Seven metro-east teams still alive in football playoffs. Here’s a preview of Round 2

Round 1 of the IHSA football postseason is in the books.

Seven local teams made it through the opening round and now are gearing up for Round 2 this weekend. Included on the local slate, East St. Louis will host Normal West, while Althoff visits Carrollton.

Here is a look at those games along with a snapshot of other local playoff contests. All these games take place Saturday.

CLASS 1A

NO. 1 ALTHOFF CRUSADERS at NO. 9 CARROLLTON HAWKS

Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Carrollton High School.

Althoff coach: Austin Frazier.

2024 record: 10-0.

Round 1 result: The Crusaders defeated Dupo 60-0.

Players to watch: University of Oregon commit Dierre Hill Jr., a senior RB, enjoyed a fantastic regular season for the Crusaders, leading the entire area in several categories. Overall, he has rushed for 1,639 yards and 28 touchdowns. Sophomore QB Jayden Ellington has thrown for 1,668 yards and 28 touchdowns against just 2 interceptions. Senior WR Charleston Coldon has caught 33 passes for 672 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Carrollton coach: Rodney Flowers

2024 record: 7-3.

Round 1 result: The Hawks defeated No. 8 West Central 44-8.

Players to watch: Senior QB Carson Flowers threw for 1,539 yards and 14 touchdowns during the regular season, while rushing for 371 yards and 8 touchdowns. Senior WR Carson Grafford, meanwhile, grabbed 20 passes for 422 yards and 7 touchdowns. Carrollton coach Rodney Flowers noted Carson Flowers “leads our ‘throw to run’ spread offensive attack plan.”

Notes: Hill Jr. was injured against Granite City in Week 8 but returned for the Crusaders’ opening round playoff victory against Dupo. He rushed for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns on just 3 carries.

Round 3: The winner faces No. 4 Casey Westfield (9-1) or No. 12 Mt. Sterling (6-4) in the quarterfinals.

CLASS 4A

NO. 1 BREESE CENTRAL COUGARS at NO. 9 MURPHYSBORO RED DEVILS

Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Murphysboro High School.

Breese Central coach: Brian Short

2024 record: 10-0.

Round 1 result: The Cougars defeated No. 16 Harrisburg 42-7.

Player to watch: Senior QB Preston Baker has enjoyed a sensational season. Through 10 games, he has completed 99 passes in 147 attempts for 1,884 yards and 26 touchdowns against just 3 interceptions. Baker’s two favorite receives have been senior Carter Deien, who has 34 receptions for 773 yards and 6 touchdowns; and senior Griffen Becker, who has 32 receptions for 661 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Murphysboro coach: Gary Carter.

2024 record: 8-2

Round 1 result: The Red Devils defeated No. 8 Macomb 56-33.

Notes: Breese Central started the campaign with a narrow 24-21 win against Highland. Since then, the Cougars’ closest margin of victory has been 27 points. In their last 7 games, the Red Devils have amassed point totals of 56, 63, 51, 47 and 56.

Round 3: The winner faces either No. 13 Peoria Notre Dame (6-4) or No. 12 Mt. Zion (7-3) in the quarterfinals.

CLASS 5A

NO. 5 HIGHLAND BULLDOGS at NO. 13 MORRIS REDSKINS

Kickoff: 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Morris High School.

Highland coach: Jimmy Warnecke.

2024 record: 7-3.

Round 1 result: Highland defeated Marion 55-19.

Players to watch: Junior QB Blake Gelly threw for 1,449 yards and 14 touchdowns during the regular season, while rushing for 400 yards and 3 touchdowns. His favorite target was junior WR Wyatt Rinderer, who hauled in 31 passes for 419 yards during the regular season. Senior RB Tyson Rakers, meanwhile, rushed posted 16 rushing touchdowns in the regular season and then rushed for 6 touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ opening round win against Marion.

Morris coach: Alan Thorson.

2024 record: 6-4.

Round 1 result: Morris defeated Triad 57-28.

Notes: Morris and Highland have a common opponent in Triad. As noted, the Redskins defeated the Knights in Round 1. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, took down Triad 14-7 during the regular season. Additionally, Highland enters the game red hot, having won 5-straight games following a 2-3 start. Of note, during the 5-game winning streak, the Bulldogs have put up point totals of 63 twice and 55 twice.

Round 3: The winner faces either No. 1 Chicago Morgan Park (9-1) or No. 9 Metamora (7-3) in the quarterfinals.

CLASS 6A

NO. 8 NORMAL WEST WILDCATS at NO. 1 EAST ST. LOUIS FLYERS

Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at East St. Louis High School.

East St. Louis coach: Darren Sunkett.

2024 record: 9-1.

Round 1 result: The Flyers defeated No. 16 Springfield High School 67-0.

Player to watch: Senior QB Kendrick Lyons threw 17 touchdown passes during the regular season and added 3 more to his total against the Senators in the opening round. Overall, he completed 17 of 22 passes for 230 yards.

Normal West coach: Nathan Fincham.

Player to watch: The 6-1, 207-pound senior quarterback has made the most of limited duty with 520 yards passing and five touchdowns.

2024 record: 8-2

Round 1 result: Normal West defeated No. 9 Chicago Simeon 20-15.

Notes: East St. Louis and Normal West have met the past two postseasons, with the Flyers winning 40-0 in 2022 and 54-7 in 2023. East St. Louis is seeking its 11th state football championship. Normal West enters Saturday’s game on a 6-game winning streak; during their final 3 regular season games, the Wildcats amassed point totals of 49, 62 and 64.

Round 3: The winner faces either No. 5 Chatham Glenwood (8-2) or No. 13 Oak Forest (7-3) in the quarterfinals.

REMAINING PLAYOFF GAMES

Here is a snapshot of the other local second round playoff games:

Class 3A

• No. 5 Greenville (9-1) and No. 4 Nashville (9-1): 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Nashville High School. Nashville defeated No. 13 Olympia 42-35 in Round 1, while Greenville (9-1) defeated No. 12 Fairfield 48-6 in Round 1. The winner faces either No. 1 St. Joseph Ogden (10-0) or No. 9 Tolono Unity (7-3) in the quarterfinals.

Class 4A

• No. 6 Cahokia (8-2) and No. 3 Waterloo (9-1): 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at Waterloo High School. The Bulldogs defeated No. 14 Taylorville 33-30 in Round 1, while Cahokia defeated No. 11 Columbia 30-17 in Round 1. The winner faces either No. 2 Olney Richland County (10-0) or No. 10 Normal University (8-2) in the quarterfinals.