We’re already past the halfway point of the regular season. Can you believe it?
In Week 5, we lost one of our three remaining undefeated teams as Providence fell 17-7 to Nazareth. It was the Celtics’ first game since head coach Tyler Plantz was fired. You may have heard a little something about that last week.
Meanwhile, Oak Lawn and Lincoln-Way East emphatically stayed perfect behind big performances from a pair of Jaydens — the Spartans’ Jayden Schlosser and the Griffins’ Jayden Cawthon.
Now that we’re five weeks in, it’s time to start thinking about the postseason race. Here are my takeaways from Week 5.
Some teams headed toward the playoffs haven’t been there in a while
The expanded playoffs, of course, have created more opportunities for teams to find their way to the postseason, including some programs that have struggled to get there in recent years.
Here are some droughts that are about to be broken.
Leo (3-2) is set to make the playoffs for the first time since 2013, Bloom (3-2) for the first time since 2017 and Thornton (3-2) for the first time since 2019.
Marian Catholic (2-3) can also essentially clinch its first playoff appearance since 2019 with a win Saturday against St. Viator (0-5).
The fun thing here is that these programs aren’t breaking their postseason layoffs by getting a third win in Week 9 and limping in. They’re already there — or very close — after Week 5 and all have a chance to get to 5-4, which would have gotten them in under the old system anyway.
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Looking at the big picture, I think all but eight teams from the Southland are virtually guaranteed playoff spots at this point.
Among the eight in jeopardy, I feel like five — De La Salle, Bremen, Eisenhower, Argo, and Thornridge — are going to have a tough time getting there.
Let’s look at the other three.
St. Laurence (1-4) could get in with just two wins and a tough schedule but would certainly like to get to three to erase any doubts. The road is challenging. A Week 7 win over Marmion (2-3) looks essential, and the Vikings may go into Week 9’s game with DePaul Prep (3-2) still looking for that third victory.
One way or another, I think St. Laurence gets there.
I’ll say the same for another 1-4 team in Rich Township. The Raptors rolled past Bloom 41-0 on Friday as Ortez Johnson ran for 295 yards and three TDs. I think they can get to three wins.
Meanwhile, Stagg (1-4) is an interesting case. The Chargers have not been to the playoffs since 2005. They will need to get their second win Friday night against Thornridge.
Stagg will then be a heavy underdog in its last three games. Without a major upset, will the Chargers have enough opponents wins to get in with two wins? Right now, I’ll say no, but it’s not out of the realm of possibilities.
And if you’re not one of those eight teams just mentioned — enjoy the playoffs.
The race for the bye week is heating up
With just about everyone making the playoffs, focus will start to turn toward teams earning the opening-round bye.
It will likely take seven wins to feel comfortable about getting that bye, with some six-win teams with a bunch of opponent victories having a shot.
Lincoln-Way East (5-0), Oak Lawn (5-0), Mount Carmel (4-1) and Morgan Park (4-1) all appear well-positioned to get there. And a couple more off the radar — T.F. North (4-1) and Evergreen Park (4-1) — are in good spots.
Still, it will be very interesting to see what happens with teams like Providence (4-1), Lincoln-Way Central (4-1), Brother Rice (3-2) and Richards (3-2), where one or two toss-up games could make a huge difference in their playoff paths.
Most eye-opening score
Hillcrest 38, Lemont 20.
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I expected Hillcrest to be solid at the start of the year, but I’ll admit I fully wrote off the Hawks after they started 0-3 and did not score over their first two games.
But now they’re 2-3 after stunning Lemont behind three TD passes from senior Ladell Ross, who started the season as a receiver before moving to quarterback.
The South Suburban Blue looks like it’s going to be a wild ride this fall.