IHSA Playoff Round Two: Lincoln-Way East, Bolingbrook, and Loyola Face Stiff Challenges

Lincoln-Way East, Bolingbrook, and Loyola all hold favorable records heading into the second round of the IHSA playoffs this weekend, but each faces a test against well-ranked opponents.

In Class 8A, No. 17 Hinsdale Central (8-3) travels to No. 1 Lincoln-Way East (10-0) for a noon kickoff on Saturday. The Red Devils won their first-round game by a 63-3 margin, but the Griffins have outscored their opponents by a combined 374-87 points this season. Lincoln-Way East’s starting quarterback, Evan LeFevour, missed last week’s 31-7 victory over Oak Park-River Forest due to an injury but is expected to return for this matchup. Senior wide receiver Jayden Cawthon leads the Griffins’ offense with 54 catches for 1,055 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hinsdale Central’s junior quarterback, Beau Gatewood, has thrown for more than 2,000 yards this year.

Lyons (8-3) faces No. 5 Bolingbrook (9-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday in the other Class 8A matchup. The Lions, making their fifth consecutive playoff appearance, defeated Metea Valley and Chicago Perspectives Leadership by a combined 91-28 margin in the first round. Senior quarterback Brendan McCabe threw three first-quarter touchdowns last week, two of which went to Miami (Ohio) recruit Owen Matela. Bolingbrook has won nine straight games since its season-opening loss to Homewood-Flossmoor. Oklahoma State recruit TJ Lewis rushed for nearly 200 yards in the Raiders’ last win, while Notre Dame-bound defensive end Darieon Prescott anchors a high-performing defensive unit.

No. 19 York (8-3) plays No. 3 Loyola (9-1) at 3 p.m. Saturday. York has won five straight games, including a 42-14 victory at Downers Grove South last week. Chris Georgas rushed for 115 yards and three touchdowns in that game, while quarterback Zack Assaad passed for 217 yards. Loyola, which ranked No. 1 in Class 8A for much of the season, rebounded from a Week 9 loss to Mount Carmel with a 41-0 first-round win over Minooka. Junior quarterback Matthew Lee threw for 183 yards and three touchdowns in that victory. Head coach John Holecek returns to the sideline this fall after leading the program to three state titles and three runner-up finishes between 2006 and 2023.

In Class 7A, No. 15 Glenbard West (7-3) faces No. 2 Hersey (10-0) at 5 p.m. Saturday. The Hilltoppers defeated Moline 56-0 last week, with Bryce Ellens scoring a rushing and receiving touchdown in his return from a six-week injury. Hersey has scored at least 38 points in every one of its nine wins. Senior quarterback Jake Nawrot, a Kentucky commit, has thrown for 2,569 yards and 35 touchdowns with zero interceptions this season. Sophomore running back Jackson Travis has rushed for 1,227 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Huskies.

St. Rita (7-3) takes on No. 3 Downers Grove North (9-1) at 7 p.m. Friday. The Mustangs defeated Buffalo Grove 36-10 in the first round, with Brandon Johnson Jr. rushing for 150 yards and three touchdowns. Downers Grove North defeated West Chicago 49-14 last week, scoring on every offensive drive during the first half. The Trojans hope to have leading rusher Grant Georgas back in the lineup after he missed the last two games with an injury.

In Class 6A, No. 7 Wheaton North (7-3) plays No. 2 Geneva (9-1) at 6:30 p.m. Friday. The Falcons defeated Rolling Meadows 35-0 in the first round. Geneva, the DuKane Conference champion, beat Carmel 49-30 last Saturday. Quarterback Ben Peterson, an Eastern Michigan commit, has thrown for more than 2,900 yards and 38 touchdowns this season.

No. 6 Fenwick (7-3) faces No. 3 Hononegah (9-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday. The defending Class 6A champion defeated Highland Park 38-20 in the first round. Iowa commit Jakes Thies scored three touchdowns in that game, including a 60-yard interception return. Hononegah defeated Willowbrook 32-3 in its first-round match, with senior quarterback Dominic Cacciatore throwing for 1,414 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season.

Winners of the Hinsdale Central/Lincoln-Way East and York/Loyola games will face the winners of the Barrington/Mount Carmel and St. Ignatius/Maine South matchups, respectively. The winner of the Lyons/Bolingbrook game will play the winner of Naperville North/Oswego. Winners in the Glenbard West/Hersey and St. Rita/Downers Grove North games will face the winners of Lincoln-Way West/St. Laurence and Richards/Glenbard North, respectively. The Wheaton North/Geneva winner will play the winner of Fenwick/Hononegah, while the Fenwick/Hononegah winner will advance to the next round.