Lincoln-Way East, St. Laurence, Loyola and Mount Carmel are picks to click for second round of the state playoffs.
Lincoln-Way East (10-0) at Minooka (8-2)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Griffins and Minooka are meeting for the third time in the last four years, with all three games coming in the second round of the Class 8A playoffs
Lincoln-Way East earned a 35-7 win in 2021 at Minooka and a 28-0 win last season in Frankfort.
It would take a massive upset to make the third time a charm for Minooka, which has gotten solid play from junior quarterback Zane Caves and strong defensive play.
Lincoln-Way East is a different beast, however. Led by junior quarterback Jonas Williams, an Oregon recruit, the Griffins are averaging 45 points.
X-factor: Zion Gist, Lincoln-Way East, senior, running back.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Lincoln-Way East.
St. Rita (8-2) at Willowbrook (7-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The Mustangs hit the road in Class 7A following a 45-3 first-round win over Rockford Guilford.
But the trip is not nearly as long as many expected because Willowbrook upset Rockton Hononegah 40-21.
The Warriors are no strangers to going deep in the playoffs, having reached the quarterfinals or better five times in the last decade.
Willowbrook, paced by junior quarterback Jahonise Reed, has won six straight.
It will be a step up in competition against a tough Mustangs’ defense led by senior linebackers Justin Buckner and James Kingsbury.
Junior quarterback Steven Armbruster appears to be hitting his stride for St. Rita.
X-factor: Nick Herman, St. Rita, senior, running back.
Steve Millar’s prediction: St. Rita.
Wheaton Academy (9-1) at St. Laurence (7-3)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday.
Matchup breakdown: This Class 4A showdown is a rematch of a 2023 semifinal classic, which St. Laurence won 31-30 thanks to a blocked extra point in double overtime.
The rematch could be just as exciting as two of the state champion favorites in the class do battle.
Wheaton Academy has won nine straight, with its only loss coming to Second Baptist from Houston.
Although Wheaton Academy’s competition was not the stiffest in the Chicagoland Christian Conference, senior quarterback Nathan Downey has thrown for 1,559 yards and 19 touchdowns and the Warriors are allowing just 8.4 points a game.
St. Laurence was 5-0 with senior quarterback Chase Kwiatkowski in the lineup. After missing the last month of the regular season with an injury, the Illinois State recruit then returned for a 35-17 first-round win over Richmond-Burton.
X-factor: Cory Les, St. Laurence, junior, running back.
Steve Millar’s prediction: St. Laurence.
Loyola (8-2) at Marist (9-1)
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Matchup breakdown: The two-time defending Class 8A champion Ramblers come to the South Side on a roll, boosted by a 31-7 rout of Mount Carmel in Week 9 and a 48-6 playoff-opening won over Belleville West.
Senior quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald, son of former Northwestern coach and Sandburg star Pat Fitzgerald, has been hampered by injuries most of the season but seems to be healthier and rounding into form for Loyola.
Fitzgerald is committed to walk on at Iowa, where he will be teammates with Marist senior defensive lineman Brad Fitzgibbon.
The RedHawks can end Loyola’s reign if Fitzgibbon and the rest of a strong defensive front can wreak havoc and senior running back John McAuliffe, a Cornell commit, has another big game.
X-factor: Brendan Curran, Marist, senior, receiver/kicker.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Loyola.
St. Charles North (9-1) at Mount Carmel (7-3)
Kickoff: 5 p.m. Saturday.
Matchup breakdown: Two strong contenders in Class 7A meet in the second round.
The Caravan responded nicely from a Week 9 setback against Loyola, rolling to a 56-14 win over Harlem in Round 1.
Mount Carmel had success on the ground with senior running back Danyil Taylor Jr. If the Caravan can continue to run the ball, they will be tough to stop.
St. Charles North had a huge win in Week 9, prevailing 35-21 over previously unbeaten Geneva, and took care of Rolling Meadows 49-14 in Round 1.
This is a battle of top-tier senior quarterbacks as Mount Carmel’s Jack Elliott is committed to Vanderbilt and St. Charles North’s Ethan Plumb is a Division I prospect.
X-factor: Quentin Burrell, Mount Carmel, sophomore, receiver.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Mount Carmel.
