Class 8A

No. 21 Oswego East (6-3) at No. 12 Bolingbrook (7-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Wolves: Oswego East, which had made seven consecutive playoff appearances from 2015-2022 under head coach Tyson LeBlanc, is back in after missing the postseason the last two seasons. Now the Wolves seek their first playoff win since 2016. Senior RB Jasiah Watson is over 1,000 yards rushing with three games at either over or right at 200 yards. QB Niko Villacci and WR Lincoln Ijams are also three-year starters. Oswego East started the season 4-0 and handed Yorkville its first loss in Week 7, but the Wolves lost their last two games. Ijams and the Wolves’ other top two receiver, Donavin Eason, both missed the first Bolingbrook game with injuries. Oswego East also committed four turnovers in that game, so clearly playing a cleaner game is a priority for the Wolves. That, and finding a solution for slowing down Bolingbrook’s lethal read-option running game.

About the Raiders: Bolingbrook ended its season on a six-game winning streak, beating Yorkville 26-21 in Week 9 to win the Southwest Prairie West championship. Bolingbrook beat Oswego East 32-7 in Week 5, at the time the Wolves’ first loss. Bolingbrook junior running back TJ Lewis ran for 197 yards and three touchdowns in that game. He ran for 203 yards and two TDs in Friday’s win over Yorkville. QB Tyson Ward ran for 118 yards and two TDs with the game-winner against Yorkville. Ward also went over 100 yards rushing in the win over Oswego East. Bolingbrook is unbeaten at home this season. Of the Raiders’ 22 starters, 17 are underclassmen, including talented sophomore edge rusher Darieon Prescott, the No. 2-ranked prospect in Illinois’ sophomore class.

Advancement: Winner plays the winner of No. 28 New Trier (5-4) at No. 5 Warren (8-1)

Friday Night Drive pick: Bolingbrook

No. 22 Naperville North (6-3) at No. 11 Oswego (7-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Huskies: Naperville North ended its season on a four-game winning streak – by a combined margin of victory of 21 points. The Huskies beat crosstown rival Naperville Central, who Oswego beat in Week 1, 21-15 in Week 9. William Eloe ran for 109 yards on 27 carries with two TDs – including the game-winner with 11.3 seconds left. Eloe has 1,085 yards and 14 TDs on the year. Junior quarterback Dante Colasante, making his first start in place of injured senior Josiah Nothacker, engineered the game-winning drive. The notable win in the late-season run came Week 8, when Naperville North beat Lincoln-Way East – playing without star QB Jonas Williams – 14-6. Naperville North senior defensive tackle Gabriel Hill, a 6-foot-2, 290-pound Indiana recruit, is one of the state’s top prospects.

This is the Huskies’ fifth consecutive playoff appearance. However, Naperville North has not won a playoff game since 2010 – head coach Sean Drendel’s first season.

About the Panthers: Oswego, despite graduating all but a handful of starters, is back in the playoffs for the 12th time since 2012 under head coach Brian Cooney. The Panthers started the season 4-0, then won their last two games over Oswego East and Plainfield North. Oswego seems to have overcome a midseason rut offensively in which it scored a combined nine points in its two losses, as the Panthers have scored a combined 70 points over the last two weeks. Mariano Velasco is a dynamic playmaker on both sides of the ball and caught a TD pass in a 37-7 Week 9 win over Plainfield North. Velasco has caught 18 passes for 513 yards and five TDs and has five interceptions on the season, three returned for TDs. Receiver Teddy Manikas, another top playmaker, had a 47-yard TD run in the Plainfield North win. Conor Tully leads the Panthers in tackles after missing all of last season with a broken foot. Oswego last played Naperville North in the 2017 playoffs, a 28-14 Panthers’ first-round win.

Advancement: Winner plays the winner of No. 27 Chicago Perspectives/Leadership [Coop] (5-4) vs. No. 6 Chicago Lane (8-1).

Friday Night Drive pick: Oswego

Class 7A

No. 21 Glenbard North (6-3) at No. 12 Yorkville (7-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

About the Panthers: Glenbard North is back in the playoffs after going 2-7 last season and 0-9 the year before that. But the program is no stranger to the playoffs, 15 postseason appearances under head coach Ryan Wilkens since 2005 with Class 8A runner-up finishes in 2007 and 2012. The Panthers are one of four playoff teams from the DuKane Conference. Glenbard North’s standout is senior running back Donato Gatses, who has rushed for over 1,700 yards and 21 TDs on the season and rushed for 264 yards and five TDs in a win over Wheaton North Friday. Glenbard North is 6-0 against teams with losing records, 0-3 against teams with winning records. Glenbard North’s last playoff win came in 2021 when the Panthers reached the Class 7A quarterfinals.

About the Foxes: Yorkville is back in the playoffs after missing the postseason last year for the first time since 2017. The Foxes are coming off a 26-21 loss to Bolingbrook in Week 9 that decided the Southwest Prairie West title. Yorkville started the season 6-0 with wins over playoff teams St. Patrick, Minooka and Oswego. Senior QB Jack Beetham has thrown for 1,412 yards and 12 TDs. T.J. Harland is at 744 yards rushing with three TDs, and has also caught six. Dillon Viscogliosi, with 80 tackles, and Caleb Viscogliosi, with 74, are among the ringleaders of a defense that while stout most of the season has struggled to contain the run in recent losses to Oswego East and Bolingbrook. Yorkville is 5-0 at home after going 1-4 on its home field last year. The Foxes have won at least one playoff game in four of their last five appearances.

Advancement: Winner plays the winner of No. 28 Andrew (5-4) at No. 5 Moline (8-1).

Friday Night Drive pick: Glenbard North