IHSA football playoffs: How Chicagoland teams fared in opening round

Here’s how Chicagoland high school football teams fared in the opening round of the IHSA football playoffs.

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Lincoln-Way West 42, Mundelein 14

As a first-year starter for Lincoln-Way West, senior linebacker Maximus Silic has started to figure out the right formula for him to have success.

It all boils down to a pretty simple rule for Silic — chill out.

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“I try my best to try to keep myself under control during game time,” Silic said. “When I was younger, I’d always get all riled up, and I’ve realized as my football career went on to just settle down, relax a little bit. I kind of just do my job now.”

Silic did his job really well Friday night. He produced an interception and two sacks to lead a dominant defensive performance for the host Warriors, who rolled to a 42-14 win over Mundelein in a Class 7A opening-round game in New Lenox. Read more here.

Glenbard North 34, Hoffman Estates 20

Glenbard North went 3-6 this season, but it seemed very possible a DuKane difference might show up in the playoffs. The Panthers play in one of the most competitive conferences in the suburbs, and they even had two one-point losses along the way.

So they were well-prepared when the buses arrived in Hoffman Estates for an opening-round Class 7A playoff game. Glenbard North moved the ball in every way possible and beat the Hawks 34-20 on Friday night. The Panthers move on to face No. 6 seed Jacobs (8-1) in next week’s first round.

“I knew we were going to win this game,” Glenbard North quarterback Logan Kramer said. “We were very prepared. I’m so glad we have another week.” Read more here.

Hillcrest 63, Johnson 0

When Hillcrest’s Devan Watson tells people he learned a lot from his older brother, Deshawn, they can be excused for being a little bit confused.

His older brother, who played cornerback in high school for Eisenhower, has the same sounding name as Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. But Deshawn helped Devan out a lot. Especially at the beginning.

Now, it’s hard for opponents to keep with Watson. The junior running back touched the ball only three times on offense but scored three touchdowns Friday night for the Hawks in a 63-0 win over Johnson in a Class 4A opening-round playoff game in Country Club Hills. Read more here.

Naperville Central 18, Warren 14

Naperville Central junior linebacker Landen Goebel likes to be in the middle of the action. After playing outside linebacker last season, Goebel was moved to inside linebacker in the Redhawks’ 3-4 defense. He has feasted there while playing next to senior Justin Skryd.

“What I really love at middle linebacker is my availability to make tackles,” Goebel said. “I just have to play free because our D-linemen take up all the gaps.”

Goebel was at his best again when his team needed him most Friday night. His gritty play in the second half helped 29th-seeded Naperville Central rally to beat 36th-seeded Warren 18-14 in a Class 8A opening-round game at Memorial Stadium in Naperville. Read more here.

West Aurora 40, Leyden 21

Travis Brown has enjoyed plenty of time in the athletic spotlight at West Aurora for his exploits on the basketball court, but he’s always wondered what it would be like to play football.

It’s a different beast, but playing for the first time this season, Brown wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. Especially now that he has an all-time memory to go with it.

Brown helped the Blackhawks finish it off Friday night. The senior receiver’s 68-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter was one of the key plays in a 40-21 win over Leyden in a Class 8A opening-round playoff game. Read more here.

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Marist 49, Neuqua Valley 28

Senior running back Conor Hunt sets Marist’s standard for success near the goal line. He never settles anything less than a touchdown.

“Whenever you’re in the red zone, it’s a failure if you don’t get into the end zone,” Hunt said with a nod. “Every time you touch the ball, you have to be as tough as you can.

“You have to make sure you do everything to get in there.”

Hunt got going Friday night for the host RedHawks, scoring three TDs in a 49-28 victory over Neuqua Valley in a Class 8A opening-round playoff game in Chicago. Read more here.

Zion-Benton 44, Glenbrook North 0

Zion-Benton senior Jordan Lewis is proof that good things eventually come to those who wait, even 5-foot-4 quarterbacks.

The 5-4, 130-pound Lewis hadn’t started a single game at any position at any level in high school before the Zee-Bees’ Week 7 game against Waukegan. He was called upon in the wake of junior quarterback Marquan Gordon’s season-ending knee injury.

Lewis has directed the offense in three wins over his four starts, including the 21st-seeded Zee-Bees’ 44-0 victory against 44th-seeded Glenbrook North in the opening round of the Class 7A playoffs in Zion on Friday. Read more here.

St. Charles East 42, Elk Grove 21

There’s no question that St. Charles East is a proponent of the Illinois High School Association’s playoff expansion in football.

Count senior running back Johnny Solano among the supporters.

“It was worth it,” Solano said after rushing for 158 yards and three touchdowns in the 17th-seeded Saints’ 42-21 road victory over 16th-seeded Elk Grove in the Class 6A opening round on Friday.

St. Charles East (4-6), which will visit top-seeded Harlem in the first round on Oct. 31, won its first playoff game since 2019 after ending the regular season with five straight losses in the DuKane Conference. Read more here.

Burlington Central 41, Rockford East 0

Burlington Central’s Reece Beemer knows he has the talent to throw the ball all over the field. The only problem for the 6-foot-3, 180-pound junior quarterback is that the Rockets are known for their ground game, so he has to really take advantage of his opportunities.

“I know we’re a run-heavy team,” Beemer said. “I just have to do my job. I put a lot of trust in my running backs and my linemen. Whenever we have a pass called, I know what needs to be done. I’m not trying to do anything flashy.”

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Beemer was exceptionally efficient Friday night, completing 6 of 7 passes for 105 yards in host Burlington Central’s 41-10 win over Rockford East in a Class 6A opening-round playoff game. Read more here.