by Jeff Fisher
The Road to Champaign is now set for 256 Illinois high school football teams dreaming of winning a state football championship. The brackets in all eight classifications were released Saturday night.
Mt. Carmel and its 12 state football titles is in the party, but its state record consecutive playoff streak was in jeopardy until Friday night when the Caravan beat Loyola Academy, giving the team a 5-4 record and a postseason ticket for the 29th straight year. Mt. Carmel, which has won back-to-back state titles (7A in 2013, 8A in 2012), has never finished below .500 in Frank Lenti‘s 30 years as the school’s head coach.
Mt. Carmel is the #14 seed in 7A and will play on the road in the first round against #3 Batavia, which won 2013 Class 6A state title. If the Caravan can somehow win their 13th state title, they would tie Joliet Catholic‘s state record 13 titles.
Stevenson is the #1 seed in 8A with a perfect 9-0 record. The Patriots have been to the postseason 26 straight years, but don’t have a state championship on their resume. Stevenson advanced to the state semifinals last year.
In 4A, Rochester is going after its fifth straight state title. The Rockets, who are the only public school in Illinois to win four straight state titles, are the #3 seed. Rochester will try to tie Driscoll Catholic, which won five straight state titles. Driscoll is now closed. Joliet Catholic, Mt. Carmel, and Providence Catholic all have won four straight.
The state will release times and dates for all the 1st round games on Monday.
Brackets
5A
IHSA Football Playoffs – 1st Round
8A
Game 1 — #16 LaGrange (Lyons) (5-4) at #1 Lincolnshire (Stevenson) (9-0), TBA
Game 2 — #9 Gurnee (Warren) (7-2) at #8 Wilmette (Loyola Academy) (7-2), TBA
Game 3 — #13 Glenview (Glenbrook South) (6-3) at #4 Winnetka (New Trier) (8-1), TBA
Game 4 — #12 Chicago (Taft) (7-2) at #5 Chicago (Curie) (8-1), TBA
Game 5 — #15 Palatine (Fremd) (6-3) at #2 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West) (9-0), TBA
Game 6 — #10 Palatine (H.S.) (7-2) at #7 Huntley (8-1), TBA
Game 7 — #14 Skokie (Niles West) (6-3) at #3 Park Ridge (Maine South) (9-0), TBA
Game 8 — #11 Oak Park (O.P.-River Forest) (7-2) at #6 Barrington (8-1), TBA
Game 9 — #8 Aurora (Metea Valley) (5-4) at #1 Aurora (Waubonsie Valley) (8-1), TBA
Game 10 — #5 Chicago (Brother Rice) (6-3) at #4 Naperville (Central) (7-2), TBA
Game 11 — #7 Downers Grove (South) (6-3) at #2 Chicago (Simeon) (8-1), TBA
Game 12 — #6 Lisle (Benet Academy) (6-3) at #3 Hinsdale (Central) (7-2), TBA
Game 13 — #8 Joliet (West) (5-4) at #1 Oswego (H.S.) (8-1), TBA
Game 14 — #5 Bolingbrook (6-3) at #4 Chicago Heights (Bloom Twp.) (7-2), TBA
Game 15 — #7 Belleville (East) (5-4) at #2 Edwardsville (H.S.) (8-1), TBA
