, then rallied to win 36-35 when Grant Neibch found Johnny Clayton for a 17-yard touchdown with 1.6 seconds left.

Hersey (11-0) at Lincoln-Way West (8-4)

And if there's a second wish for the next two weeks, it's two more wins from Hersey and Prospect for an all-MSL 7A state championship game. While the Knights travel 300 miles south for a matchup with East St. Louis, the Huskies have a much more manageable drive — 47 miles — and opponent. Hersey showed impressive toughness last week in a 31-21 win over Glenbard West. Quarterback Jake Nawrot threw three more touchdowns, giving him 38 on the season and still without an interception.

IC Catholic Prep (10-1) at Byron (11-0)

It didn't go well for Montini last week in a similar situation in the 4A playoffs when the two-time defending state champion Broncos lost at undefeated Morris. Now the Knights take their Chicago Catholic League tested, talented team out west to face unbeaten Byron in a matchup that could well be the 3A state championship game. The Knights are rolling through the playoffs so far, getting 197 rushing yards from sophomore Jakobe Baldwin last week against Johnsburg.

Wauconda (9-2) at Sycamore (8-4)

This was supposed to be a Northern Lake County Conference rematch between the Bulldogs and Antioch, and it would have been if not for a controversial finish last week in Sycamore's 32-28 win over the Sequoits. Now Wauconda, who lost 21-0 to Antioch in Week 9, gets its shot at the Spartans who have won three playoff games after a 5-4 regular season. In the quarterfinals for just the second time in school history, Wauconda has a chance to match its 2021 team for most wins in a season.

St. Francis (7-5) at Cary-Grove (9-2)

This is the only matchup this weekend between two schools in the Daily Herald coverage area. The Trojans and Huntley are left from the Fox Valley Conference, and for years Brad Seaburg's Cary-Grove squad has beat teams that are, on paper perhaps, more talented — most recently East St. Louis 23-20 in the 2024 6A state title game. The Fox Valley went 2-1 last week while St. Francis was part of the Chicago Catholic League that finished 10-4 in the second round. This is a private vs. public school matchup that will play a part in all the discussion high school fans know will intensify soon.