West Aurora, Oswego, Burlington Central, Aurora Christian and Glenbard North are picks to clicks for first round of the playoffs.
Belleville East (7-2) at West Aurora (7-2)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday.
Matchup breakdown: The 16th-seeded Blackhawks are the lone 7-2 team hosting a first-round Class 8A playoff game.
“We’re very lucky to have one,” West Aurora coach Nate Eimer said.
Senior quarterback Mason Atkins, the Ball State commit who has completed 62% of his passes for 1,373 yards with 19 touchdowns and only three interceptions, leads the offense into a third straight postseason appearance.
Belleville East has a physical 6-foot-2 receiver in James Johnson, who also has an offer from Ball State. He’s joined by 6-1, 300-pound senior defensive tackle Jonathan Rulo, a Cincinnati recruit.
X-factor: Lesroy Tittle, West Aurora, senior, running back/linebacker.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: West Aurora.
West Aurora quarterback Mason Atkins scrambles for TD against East Aurora during an Upstate Eight West game in Aurora on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. (Jon Cunningham / The Beacon-News)
Naperville North (6-3) at Oswego (7-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The 22nd-seeded Huskies head into this Class 8A matchup after finishing in a four-way tie for the conference title in the eight-team Southwest Valley Blue.
Naperville North’s William Eloe, a 5-11, 198-pound battering ram of a running back, has rushed for 1,085 yards and 14 TDs.
Senior quarterback Josiah Nothacker was injured for last week’s 21-15 win over Naperville Central, but junior Dante Colasante had a strong showing in his first career start for the Huskies, completing 21 of 25 passes.
“They do a good job of stressing your defense,” Oswego coach Brian Cooney said.
The 11th-seeded Panthers feature a defense headlined by a pair of juniors in linebacker Caden Cooney and safety Dontrell Young. Oswego allowed an conference-low 95 points this season.
X-factor: Teddy Manikas, Oswego, senior, wide receiver.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Owego.
Oswego’s Caden Cooney (11) chases down Geneva’s Nelson Wendell (7) during a nonconference game in Oswego on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Libertyville (5-4) at Burlington Central (8-1)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday.
Matchup breakdown: The Rockets, who are seeded second in Class 6A, will be making their 18th playoff appearance with a strong defensive unit led by senior linebacker Noah Hedlund, the team’s leading tackler.
Burlington Central has allowed 87 points in the regular season, the third lowest in conference history since 1978. Cary-Grove allowed 55 points in 2006 and Crystal Lake South gave up 85 in 2009.
Libertyville, seeded 15th, have a player worth the price of admission in highly touted Brock Williams, a 6-5, 220-pound junior tight end.
“He’s a good one with quite a few Division I offers,” Burlington Central coach Brian Iossi said.
They include Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Michigan and Ohio State.
X-factor: Aidan Nuno, Burlington Central, senior, lineman.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Burlington Central.
Aurora Christian’s Jalen Callaway (22) fights through a tackle against St. Edward during a Chicagoland Christian Conference game in Elgin on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
Erie (6-3) at Aurora Christian (7-2)
Kickoff: 4 p.m. Saturday.
Matchup breakdown: Senior quarterback Asa Johnson committed Sunday to a scholarship offer he received Saturday while attending Northern Illinois’ Mid-American Conference game at home against Ball State.
Johnson will be the third quarterback for the Eagles in the past decade to play in DeKalb, preceded by Anthony Maddie (2014, 2016) and Ethan Hampton (2021-24).
“We’ve got a pretty good thing going,” Aurora Christian coach David Beebe said. “(NIU coach) Thomas Hammock is a good guy, I’m a huge fan of his.”
The Eagles are seeded sixth in Class 2A, while Erie is 11th. The teams have never met.
Beebe said his players will focus on Erie’s Caleb Reymer, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound junior lineman.
X-factor: Jalen Callaway, Aurora Christian, sophomore, running back.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Aurora Christian.
Yorkville’s Jack Beetham (2) throws a pass to Jackson Knickerbocker (29) during a Southwest Prairie Conference game at Oswego on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
Glenbard North (6-3) at Yorkville (7-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: After missing out last season by one game, the Foxes return to the playoffs for the sixth time in eight years, earning the 12th seed in Class 7A.
The Southwest Prairie West entry will take on the 21st-seeded Panthers of the DuKane in a matchup of two power conferences.
Senior quarterback Jack Beetham has thrown for 1,412 yards and 12 TDs, while senior running back TJ Harland has rushed for 744 yards and three TDs along with 13 receptions for 189 yards and six TDs.
Yorkville relies heavily on its defense, led by the linebacker tandem of junior Dillon Viscogliosi and senior Caleb Viscogliosi. The two brothers have chalked up 80 and 74 tackles respectively.
X-factor: Joel Castillo, Yorkville, junior, wide receiver.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Glenbard North.
