IHSA football first-round playoff matchups for Titans, Trevians, Ramblers, Hawks
The pandemic canceled last season's Illinois High School Association football playoffs.
The boys are back.
The destination is Huskie Stadium on the campus of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb on Thanksgiving weekend.
Here is a quick look at the first-round matchups for teams in the Herald area, all in the highest classification, 8A.
No. 32 Downers Grove South (5-4) at No. 1 Loyola Academy (9-0)
Time: Noon Saturday.
Sneak peek: The visiting Mustangs are the sole Class 8A team to have allowed more points than it's scored. Loyola averaged 37 points against seven playoff teams without injured star tailback Marco Maldonado for most of them. Linebacker James Kreutz is an all-state candidate.
Advancement: The winner moves to the second round against the winner between No. 17 Naperville Central (6-3) at No. 16 Naperville North (6-3).
No. 23 O'Fallon (6-3) at No. 10 Glenbrook South (7-2)
Time: 7 p.m. Friday.
Sneak peek: Glenbrook South, 14-23 all-time in the playoffs, makes its first appearance since 2017. The backfield duo of Matt Burda and Will Collins is a handful. Only Southwestern Conference peer Edwardsville, at South Elgin, matches O'Fallon's travel time in Class 8A.
Advancement: The winner moves to the second round against the winner between No. 26 Sandburg (5-4) at No. 7 Hinsdale Central (8-1).
No. 27 New Trier (5-4) at No. 6 Maine South (8-1)
Time: 7 p.m. Friday.
Sneak peek: Of course these Central Suburban League South foes had to play each other - again. Maine South outlasted the Trevians 49-42 last Friday for a fifth consecutive unbeaten league title. Maine South's 28 straight playoff appearances are the state's longest active streak.
Advancement: The winner moves to the second round against the winner between No. 22 Evanston (6-3) at No. 11 Plainfield North (7-2).