A 16-year-old North Boone High School Viking football player was airlifted following what was described as a traumatic injury

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!

Emmett Dowling threw two long touchdown passes to Marshaun Thornton and Mount Carmel knocked off three-time defending 8A champion Loyola 21-17 to remain undefeated in its quest for a fourth straight state title.

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 Lena-Winslow Panthers downed the Forreston Cardinals 48-22 in 1A first round playoff action on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.

Seneca defeated Port Byron Riverdale 35-21 on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 at Seneca High School. Seneca will play Wilmington next Saturday at home. Check out photos from the game by MaKade Rios.

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

Polo grabbed momentum early, then Hiawatha fought back. But the Marcos had the answers in the second half and went on to defeat the Hawks 36-14 in their Illinois 8-Man Football Association first-round playoff game Saturday in Polo.

Joliet Catholic's opening round playoff game with Glenwood was a bit like the Hilltoppers regular season. Marked by a slow start, followed by a few positive developments but ultimately ending up just a little bit short in a 17-12 loss to Chatham Glenwood.

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.

The Kaneland football team took on Lakes to start their playoff run Saturday afternoon at Kaneland High School in Maple Park.

Providence hosted Springfield for a varsity football game on Saturday, Nov. 1.

Bloomington Central Catholic defeated Princeton 41-20 during the first round of the IHSA Class 3A football playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025 at Central Catholic High School.

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

Miss out on any of the high school football action in northern Illinois? Listen to the audio versions of our stories from Round 1 of the 2025 IHSA playoffs here

Polo beat Hiawatha 36-14 in the I8FA playoffs Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025.

Newman rolled to a 43-8 win over Ridgeview-Lexington Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in the 2A football playoffs.

The IC Catholic football team met Chicago Hope Academy Saturday in an IHSA playoff matchup.

Hunter Carley rushed for 135 yards and three touchdowns, the defense set the tone early, and Richmond-Burton's football team beat visiting North Boone 49-0 in a Class 3A playoff opener Friday night. The game was called in the third quarter after a North Boone player was injured.

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.

Lincoln-Way East looked more like themselves on Friday night. Fueled by the return of standout quarterback Jonas Williams the Griffins breezed to a 45-0 win over Stevenson in the opening round of the Class 8A Playoffs on Friday night.

Quarterbacks Jimmy McDermott and Noah Taylor each accounted for two touchdowns, Cory Les totaled 181 yards and two scores and Brian Killen returned a fumble for a touchdown as St. Laurence beat Oak Lawn 49-19 and advanced to the second round of the IHSA 6A playoffs.

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

The Byron Tigers rolled over the Oregon Hawks 63-15 in 3A football playoff action 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.

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.

Bolingbrook hosted Oswego East for a varsity football game on Friday, Oct. 31.

Minooka held an early lead, but couldn't slow down the Glenbrook South offense as the Indians saw their season come to an end.

Lincoln-Way East hosted Stevenson for a varsity football round one 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.

The Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference has revealed its All-Conference honorees and award winners for the 2025 varsity football season. Click the link below to read this year's award winners.

With an intensity and work ethic unmatched, Joliet Catholic senior and Navy recruit Ian Campbell has set the tone for the Hilltoppers, who took down Providence to win the CCL/ESCC Orange and sneak into the playoffs. Campbell has 12 sacks in the last two years.

Join hosts J.T. Pedelty, Sam Ramirez and Eddie Carifio as they preview Round 1 of the IHSA football playoffs in the western and southern portions of northern Illinois

Defending state champions Mount Carmel and Loyola will collide for a second time after the Caravan defeated the Ramblers 35-24 in Week 9. St. Rita's rushing attack sparked a win over IC Catholic Prep, while Marist fell just short of the playoffs despite beating Niles Notre Dame.

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.

The Herald-News prep football preview for Week 10 of the 2025 season, featuring key showdowns across the greater Will and Grundy county area as the IHSA playoffs begin.

Attendees at the Batavia High playoff football game against Hoffman Estates Friday are asked not to swear, call names, boo, use offensive language or hand gestures or be intoxicated.

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

Sycamore starts the postseason with a trip to Cary-Grove, Kaneland hosts Lakes, and Hiawatha will face Polo for the second time in three weeks. We break down each game.

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.

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.

Dixon's defense continues to help set the tone heading into the playoffs. Newman was challenged by Mon-Rose to end the regular season, and Polo's 70 points were the most the Marcos scored since at least 1935 in this week's Sauk Valley football notes.