IHSA Playoffs: Top Seeds Face Off in Saturday's Round of 16
Morris and Morgan Park lead a slate of high-stakes matchups across Illinois high school football classes.
By James Foster ·
The Illinois High School Association playoffs enter the Round of 16 on Saturday with a slate of matchups dominated by undefeated or near-undefeated teams. The games will determine which squads advance to the quarterfinals, with several top-ranked teams seeking to extend their postseason runs.
In Class 4A, No. 1 Morris hosts No. 8 Montini at 4 p.m. Saturday. Morris enters the game with a 10-0 record after a 70-0 victory over Tinley Park in the regular season finale. Quarterback Marion Persich has thrown for 1,353 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding 933 rushing yards. The Warriors have a plus-19 turnover ratio this season. Montini advanced to this round by defeating Geneseo, with quarterback Izzy Abrams completing 14 of 18 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns.
Class 5A features No. 3 Morgan Park hosting No. 11 Providence at 1 p.m. Saturday at Stagg Stadium. Morgan Park is 9-1, while Providence sits at 8-3. Morgan Park has won three playoff games in a season only once, in 2004. The Mustangs rely on safety Darrell Mattison, a committed to Mississippi, and junior quarterback Ronald Smith Jr. Providence’s offensive line and running backs Broden Mackert and Brayden McKay provide a balanced attack, supported by quarterback Dominic Vita, who recently accepted an offer from Syracuse.
In Class 8A, No. 1 Lincoln-Way East faces No. 17 Hinsdale Central at 12 p.m. Saturday. Lincoln-Way East is 10-0 and has allowed only 21 points in its last five games. Hinsdale Central, which is 8-3, has scored 174 points over its last four contests. Quarterback Beau Gatewood has been a key factor in that production. The winner will face the victor of the Mount Carmel and Barrington game in the quarterfinals.
Other notable matchups include No. 23 Lincoln-Way West at No. 39 St. Laurence in Class 7A at 2 p.m. Saturday, and No. 8 Peotone at No. 17 Eastland-Pearl City in Class 2A at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. In Class 2A, No. 5 Wilmington plays No. 4 Tri-Valley at 1 p.m. Saturday, marking the fifth meeting between these schools in six seasons. Wilmington has won all previous matchups except for a 2022 second-round loss.
The remaining Class 8A game features Lyons at Bolingbrook, with kickoff time to be determined. Bolingbrook is 9-1, while Lyons is 8-3. The winner of this contest will face the victor of the Oswego and Naperville North game in the quarterfinals.
