High School Football

Jaxon Lane and the Montini defense stopped Byron's Brayden Knoll just shy of the goal line on a two-point conversion in the final seconds, a dramatic finish to Montini's 14-13 win over Byron in the Class 3A second-round game on Saturday in Lombard.

Despite falling behind on the game’s first drive, St. Francis built a halftime lead and its defense swarmed Prairie Ridge after halftime in a 30-21 victory in the Class 5A second-round playoffs.

Could Marist’s offense hang with Loyola’s high-octane attack? The answer: For three quarters, it could. After that, thanks to a couple of major miscues, the Ramblers took just enough command to eke out a 24-20 victory.

Fenwick faces Downers Grove North in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 7A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive correspondent Scott Schmid will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Joliet Catholic dominated in all phases of the game in a 49-0 win over Sacred-Heart Griffin in a Class 5A second-round game Saturday in Springfield.

Eureka faces Wilmington in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 3A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Steve Soucie will have live updates, scores and news from the game

St. Charles North faces Mt. Carmel in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 7A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive reporter Joel Boenitz will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Highland faces Morris in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 5A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive reporter Rob Oesterle will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Princeton faces Chicago King in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 3A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Kevin Hieronymus will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Joliet Catholic faces Sacred Heart-Griffin in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 5A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive reporter Hart Pisani will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Seneca faces BHRA in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 2A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive reporter Brian Hoxsey will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Loyola faces Marist in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 8A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive correspondent Tim Cronin will have live updates, scores and news from the game.

Byron faces Montini in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 3A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Josh Welge will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Elmwood faces Dwight/GSW in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 2A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor J.T. Pedelty will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Sycamore faces Westinghouse in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 5A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Eddie Carifio will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Antioch faces Cary-Grove in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 6A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Alex Kantecki will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Prairie Ridge faces St. Francis in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 5A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive correspondent Chris Casey will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Marquette faces Galena in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 1A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor reporter Charlie Ellerbrock will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Batavia faces Lincoln-Way West in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 7A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Steve Soucie will have live updates, scores and news from the game

After their slow start, the Boilers broke the ice with an Isaiah Brown touchdown, followed it up the next drive with a Lyzale Edmon pick-six and never looked back, handing the Dolphins their first loss of the season in dominant 42-0 fashion.

If there was a thrown football Friday at Lyons Township, chances are senior Travis Stamm caught it.The Lions’ starting wide receiver and cornerback had three touchdown catches and also three interceptions, including his second pick-six of the season, in their 63-20 win.

Stevenson defeated Glenbard East 35-7 on Friday to advance to the 8A quarterfinals for the first time since 2014.

Dixon rolled to touchdowns the first five times it touched the ball Friday night on the way to a 51-6 victory over Chicago Agricultural Science in a Class 4A second-round playoff game at A.C. Bowers Field.

Tyler Tulk ran for 250 yards and five touchdowns as Lincoln-Way Central thumped Hoffman Estates 49-21 in the second round of the Class 7A playoffs

Naperville Central built a 24-point halftime lead but had to hold off a Fremd rally in the second half to win 31-28 in the second round of the Class 8A playoffs Friday.

The Knights would battle the sixth-seeded hosts for 48 minutes rallying twice from a pair of double-digit deficits before surrendering to the Ironman 52-49 at Dick Tharp Field on senior RB Calen Taylor’s fifth touchdown run of the night from 9 yards out with 95 seconds remaining.

Warren’s Aaron Stewart says he doesn’t mind a heavy workload. Stewart carried the ball 42 times for 359 yards and five touchdowns to help the Blue Devils wear down Barrington35-26 in the second round of the Class 8A playoffs Friday night.

Benet Academy's season came to an end with a 38-6 loss to Rochelle in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs Friday.

Pushing Catholic League power St. Rita to the limit, Willowbrook did eventually succumb 21-9 in a Class 7A second-round matchup in Villa Park.

Quarterback Bruno Massel rushed for 177 yards and three touchdowns, and Jimmy Conners and Henry Duda also went over 100 yards rushing, as York rode a 28-point second half to a 35-17 win over previously unbeaten Oswego in a Class 8A second-round game.

Lincoln-Way East wasn't at its sharpest to start Friday night's second round Class 8A matchup against Minooka, but if given enough time the wide array of Griffin weapons will eventually lead to submission as it did in a 38-7 win for Lincoln-Way East.

Hoffman Estates faces Lincoln-Way Central in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 7A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive reporter Rob Oesterle will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Benet faces Rochelle in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 5A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive correspondent Russ Hodges will have live updates, scores and news from the game

York faces Oswego in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 8A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Josh Welge will have live updates, scores and news from the game

St. Rita faces Willowbrook in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 7A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive correspondent Scott Schmid will have live updates, scores and news from the game

Lincoln-Way East faces Minooka in Round 2 of the 2024 Class 8A IHSA football playoffs. Friday Night Drive editor Steve Soucie will have live updates, scores and news from the game

It was quite a wild weekend to kick off the football postseason, and through all the ups and downs, five of the area’s 10 teams that qualified for the playoffs have made it through to the second week.

Mason Schweizer previews the rest of this week's football slate for Week 2 of the 2024 playoffs

Princeton has qualified for the playoffs 15 times. They have now advanced to the second round 10 times, winning seven of its previous nine, including it last four. The Tigers are 3-1 in second-round road games

Caden O’Donnell has caught the second most passes for touchdowns on the Sycamore football team. He’s a linebacker who doesn’t play on offense. O’Donnell has intercepted three passes for scores this year, and only one Spartan has more than three receiving touchdowns.

York senior linebacker Evan Gaughan, after missing most of last season with a broken collarbone in Week 4, had made an impact in his return, leading the Dukes in tackles. That, Willowbrook's big Round 1 win and more in Bob Narang's football notes.

Top-seeded teams all moved along with little difficulty. Will that trend continue in Round 2? Steve Soucie breaks down the second round of the 2024 IHSA Class 8A playoffs.

Big time matchups can be found all over the list of Class 7A second round games. Steve Soucie breaks down the second round of the 2024 IHSA Class 7A playoffs.

Several top 6A teams made a statement in the opening round of playoffs as they are hoping to create barriers to yet another title matchup between Cary-Grove and East St. Louos. Steve Soucie breaks down the second round of the 2024 IHSA Class 6A playoffs.

It was largely an opening round in Class 5A where the favorites moved to the second round, but the next round should provide some very intriguing matchups. Steve Soucie breaks down the second round of the 2024 IHSA Class 5A playoffs.

There will be a community sendoff from 10:45 to 11:15 a.m. Saturday at Princeton High School to send the Tigers on their way.

Here are the previews and picks for all the second-round playoff games for teams in the Record Newspapers coverage area.

Here are previews and picks for all the second-round games for teams in the Suburban Life coverage area.

The Herald-News prep football preview for the second round of the IHSA playoffs, featuring key showdowns across the greater Joliet area.

Sports reporter Joe Aguilar takes a look at the IHSA second-round football matchups for teams in the Northwest Herald area.