Late-season drama comes in many layers

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Here we are, nine days away from the release of the IHSA's playoff pairings, and it seems like the football season here is limping home.

There are only two games this week in the Beacon News coverage area between teams with winning records, while the better squads in the area are finishing up the last of their conference schedules.

There won't be much drama in Week 9 outside of West Aurora trying (again) to make the postseason for the first time since 1994, and the Batavia-Geneva rivalry.

So let's look ahead to Halloween weekend and the first round of the playoffs. Geneva fans should be really hoping the Vikings can finish off their last two opponents and go 9-0 while hoping Wheaton Warrenville South upsets Naperville North next week.

Class 7A is extremely strong this year, and the Vikings might find some unfavorable matchups as early as the second round should they lose a game.

Batavia and Oswego are in potentially beneficial positions in Class 6A -- right in the middle. It could lead to a long playoff run, as I believe the teams currently seeded 14th through 20th are stronger than some of the higher seeds.

Kaneland is in the unenviable position of having to beat Geneva to try and move up the Class 5A pecking order, though the Knights are explosive enough to upset one of the top seeds on the road in the playoffs. Plano and Sandwich should be in the Class 4A mix, though they may need to win out to have a shot at opening the postseason at home.

Aurora Christian has a real shot at being the No. 1 seed in Class 3A. The only hurdles could come via the IHSA's regional seeding system. Driscoll -- winner of six straight state titles -- and Wilmington are close enough that they could fall in the Eagles' bracket, setting up a tough quarterfinal or semifinal and possibly interrupting their state championship dreams.

While this week may not be the best the sport has to offer around here, fans should keep a close eye on scores from throughout the greater Chicago area and state -- your team's playoff chances might hang in the balance.