Five teams from McHenry County will continue their pursuit of a state championship in the second round of the IHSA football playoffs this weekend. The teams include Burlington Central, Cary-Grove, Jacobs, Prairie Ridge, and Richmond-Burton.
Class 7A Matchup: Brother Rice at Jacobs
The Brother Rice Crusaders, ranked No. 6 with a record of 9-1, will face No. 22 Jacobs (7-3) at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Brother Rice finished second in the CCL/ESCC Blue, trailing only undefeated Mt. Carmel. In their playoff opener, the Crusaders dominated Jefferson with a 57-0 victory, marking a significant turnaround from their first-round exits in the previous two seasons. Senior quarterback C.J. Gray, who is committed to Army, contributed three touchdown passes, while running backs Jameson Davis and Decatur Washington added to the score. The defense has been solid, allowing an average of just 10.9 points per game.
On the other side, Jacobs secured its first playoff victory since 2021 by defeating No. 11 Addison Trail 36-27. The Golden Eagles” ground game was pivotal, with running backs Caden DuMelle and Michael Cannady combining for 331 rushing yards. Cannady gained 155 yards, while DuMelle rushed for 137 yards and both players scored multiple touchdowns. Jacobs averages 34.6 points per game.
Class 6A Showdown: Harlem at Burlington Central
In another compelling matchup, No. 7 Harlem (8-2) will visit No. 2 Burlington Central (9-1) at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Harlem finished third in the NIC 10 and opened the playoffs with a resounding 62-0 victory over Mather. The Huskies feature sophomore quarterback Braxton Fausett, who has thrown for 1,658 yards and 21 touchdowns this season.
Burlington Central reached the second round after a hard-fought 21-17 win against No. 15 Libertyville. Quarterback Landon Arnold orchestrated a late-game drive that culminated in a touchdown pass to secure the victory. The Rockets” defense has been a strong point, allowing only 104 points throughout the season.
Class 5A Clash: Prairie Ridge at St. Francis
At 1 p.m. on Saturday, No. 1 Prairie Ridge (10-0) will face No. 9 St. Francis (7-3) in a rematch from last year”s playoffs. Prairie Ridge advanced by defeating No. 16 Vernon Hills 46-30, with quarterback Luke Vanderwiel leading the charge with impressive rushing and passing performances. The Wolves have averaged 40.1 points per game this season.
St. Francis began its playoff journey with a comeback victory against No. 8 Morgan Park, winning 35-28. The Spartans demonstrated resilience, rallying from a deficit in the second half to secure the win, powered by strong performances from Zach Washington and Tivias Caldwell.
Cary-Grove at St. Patrick in Class 6A
No. 6 Cary-Grove (8-2) is set to take on No. 14 St. Patrick (6-4) at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at Triton College. Cary-Grove extended its winning streak to eight games with a decisive 42-14 victory over No. 11 Sycamore. Quarterback Jackson Berndt was instrumental, rushing for 172 yards and one touchdown.
Meanwhile, St. Patrick celebrated its first playoff win under new coach Tom Zbikowski, defeating No. 3 Wauconda 49-28. The Shamrocks have shown marked improvement this season, having won five games after a tough previous year.
Class 3A: Richmond-Burton Visits Aurora Central Catholic
In the Class 3A playoff, No. 1 Richmond-Burton (10-0) will travel to face No. 9 Aurora Central Catholic (8-2) at 7 p.m. on Friday. Richmond-Burton overwhelmed No. 16 North Boone 49-0 in their playoff opener, with Hunter Carley leading the charge. The Rockets have been dominant this season, achieving their third shutout in four games.
Aurora Central Catholic, under coach Christian Rago, notched a 32-14 victory against No. 8 Chicago Noble/Rauner in the first round. The Chargers have rebounded from a challenging season last year and are eager to make a deep playoff run.
