The Joliet area has nine teams remaining in the state high school football playoff hunt, with second-round games on tap this weekend. And so far, we still have the potential to send a team to the championship game in any of the six classes from 3A through 8A.

Marist volleyball coach Natalie Holder told me a story Wednesday. Told me a few stories, in fact. Lord knows, she had plenty to talk about after a Tuesday that started with one of her players getting hit by a school bus while driving down Western Avenue and ended with getting run over once again in the postseason by Mother McAuley.

Here we are in the second round of the IHSA playoffs, and it feels like something's missing. A little buzz, perhaps. A little excitement.

Lincoln-Way East upheld the honor of the Joliet area last week when the Griffins opened the Class 7A state high school football playoffs with a 35-7 win over Belleville West. Joliet Catholic did the same with a 48-7 thumping of Troy Triad in 5A, and Minooka joined in with a 44-25 win over 7A foe Edwardsville.