Warren’s defense claimed another victim in the state quarterfinals. The Blue Devils beat Bolingbrook 18-6 in another stingy performance. Warren’s defense has only allowed 40 points this season.
Raiders coach John Ivlow has a clear message for any doubters.
“They beat us up,” Ivlow said. “That’s the biggest thing. We could not handle them. They’re up there with Lincoln-Way East.”
Warren held the Raiders (8-4) to 87 yards. Fourteen of Bolingbrook’s 45 plays from scrimmage went for negative yardage.
The Blue Devils will need to get past Brother Rice in the semifinals to possibly get a crack at top-ranked Lincoln-Way East in the Class 8A state title game. This is the deepest playoff run in Warren history.
Red-hot crusade
The Crusaders have rolled through Bartlett, South Elgin and Minooka in the playoffs. But those three teams combined beat just one team all season that appeared in the Super 25 (Oswego). Brother Rice entered the playoffs having lost three of its last four regular season games. So it is hard to know if the run is for real.
Crusaders running back Willie Shaw, just a sophomore, is a force. He had 10 carries for 143 yards in the win against Minooka. Two other sophomores, running back Brandon Rogers and quarterback Jack Lausch, have also featured prominently in the playoffs for Brother Rice.
Can a pack of sophomores possibly handle the state’s best defense? It should be fun to find out on Saturday.
Marist ends the streak
Loyola’s run is over. The Ramblers have appeared in the Class 8A state title game the last four years. That consistent playoff excellence made it easy to overlook some regular season losses this season, including a Week 9 loss to Marist in Wilmette.
The RedHawks needed to win that game just to get into the playoffs. Turns out it wasn’t a fluke. Marist pulled it off in Wilmette again in the quarterfinals, beating Loyola 41-27.
RedHawks quarterback Hayden Mikesell was 13-for-18 for 229 yards and two touchdowns and had nine carries for 116 yards. Freshman receiver Carnell Tate had eight catches for 92 yards.
Marist will host Lincoln-Way East in the semifinals.
Deerfield stays alive
Surviving and advancing in the playoffs can often require a bit of luck. Deerfield received just enough in the Class 6A quarterfinals.
Lake Forest (7-5) botched its extra-point kick in the fourth quarter and was unable to tie the game. The Warriors won 21-20.
Deerfield will host Prairie Ridge in its first semifinal appearance since 1990.
