If you want pressure, there is nothing quite like a semifinal setting. The conference championship games in the NFL, the conference finals in the NBA and NHL, the league championship series in baseball, those are the arenas where pressure is at a peak.

On this semifinal week in the state high school football playoffs, the positive thought is our area has a good chance to boast two winners, two teams advancing to next weekend's state championships in Champaign.

The Joliet Catholic football team in on a roll on both sides of the ball. The way Providence played in the second half of last week's 44-14 victory over Crete-Monee, the Celtics look as good as anyone, regardless of class.

In high school sports, like in real life, sometimes things work out just right. Not always. Sometimes.