Game 16 — #6 Naperville (Neuqua Valley) (6-3) at #3 Flossmoor (Homewood-F.) (7-2), TBA
7A
Game 1 — #16 Skokie (Niles North) (5-4) at #1 Cary (C.-Grove) (9-0), TBA
Game 2 — #9 St. Charles (North) (7-2) at #8 Rolling Meadows (7-2), TBA
Game 3 — #13 Arlington Heights (Hersey) (6-3) at #4 Geneva (8-1), TBA
Game 4 — #12 Rockford (Auburn) (6-3) at #5 Rockton (Hononegah) (8-1), TBA
Game 5 — #15 Oak Park (Fenwick) (5-4) at #2 Highland Park (9-0), TBA
Game 6 — #10 Mundelein (Carmel) (6-3) at #7 Machesney Park (Harlem) (7-2), TBA
Game 7 — #14 Lake Zurich (5-4) at #3 Addison (A. Trail) (8-1), TBA
Game 8 — #11 Libertyville (6-3) at #6 Chicago (Lincoln Park) (7-2), TBA
Game 9 — #16 Quincy (Sr.) (5-4) at #1 New Lenox (Providence Catholic) (8-1), TBA
Game 10 — #9 Chicago (St. Rita) (6-3) at #8 Plainfield (East) (7-2), TBA
Game 11 — #13 Wheaton (W. Warrenville South) (5-4) at #4 Frankfort (Lincoln-Way North) (8-1), TBA
Game 12 — #12 Plainfield (North) (6-3) at #5 Normal (Community) (7-2), TBA
Game 13 — #15 New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central) (5-4) at #2 Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) (8-1), TBA
Game 14 — #10 Lansing (Thornton Fractional South) (6-3) at #7 Burbank (Reavis) (7-2), TBA
Game 15 — #14 Chicago (Mt. Carmel) (5-4) at #3 Batavia (8-1), TBA
Game 16 — #11 Belleville (West) (6-3) at #6 Bradley (B.-Bourbonnais) (7-2), TBA
6A
Game 1 — #16 Rockford (Boylan Catholic) (5-4) at #1 LaGrange Park (Nazareth Academy) (9-0), TBA
Game 2 — #9 Chicago (King) (7-2) at #8 Antioch (7-2), TBA
Game 3 — #13 Lake Forest (H.S.) (6-3) at #4 Belvidere (North) (8-1), TBA
Game 4 — #12 Riverside (R.-Brookfield) (6-3) at #5 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South) (7-2), TBA
Game 5 — #15 Aurora (Marmion Academy) (6-3) at #2 DeKalb (8-1), TBA
Game 6 — #10 Darien (Hinsdale South) (7-2) at #7 Crystal Lake (Central) (7-2), TBA
Game 7 — #14 Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge) (6-3) at #3 Lake Villa (Lakes) (8-1), TBA
Game 8 — #11 Grayslake (North) (6-3) at #6 Wheaton (St. Francis) (7-2), TBA
Game 9 — #8 Harvey (Thornton) (5-4) at #1 Lemont (H.S.) (9-0), TBA
Game 10 — #5 Crete (C.-Monee) (6-3) at #4 Yorkville (7-2), TBA
Game 11 — #7 Chicago (Morgan Park) (6-3) at #2 New Lenox (Lincoln-Way West) (8-1), TBA
Game 12 — #6 Oak Forest (6-3) at #3 Oak Lawn (Richards) (8-1), TBA
Game 13 — #8 Galesburg (H.S.) (5-4) at #1 Peoria (Notre Dame) (9-0), TBA
Game 14 — #5 Chatham (Glenwood) (6-3) at #4 Champaign (Centennial) (6-3), TBA
Game 15 — #7 Springfield (Southeast) (5-4) at #2 Normal (Community West) (7-2), TBA
Game 16 — #6 East St. Louis (Sr.) (5-4) at #3 Peoria (Richwoods) (7-2), TBA
5A
Game 1 — #16 Belvidere (H.S.) (5-4) at #1 Geneseo (9-0), TBA
Game 2 — #9 Chicago (North Lawndale Charter) (6-3) at #8 Park Forest (Rich East) (6-3), TBA
