Matchup: First round Class 7A playoffs, 23rd-seeded Bradley-Bourbonnais (6-3) at 10th-seeded Glenbrook North (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30
How they got here: Glenbrook North won the Central Suburban North, clinching an automatic berth, while Bradley-Bourbonnais beat Andrew in Week 9 to secure its sixth victory, which guaranteed a playoff berth.
Glenbrook North stat leaders:
QB: Jr. Kevin Burnside, 45-for-68 (66.2 percent), 680 Yds, 10.0 Yds/Att, 4 TD, 2 INT
RB: Sr. John Clark, 150 Att, 1,487 Yds, 9.9 Avg, 25 TD
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WR: Sr. Mitch Schermerhorn, 27 Rec, 338 Yds, 12.5 Avg, 1 TD
Defense: Schermerhorn, 3 INT, 2 caused fumbles, 1 recovered fumble
Telling number: 2007 — That was the last season Glenbrook North won a playoff game. Since beating Fenwick 17-0 in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs that year, the Spartans have lost four in a row in the first round (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013). The Spartans also finished the regular season 8-1 in 2007, 2010 and 2012.
Behind the numbers: During the regular season, the Spartans scored 344 points, an average of 38.2 a game. Glenbrook North made it a habit to get off to a good start. It scored 59.6 percent of its points (205) in the first half.
Under the radar player to watch: Jr. DL Matt Pawlowski — Seniors Dimitrije Milutinovic and Patrick Strickland are known commodities on the Spartans’ defense, but Glenbrook North coach Bob Pieper said Pawlowski, as well as junior defensive lineman Michael Karb, will need to be at his best to take on Bradley-Bourbonnais’ offensive line. During the regular season, Pawlowski had a team-best four tackles for loss and also had two sacks, which was second to Strickland’s three.
Sound bite: “We finished 8-1, and it was a great accomplishment by our kids. But now it gets serious. We need to keep getting better.” — Pieper
Twitter: @harnesspreps