Dick Goss: 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.

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 Academy 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.

Dick Goss: As I reviewed the matchups in the nine second-round playoff football games involving area high schools, a thought occurred. Honestly, virtually every game can go either way.

Speed on speed. That is what is brewing for Saturday's Class 5A football second-round playoff matchup between Joliet Catholic Academy and Cahokia, one of nine weekend games involving area teams.
Following are the second-round game times.

Dick Goss: The regular season is one thing. Once you enter the high school football playoffs, everything begins anew. That's the way Wilmington High School viewed its situation Friday night, when neighboring rival Reed-Custer came calling for a Class 3A opening-round battle.

The nine Friday night high school football playoff games involving area schools are likely to be played in rain and wind. Let's take a look at a sampling of our playoff quarterbacks who caught my eye during the season, beginning in Class 8A.

Morris finishes 5-4 to qualify for the state high school football playoffs, gets in as the largest Class 4A school rather than landing in 5A, and then the Redskins draw Chicago Raby for an opening-round opponent at 1 p.m. Saturday at Hanson Stadium.

The state high school football playoffs lump schools of similar enrollment into each of the eight classes. The idea is that everyone begins the playoffs on somewhat of an equal playing field.

As I composed the accompanying chart that details the starting times for this weekend's opening-round games involving area schools in the state high school football playoffs, I could not help but think about what may be in store for next week.
Here are the first-round game times in Class 3A through 8A:

Dick Goss: Minooka High School last participated in the state football playoffs in 2003. That Minooka team, coached by current Plainfield South coach Mike Briscoe, was tough. Those Indians went toe to toe with the big boys, never backing down. The trademark is back.

The long-awaited Week 9 has arrived. As much fun as it is to speculate on which area high school football teams will qualify for the playoffs, and which will be in which class, this is the weekend when we will know for sure.

Dick Goss: Plainfield North High School sophomore Jackie Altansarnai against Plainfield Central sophomore Ali Foster. All you need to see are a couple of volleys to understand you are watching something special.

Joliet Catholic Academy girls tennis coach Charlie Berta was facing a potential dilemma. His season-long lineup featured a couple of very good singles players in freshman Harley Hutchinson and junior Jessie Bertino.

John Jackson has been coaching football for a long time now. You would think he has seen it all. Perhaps after what transpired Friday night in Romeoville, that indeed is the case.

With two games remaining in the regular season, the playoff scenario for area high school football teams is becoming clear. If the playoffs were to begin today, a few more than half the teams statewide with a 4-3 record would be in, the rest would be out. The determining factor, of course, is playoff points (opponent victories).

A discussion in the clubhouse during Monday's Class 2A boys sectional golf meet at Broken Arrow concerned the number of teams that qualify for state, now that there are three classes rather than two.

Joliet Catholic Academy is not the favorite heading into this weekend's Class 2A Boys State Golf Meet at Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University in Normal. Nor have the Hilltoppers earned that distinction.

Glen Marcum called it "the best group we have ever had."

Not only is John Ivlow a good football coach, he is clever as well. Ivlow was a guest on the Pigskin Preview show Thursday night on WJOL Radio, where I am a regular in the studio with Edgy Tim and Mike from the Brook.

Dick Goss: With three games remaining in the high school football season, the Joliet area already has numerous sure things in regard to the playoffs. The other side of the coin is we are far from finished. Several other area teams are on the right track for a trip to the postseason.