Game 3 — #13 Arlington Heights (St. Viator) (5-4) at #4 Chicago (Urban Prep/Englewood) (7-2), TBA
Game 4 — #12 Sycamore (H.S.) (5-4) at #5 Chicago (Westinghouse College Prep) (7-2), TBA
Game 5 — #15 Woodstock (Marian) (5-4) at #2 Chicago (Solorio Academy) (8-1), TBA
Game 6 — #10 Sterling (H.S.) (6-3) at #7 Burlington (Central) (6-3), TBA
Game 7 — #14 Burbank (St. Laurence) (5-4) at #3 Joliet (Catholic Academy) (7-2), TBA
Game 8 — #11 Chicago (DuSable) (6-3) at #6 Lombard (Montini) (6-3), TBA
Game 9 — #8 Morris (5-4) at #1 Normal (University) (9-0), TBA
Game 10 — #5 Washington (7-2) at #4 Mahomet (M.-Seymour) (7-2), TBA
Game 11 — #7 Champaign (Central) (6-3) at #2 Metamora (8-1), TBA
Game 12 — #6 Decatur (MacArthur) (6-3) at #3 Peoria (H.S.) (8-1), TBA
Game 13 — #8 Jerseyville (Jersey) (5-4) at #1 Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin) (9-0), TBA
Game 14 — #5 Waterloo (H.S.) (6-3) at #4 Marion (H.S.) (7-2), TBA
Game 15 — #7 Mattoon (5-4) at #2 Highland (8-1), TBA
Game 16 — #6 Troy (Triad) (6-3) at #3 Taylorville (8-1), TBA
4A
Game 1 — #16 Chicago (Payton) (4-5) at #1 Rockford (Lutheran) (9-0), TBA
Game 2 — #9 Kankakee (McNamara) (6-3) at #8 Herscher (7-2), TBA
Game 3 — #13 Aurora (Central Catholic) (6-3) at #4 Johnsburg (8-1), TBA
Game 4 — #12 Plano (6-3) at #5 Chicago (Phillips) (8-1), TBA
Game 5 — #15 Rock Island (Alleman) (5-4) at #2 Elgin (St. Edward) (9-0), TBA
Game 6 — #10 Mendota (6-3) at #7 Coal City (7-2), TBA
Game 7 — #14 Evergreen Park (6-3) at #3 Manteno (8-1), TBA
Game 8 — #11 Richmond (R.-Burton) (6-3) at #6 Dixon (H.S.) (7-2), TBA
Game 9 — #8 Bloomington (Central Catholic) (5-4) at #1 Greenville (9-0), TBA
Game 10 — #5 Effingham (H.S.) (6-3) at #4 Canton (7-2), TBA
Game 11 — #7 Stanford (Olympia) (6-3) at #2 Quincy (Notre Dame) (7-2), TBA
Game 12 — #6 Mt. Zion (6-3) at #3 Rochester (7-2), TBA
Game 13 — #8 Breese (Mater Dei) (5-4) at #1 Carterville (9-0), TBA
Game 14 — #5 Roxana (7-2) at #4 Freeburg (8-1), TBA
Game 15 — #7 Belleville (Althoff Catholic) (6-3) at #2 Columbia (8-1), TBA
Game 16 — #6 Murphysboro (7-2) at #3 Herrin (H.S.) (8-1), TBA
3A
Game 1 — #8 Aurora (A. Christian) (5-4) at #1 Sterling (Newman Central Catholic) (9-0), TBA
Game 2 — #5 Chicago (Raby) (5-4) at #4 Oregon (5-4), TBA
Game 3 — #7 Byron (5-4) at #2 Chicago (Bowen) (8-1), TBA
Game 4 — #6 Poplar Grove (North Boone) (5-4) at #3 Chicago (Harper) (6-3), TBA
Game 5 — #8 Paxton (P.-Buckley-Loda) (5-4) at #1 Wilmington (9-0), TBA
Game 6 — #5 Monticello (6-3) at #4 Elmwood [E.-Brimfield Coop] (7-2), TBA
Game 7 — #7 Peru (St. Bede) (6-3) at #2 Tolono (Unity) (8-1), TBA
Game 8 — #6 Erie [E.-Prophetstown Coop] (6-3) at #3 St. Joseph (S.J.-Ogden) (8-1), TBA
Game 9 — #8 Hillsboro (5-4) at #1 Williamsville (9-0), TBA
Game 10 — #5 New Berlin [Coop] (7-2) at #4 Decatur (St. Teresa) (7-2), TBA
