Kankakee's defense didn't allow a touchdown and the offense got big plays late to get past Lemont 19-3 in the first round of the IHSA Class 5A playoffs at Kankakee on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.

Here are the second round pairings for the 2025 IHSA playoffs.

Coal City's Logan Natyshok rushed for 272 yards and five touchdowns while the Coalers defense allowed Sterling just 100 total yards in a 49-7 victory in Saturday's Class 4A playoff first-round game in Coal City.

The Kays got timely plays on both sides of the ball, including fourth-quarter touchdowns from Kymani Billings and Ezekiel Sherrod, to get past Lemont in a physical, defensive-minded Class 5A playoff game at Kankakee Saturday.

Clifton Central scored 24 unanswered points in its 24-6 win over Knoxville in the first round of the IHSA Class 1A playoffs, getting three passing touchdowns from Brady Shule.

Grant Pomaranski threw for four touchdowns and ran for two scores as St. Anne pulled away in the second half to beat Metro-East Lutheran 39-20 in the first round of the Illinois 8-Man Football Association playoffs.

Wilmington ran for 362 yards on just 19 carries and held West Hancock to 3 rushing yards in a 70-8 win in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs Saturday.

Clifton Central defeated Knoxville 24-6 in Class 1A first-round football playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2024.

Amboy began its quest for a third straight Illinois 8-Man state championship with a 68-8 win over Milford-Cissna Park on Saturday.

Bradley-Bourbonnais ran for 264 yards and got a pair of special teams touchdowns from Jamir Burt in its 42-21 home win over Shepard in Friday's IHSA Class 6A postseason opener.

Herscher drove down and struck first in Friday's Class 3A first round playoff game at Bishop McNamara, but the Fightin' Irish scored five unanswered touchdowns to down the Tigers and move on.

Bradley-Bourbonnais secured a 42-21 victory over Shepard in the first round of IHSA Class 6A playoffs on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.

Bishop McNamara defeated Herscher 38-14 in the first round of IHSA Class 3A playoffs on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.

Kankakee two-way senior standout Cedric Terrell III is proud to represent not just himself, but a large, well-respected family in the Kankakee community with his name. And while he may be the third, he's made a name for himself on the gridiron.

After receiving feedback from IHSA membership schools, a Roxana High School proposal to change the postseason structure and regular-season scheduling process has some alterations.

After enduring a three-year playoff drought, the longest in school history, Bishop McNamara didn't just rebound this year. The Fightin' Irish went 9-0 for the first time in almost 30 years.

Can anyone prevent a collision course game between East St. Louis and Nazareth in the state championship? A lot of teams would like to think so. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 6A Playoffs.

Join hosts Josh Welge and Steve Soucie as they preview the first round of the IHSA football playoffs.

Join hosts Mason Schweizer and Steve Soucie as they preview the first round of the IHSA football playoffs in Kankakee County

A Roxana High School proposal that would expand the playoffs and provide a regional schedule model has released regional mockups for Class 3A and Class 4A. See the proposed regions here.

Both teams in last year's title game are in different classifications now leaving a wide open chase for this year's state title. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 5A Playoffs.

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.

After he was one of the final preseason cuts by the New York Giants last month, Kankakee native and 2016 Bishop McNamara graduate Jonathan Ward joined the New England Patriots practice squad on Tuesday.

Class 3A's North Bracket is chock full of impressive programs setting up some very early titanic matchups. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 3A Playoffs.

Seven of the state's remaining 26 undefeated teams reside in the Class 2A field and along with some other daunting teams the draw looks as deep as any classification. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 2A playoffs.

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.

Join hosts Matt Rodewald and Steve Soucie as they review Week 9 in IHSA football and look ahead to Round 1 of the playoffs.

The race to filling the field of 256 teams took some surprising twists and turns. Steve Soucie takes a look at what we learned in Week 9.

Each week, we’ll have 22 players – 11 on offense, 11 on defense – to make the Friday Night Drive Team of the Week. Vote for your favorite players for Week 9!

Here are the first round pairings for the IHSA playoffs.

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.

Check here for live updates and changes to Steve Soucie's IHSA football playoff projection for all eight classes.

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.

Crete-Monee held off a late Kankakee rally to earn a 27-14 win on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.

Bishop McNamara wrapped up its first undefeated regular season since 1998, Bradley-Bourbonnais had its best offensive night of the year to secure a three-way conference title tie and more in Friday's Daily Journal roundup.

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.

Crete-Monee scored the game's first four touchdowns, enough of a lead to withstand a late Kankakee push to emerge in the de facto Southland Athletic Conference championship game at Kankakee on Friday

Similar to how its regular season has finished, Manteno progressively improved as the game went on in its 33-6 victory over Streator in the regular-season finale Friday night.

Final scores in Illinois high school football for Week 9 of the 2025 season. This will be updated as more scores come in

155 teams are already assured of hearing their names called on IHSA pairings night. Steve Soucie walks through how the other 101 teams will secure their places on the bracket board.

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.

A Roxana High School proposal that would expand the playoffs and provide a regional schedule model has released regional mockups for smaller schools programs (Class 1A and 2A). See the proposed regions here.

Some bubble teams took the opportunity to seize their own fate with surprise wins in Week 8 and altered the field in multiple ways. Steve Soucie's latest playoff projection can be found here.

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.

Bradley-Bourbonnais, Bishop McNamara and St. Anne earned wins recognized statewide, Manteno held on for one of the most unbelievable Rumble on Route 50 finishes of all time and more in this week's Daily Journal 2-Minute Drill.

Two top five teams stumbled in Week 8 leading to a significant scramble of the Friday Night Drive Power Rankings. Check out the shuffled rankings here:

Join hosts Matt Rodewald and Steve Soucie as they review what they saw in Week 8 of Illinois high school football and go over the two latest IHSA playoff proposals

With one regular season remaining, eight Daily Journal area schools have clinched playoff berths, two more have qualified with five wins and three more are hoping to win in Week 9 and miraculously find a way in at 4-5.

After a few relative stable weeks, chaos hit in a big way to premier programs around the state. Steve Soucie takes a look at what we learned in Week 8.

Each week, we’ll have 22 players – 11 on offense, 11 on defense – to make the Friday Night Drive Team of the Week. Vote for your favorite players for Week 8!