Friday’s big playoff games (complete first-round playoff schedule on Page 7 and at chicagotribune.com/prepsplus)
1. Palatine at Fremd, 7 p.m (Class 8A): Watch for a duel of quarterbacks, Palatine’s Matt Rossi and Fremd’s Mike Tauchman, in this rematch of a Mid-Suburban West showdown three weeks ago won by Palatine 28-21.
Pick: Palatine
2. Naperville Central vs. Mt. Carmel, 7 p.m. at Gately Stadium (8A) : Passionate fans of the two toughest conferences, DuPage Valley and Catholic Blue, will get fired up over this one. Keep a close eye on Mt. Carmel quarterback Jordan Lynch.
Pick: Mt. Carmel
3. Hinsdale Central at Downers Grove South, 7 p.m. (8A): Hinsdale Central and quarterback John Whitelaw have to be among the most talented No. 9 seeds in all eight classes. Downers Grove South has won seven in a row.
Pick: Hinsdale Central
4. Providence at Oak Forest, 7 p.m. (6A): Oak Forest worked hard in the regular season to post an 8-1 record and earn a No. 2 seed in 6A. The Bengals’ reward is a first-round matchup with Providence, the most dangerous 5-4 team in the field.
Pick: Providence
More Top Picks Convergence Insufficiency Symptoms In Children
5. Riverside-Brookfield at Glenbard South, 7 p.m. (6A): Once R-B got the hang of its innovative A-11 offense, the Bulldogs won six in a row with 132 points in their last three games. Glenbard South’s only losses were to Geneva (9-0) and Glenbard West (9-0).
Pick: Glenbard South
———-
Scoop Nation, it’s your turn
*Find more of Sakamoto’s first-round playoff picks and comment on them in our blog, The Inside Scoop, at chicagotribune.com/insidescoop
*Make your own picks on this weekend’s top games in our high school football challenge at chicagotribune.com/football