Mount Carmel, St. Laurence, St. Rita, Peoria and Brother Rice are picks to clicks for the state quarterfinals.
Lincoln-Way East (9-2) at Mount Carmel (11-0)
Kickoff: 4 p.m. Saturday.
Matchup breakdown: It’s the Class 8A showdown we have been anticipating the entire season, but it comes early due to Lincoln-Way East’s two late regular-season losses without senior quarterback Jonas Williams.
Williams, a USC recruit, has quickly rounded back into form and will likely break the Illinois High School Association record for career passing yards in this game. He needs 30 yards to do so.
A key for the Griffins will be protecting Williams from a Mount Carmel pass rush led by fellow USC recruit Braeden Jones.
The Caravan, meanwhile, look to continue piling up points behind senior quarterback Emmett Dowling and junior receiver Quentin Burrell.
X-factor: Brody Gish, Lincoln-Way East, senior, running back.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Mount Carmel.
St. Laurence (7-4) at Dunlap (9-2)
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday.
Matchup breakdown: St. Laurence is in the quarterfinals for the third straight season, this time in Class 6A after playing in 4A the last two years.
The Vikings will take the 145-mile bus ride down to Dunlap. Speaking of buses, you could describe senior Cory Les as one after he ran for 177 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries in a 35-21 win over Bradley-Bourbonnais.
Junior linebacker/tight end Sean Rice is a two-way force for St. Laurence.
The Vikings will have their hands full trying to contain Dunlap tight end Mack Sutter, an Alabama commit who is ranked by Rivals.com as the No. 1 recruit in the state in the senior class.
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X-factor: Matt Williams, St. Laurence, senior, receiver/defensive back.
Steve Millar’s prediction: St. Laurence.
St. Rita (7-4) at Hersey (9-2)
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday.
Matchup breakdown: This Class 7A battle features a pair of running backs named Brandon coming off prolific second-round performances.
St. Rita junior Brandon Johnson Jr. continued his breakout season by running for 109 yards and three TDs on just 12 carries in a thrilling 31-28 win over Lincoln-Way Central.
Hersey senior Brandon Jenkins, an Ohio recruit, piled up 266 yards and two TDs on 21 carries in a 42-21 victory over Richards.
The Mustangs’ defense, led by senior linebacker Owen Lynch, will also have to slow down junior quarterback Jake Nawrot, who this week was named all-state by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association.
X-factor: Walter Jones, St. Rita, senior, receiver/kick returner.
Steve Millar’s prediction: St. Rita.
Peoria (9-2) at Oak Forest (10-1)
Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday.
Matchup breakdown: Oak Forest is at home for the third straight week in the Class 5A playoffs. This will be the Bengals’ first quarterfinal since 2012, when they lost 21-14 to Lemont.
Oak Forest has a chance to make the semifinals for the first time since 2007. To do that, the Bengals will have to slow down a Peoria offense that is averaging 49 points a game behind dual-threat senior quarterback Breon Green.
Oak Forest certainly has the weapons to keep up if a shootout develops, including its own dual-threat senior quarterback in Daniel Chopp, who also has earned all-state honors.
X-factor: Neiko LeFlore, Oak Forest, junior, receiver/kick returner.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Peoria.
St. Charles North (10-1) at Brother Rice (10-1)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday.
Matchup breakdown: Brother Rice will try to keep its shutout streak going in this Class 7A showdown.
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The Crusaders have not allowed a point yet in the playoffs as junior lineman Brayden Parks and senior Sean McGann have been among the leaders of the dominant defense.
Senior running back Jaylin Green is coming off a monster performance, running for 188 yards and five TDs on five straight possessions in the first half of a 46-0 win over Jacobs.
St. Charles North, which got by red-hot Carmel 26-23 in the second round, figures to test the Crusaders. The North Stars have a unique weapon in senior Lucas Tenbrock, an Iowa State-bound kicker/punter who also plays on the offensive line.
X-factor: King Liggins, Brother Rice, senior, defensive lineman.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Brother Rice.