Bishop McNamara and Herscher meet for the second time this season, Bradley-Bourbonnais and Kankakee also host first-round playoff games, and more in the Daily Journal's first-round playoff previews.

Enrollment changes lead to the 4A draw looking a bit different than it has in the past few years. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 4A Playoffs.

Take a look at first-round IHSA football playoff information for all Herald-News teams here.

A total of 10 Daily Journal area football teams made the IHSA or I8FA playoffs. Read previews on all 10 teams, as well as their first-round opponents, here.

Gallery

Wilmington earned a 44-21 home win over Coal City to claim its third straight Illinois Central Eight Conference title on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

Wilmington claimed its third straight Illinois Central Eight Conference title with a 44-21 home win over Coal City, rushing for 509 yards and sending the Coalers a second-place finish for the third straight year.

Although no matchups between undefeated teams will occur in the last week of the regular season, there are plenty of critical matchups that will shape the playoff field. Steve Soucie looks at the top games of Week 9.

The Herald-News prep football preview for Week 9 of the 2024 season, featuring key showdowns across the greater Joliet area.

Kankakee and Crete-Monee clash for the Southland Athletic Conference, Wilmington and Coal City square off for the Illinois Central Eight championship and more in the Daily Journal's Week 9 football previews.