Congratulations to these 22 Illinois high school football players who were voted onto Friday Night Drive's Team of the Week for Round 1 of the 2025 high school football playoffs

Ranked teams did what they should do largely rolling to easy first round victories in the state playoffs. Check out the new rankings here:

Matt Rodewald, Steve Soucie, and John Sahly break down what happened with a fifth down in the PORTA vs. Fairfield first-round playoff game, and review what else happened in Round 1 in the IHSA football playoffs

Jacobs won its first playoff game in four years Saturday when the 22nd-seeded Golden Eagles beat No. 11 Addison Trail 36-27 in a Class 7A opener. That, plus news on Burlington Central, Prairie Ridge and Cary-Grove in the Northwest Herald football notebook.

If you like points being scored the opening round of the playoffs was definitely worth tuning into. Steve Soucie takes a look at what we learned in Week 10.

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 Round 1 of the playoffs!

After relying on its ground game for most of the night, Burlington Central went airborne to pull out a thrilling 21-17 Class 6A opening round win over Libertyville Saturday night at Rocket Hill.

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

A touchdown with 59.5 seconds to play was the difference in DuPec’s 18-13 Class 3A playoff victory over host Johnsburg.

Jacobs made a goal-line stand then drove 99 yards for a touchdown to help spark the Golden Eagles to a 36-27 win over Addison Trail in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs.

Cary-Grove faces Sycamore in and IHSA football Class 5A first-round playoff game on Saturday, November 1, 2025 at Al Bohrer Field on the campus of Cary-Grove High School in Cary.

Alden-Hebron's Jack Stewart scored on a 50-yard touchdown run as the Giants fell to South Beloit 37-6 in their Illinois 8-Man Football Association playoff opener on Saturday.

Cary-Grove scored three first-quarter touchdowns and dominated Sycamore defensively, which was enough to provide a comfortable cushion that was never truly threatened in a 42-14 win.

Landon Knigge rushed for 238 yards and three touchdowns, and Dixon scored points on seven of its 11 drives while pitching a shutout to defeat Woodstock North 45-0 in their Class 4A first-round playoff game Friday night at A.C. Bowers Field.

While the Marengo Indians took advantage of some opportunities, particularly in the second quarter, turning the ball over five times was just too much to overcome in their 35-21 loss to Peoria Notre Dame in the Class 4A first-round matchup.

Fremd scored on its first six offensive possessions and forced four first-half turnovers to beat Huntley 41-14 in their Class 8A first-round playoff game on Friday.

Morris can score in a hurry. The No. 2 seed proved that Friday night, putting up 25 points in less than 5 minutes before halftime on its way to a 54-7 win against Woodstock in the opening round of the IHSA Class 4A playoffs.

Prairie Ridge fullback Vincent Byk scored three touchdowns as the top-seeded Wolves went up by 40 points at halftime and defeated 16th-seeded Vernon Hills 46-30 on Friday in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.

Vernon Hills travel to Prairie Ridge for IHSA Class 5A first-round playoff football game on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025, at Prairie Ridge High School in Crystal Lake.

Morris hosted Woodstock for a 4A first round varsity football playoff game on Friday, Oct. 31.

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.

Dixon hosts Woodstock North in round 1 of the Class 4A football playoffs Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. Dixon rolled to a big win to start the playoffs.

There's a prominent addition to the Class 8A field in Mount Carmel, but there's plenty of teams that are hoping than can keep the Caravan from collecting 8A hardware. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 8A Playoffs.

With three-time 7A State Champion Mount Carmel moving up to Class 8A, there's plenty of team chomping at the bit for a chance to be the new team hoisting the state championship hardware. Steve Soucie breaks down the opening round of the 2025 IHSA Class 7A Playoffs.

Here are the Associated Press IHSA Week 10 football polls released Wednesday for all eight classes. It is the final AP Poll of the season.

Here is a look at the opening-round playoff matchups awaiting McHenry County area teams this weekend.

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

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.

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.

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.

Congratulations to these 22 Illinois high school football players who were voted onto Friday Night Drive's Team of the Week for Week 9 of the 2025 high school football season

Jacobs senior quarterback Connor Goehring returns against Cary-Grove in regular-season finale, and info on Prairie Ridge and Dundee-Crown in the McHenry County Week 9 notebook.

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.

Here are the 2025 IHSA football playoff pairings for McHenry County area teams. Dates and times will be updated.

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

Prairie Ridge completed a perfect regular season with a 54-26 Fox Valley Conference win over Crystal Lake South on Friday night, wrapping up the 10-team conference title.

Huntley sophomore Chase Hojnacki scored five touchdowns as the Red Raiders defeated Hampshire 42-25 in Fox Valley Conference action Friday night for their fifth win of the season.

David Randecker became Woodstock North's all-time leading rushing as the Thunder cruised to a 49-0 Kishwaukee River Conference win over rival Woodstock on Friday night.

Ethan Dietmeyer ran for 111 yards and a touchdown as McHenry ended the season with a 20-14 Fox Valley Conference win against Crystal Lake Central on Friday night.

Burlington Central finished the regular season with a 42-6 Fox Valley Conference win against Dundee-Crown on Friday night, getting three touchdown passes from Landon Arnold.

Woodstock faces Woodstock North in a Kishwaukee River Conference football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Woodstock North High School.

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

Cary-Grove faces Jacobs in a Fox Valley Conference football game on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Jacobs High School, in Algonquin.

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.

Here are the Associated Press IHSA Week 9 football polls released Wednesday for all eight classes.

Here are previews and picks for all of the Week 9 games around the McHenry County area.