Game 11 — #7 Pleasant Plains (6-3) at #2 Carlinville (8-1), TBA
Game 12 — #6 Auburn (7-2) at #3 Sullivan [S.-Okaw Valley Coop] (8-1), TBA
Game 13 — #8 Newton (5-4) at #1 Robinson (8-1), TBA
Game 14 — #5 Fairfield (6-3) at #4 Marshall (6-3), TBA
Game 15 — #7 Vandalia (5-4) at #2 Nashville (7-2), TBA
Game 16 — #6 Anna (A.-Jonesboro) (5-4) at #3 Mt. Carmel (7-2), TBA
2A
Game 1 — #8 Amboy [A.-LaMoille Coop] (5-4) at #1 Pearl City [Eastland-P.C. Coop] (9-0), TBA
Game 2 — #5 Knoxville (6-3) at #4 Spring Valley (Hall) (7-2), TBA
Game 3 — #7 Kewanee (Wethersfield) [A.-Wethersfield Coop] (5-4) at #2 Taylor Ridge (Rockridge) (8-1), TBA
Game 4 — #6 Orion (6-3) at #3 Aledo (Mercer County) (7-2), TBA
Game 5 — #8 Mackinaw (Deer Creek-M.) (5-4) at #1 Minonk (Fieldcrest) (9-0), TBA
Game 6 — #5 El Paso (E.P.-Gridley) (8-1) at #4 Momence (8-1), TBA
Game 7 — #7 Chicago (Hales Franciscan) (6-3) at #2 Chicago (Uplift) (9-0), TBA
Game 8 — #6 Gibson City (G.C.-Melvin-Sibley) (6-3) at #3 Clifton (Central) (8-1), TBA
Game 9 — #8 Carthage (Illini West) (5-4) at #1 Georgetown (G.-Ridge Farm) (7-2), TBA
Game 10 — #5 Athens [Coop] (6-3) at #4 Rushville (R.-Industry) (7-2), TBA
Game 11 — #7 Niantic (Sangamon Valley) [Coop] (6-3) at #2 Villa Grove [V.G.-Heritage Coop] (7-2), TBA
Game 12 — #6 Maroa (M.-Forsyth) (6-3) at #3 Downs (Tri-Valley) (7-2), TBA
Game 13 — #8 Nokomis [Coop] (6-3) at #1 Lawrenceville (8-1), TBA
Game 14 — #5 Tuscola (7-2) at #4 Shelbyville (7-2), TBA
Game 15 — #7 Eldorado (6-3) at #2 Johnston City (8-1), TBA
Game 16 — #6 Carmi (C.-White County) (6-3) at #3 Chester (8-1), TBA
1A
Game 1 — #8 Hebron (Alden-H.) [Coop] (5-4) at #1 Rockford (Christian Life) (9-0), TBA
Game 2 — #5 Lena (L.-Winslow) (6-3) at #4 Stockton (7-2), TBA
Game 3 — #7 Warren (5-4) at #2 Galena (H.S.) (7-2), TBA
Game 4 — #6 Dakota (5-4) at #3 Freeport (Aquin) (7-2), TBA
Game 5 — #8 Monmouth (United) (5-4) at #1 Toulon (Stark County) (9-0), TBA
Game 6 — #5 Ottawa (Marquette) (7-2) at #4 Polo (7-2), TBA
Game 7 — #7 Fulton (H.S.) (6-3) at #2 Forreston (8-1), TBA
Game 8 — #6 Princeville (7-2) at #3 Chicago (C. Hope Academy) (8-1), TBA
Game 9 — #16 Concord (Triopia) [Coop] (5-4) at #1 Carrollton (9-0), TBA
Game 10 — #9 Arthur (A.-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond) (7-2) at #8 LeRoy (7-2), TBA
Game 11 — #13 Oakland [Tri-County Coop] (6-3) at #4 Bismarck (B.-Henning) (8-1), TBA
Game 12 — #12 Milford [Coop] (7-2) at #5 Casey (C.-Westfield) (8-1), TBA
Game 13 — #15 Flanagan (F.-Cornell) [F.-Cornell-Woodland Coop] (5-4) at #2 Abingdon (A.-Avon) (9-0), TBA
Game 14 — #10 White Hall (North Greene) (7-2) at #7 Pawnee (8-1), TBA
Game 15 — #14 Astoria [South Fulton Coop] (6-3) at #3 Arcola (9-0), TBA
Game 16 — #11 Greenfield [G.-Northwestern Coop] (7-2) at #6 Camp Point (Central) (8-1), TBA
