More from the Times-area’s sidelines from Week 10 (the opening week of the IHSA playoffs) of the football season, including notes on Seneca, Marquette and Dwight's first-round games and second-round matchups.

After struggling to establish the run early, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley relied on explosive plays through the air and a lockdown defensive effort to beat the Marquette Crusaders in a 1A first-round playoff game Saturday.

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Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley defeated Marquette 28-6 on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School.

Here is a look at the opening-round playoff matchups awaiting Seneca, Marquette, Dwight and Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland this weekend.

There's always the usual suspects in 1A, but some new names look poised to potentially crash that party. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 1A playoffs.

More from the Week 9 sideline across The Times area, including notes on Ottawa, Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland and more.

A look at Week 9 across The Times coverage area, including games lined up for Marquette, Flanagan-Cornell/Woodland, Seneca, Sandwich, Streator, Ottawa, Dwight and Fieldcrest.

With regular season finales this week, here’s where Illinois Valley football teams stand in their quest to make the IHSA and the I8FA playoffs.

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Marquette defeated Knoxville 59-6 on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025 at Gould Stadium in Ottawa. Check out photos from the game by Tom Sistak.