“Edgy Tim” O’Halloran provides the Top 5 Chicagoland high school football games to watch in the Semifinal round of the playoffs. Head to EdgyTim.Rivals.com for more coverage.

IHSA Semifinal Round

Class 8A

Elmhurst (York) (11-1) at Wilmette (Loyola Academy) (12-0)
Sat., Nov. 18, 12:30 pm Live TV: Marquee Sports Network

This game is a rematch from the 2022 Class 8A semifinals as Loyola Academy posted a 30-3 win over York on its way to winning the 2022 Class 8A state title. York and head coach Mike Fitzgerald has the Dukes playing at an elite level for the second straight season. The York offense has been balanced all season between run and pass. York QB Sean Linton has stepped up big this season as a first year varsity starter along with senior RB Jake Melion while WR Luke Mailander (Illinois State) is the main target in the passing game. The York defense also has a great combination of fast and athletic players and keep an eye on junior 3 star ranked junior DE/OL Joseph Reiff (Notre Dame) along with senior DE Jack Trautmann plus senior LB Cole Ostendorf.

Loyola Academy hasn’t skipped a beat this season despite former head coach John Holecek stepping down. The Ramblers and first year head coach Beau Desherow will rely on junior QB Ryan Fitzgerald (the son of former Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald) who has had a breakthrough year as a first year varsity starter. Fitzgerald has a strong group of receivers and back to lean on including WR Nicholas Arogundade and RB Drew McPherson and the Ramblers offense operates behind a very big, strong and physical offensive line anchored by senior OL Kyle Baltazar. Loyola’s defense still remains this program’s calling card and strength and keep an eye on DL Joe Kelly, LB Ethan Hogg along with DB Donovan Robinson. Loyola could very well be the tallest high school football team I’ve seen in my almost 30 years of covering IHSA football. 

Can the York defense slow down the Loyola offense, avoid giving up the big play and make the Ramblers earn everything on Saturday? Can the Loyola defense win first and second down consistently and force York into unwanted down and distance? How well can York upfront match up against a huge Loyola line play on both sides of the football? 

Pick: Loyola 

Class 8A 

Barrington (12-0) at Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) (12-0)
Sat., Nov. 18, 1:00 pm

Barrington and veteran head coach Joe Sanchez got the Broncos into the Class 8A state semifinal round for the first time since 1998. The Barrington offense has been a real strength this season led by junior QB Nick Peipert and a Barrington passing game that can and will go downfield with confidence while also mixing in plenty of running game. Barrington senior RB Dillon Fitzpatrick is a multi-year starter and leader who runs behind a good sized and experienced offensive line and also keep an eye on WR/DB Will Nazha and WR/DB Matt Marusich. The Broncos defense has speed and quickness and senior DE Devan Van Ness (who is the younger brother of Green Bay Packers DE Lukas Van Ness) along with junior LB Josh Peipert and DB Connor Fitzpatrick.

Lincoln Way East veteran head coach Rob Zvonar has built up the Griffins football programs as one of the elite public school programs state-wide and this program, which has been playing varsity football since 2001 has never missed the IHSA state playoffs. When the Griffins have the football, keep an eye on senior QB Braden Tischer along with a strong ball control/power running game led by RB Nuri Mahammad who runs behind a big and strong offensive line anchored by senior OL Josh Janowski (Iowa). The Griffins defense has yet to allow a point so far in the Class 8A state playoffs and will need to play well on Saturday and East will look towards its impressive defensive line led by junior Power 5 recruit DE Caden O’Rourke and a strong linebacker group including LB Conner Durkin. 

Can the Barrington offense dent a strong Lincoln Way East defense and make the Griffins chase points right out of the gates on Saturday? Can the Lincoln Way East offense establish its running game and control the clock and tempo along with getting out of the gates quickly on offense on Saturday? 

Pick: Lincoln Way East

Class 7A 

Batavia (11-1) at Chicago (Mt. Carmel) (11-1)
Sat., Nov. 18, 4:00 pm 

This is a rematch of the 2022 Class 7A state title game, which Mount Carmel won 44-20 over Batavia and this showdown will again draw a packed house at Barda Dowling Stadium on Saturday in Chicago. Batavia head coach Dennis Piron has taken the Bulldogs football program from a consistent winner to an elite program. The Bulldogs will rely on QB Ryan Boe (North Dakota State) who has completed 170 of 258 passes for 2,670 yards and 29 touchdowns with just one interception. Boe is also a threat running the football (461 yards rushing) while RB Charlie Whelpley (758 yards rushing) is another key name to watch along with WR Luke Alwin, WR Isaiah Brown and TE CJ Valente. The Bulldogs defense is again this season a strength and senior LB Ben Fiegel (SIU), LB Ben Brown and LB Chase Osborne are highly productive leaders.

Mount Carmel and head coach Jordan Lynch is also surging this postseason and seeking to win back to back Class 7A state titles. The Caravan offense features junior QB Jack Elliott along with a deep and talented group of offensive skills including 4 star ranked RB Darrion Duppree (Wisconsin), RB Alonzo Manning Jr. (Navy) plus senior WR Darrion Gilliam (Kent State) and the offensive line is just well schooled and physical. Tne Caravan defense also has athlete and playmakers led by ILB Parker Startz (Ohio) along with sophomore DE Braeden Jones while the Caravan secondary is also stacked and led by senior DB Charles Miles (Western Michigan), junior Havy Payne along with senior Dillon Conwat and senior Jayden Jones. 

Can the Batavia offense get another big game from QB Ryan Boe and keep the Mount Carmel defense back on its heels? Will/could special teams play become a big factor? Can the Mount Carmel offense hit some big plays against a well schooled Batavia defense? 

Pick: Mount Carmel 

Class 6A 

Cary (Grove) (10-2) at Lake Zurich (11-1)
Sat., Nov. 18, 1:00 pm

Both Cary Grove and Lake Zurich have several similarities including wanting to run the football early and often, so if you are looking to fit a hard hitting, physical and quick game on Saturday this might be the one for you. Cary Grove and head coach Brad Seaburg have a younger team this season that has grown and improved each week. The Trojans vaunted triple option running game is led by Seaburg’s son, junior QB./S Peyton Seaburg along with sophomore FB Logan Abrams and RB Andrew Piro and the Trojans offense is capable of grinding out long and sustained drives. However, this offense can also break open big plays including a sneaky yet effective play action passing game when needed. The Trojans defense is speed based and this group just flies to the football at all times and LB/FB Kyle Jarnicki is a two way name to watch on Saturday for the Trojans.

Lake Zurich and head coach Ron Planz have also had a ton of success this season behind a strong run game anchored by senior RB Chris Pirrone and a big and physical offensive line. The Bears defense has also been strong all season long led by senior LB Lincoln Adams, LB George DiCanio and LB Coplan Oettinger.

Can the Lake Zurich defense find the football and slow down the Cary Grove triple option power running game? Can the Cary Grove defense also take away the Bears running game and RB Chris Pirrone for four quarters on Saturday? Expect a very close game for four quarters plus on Saturday in Lake Zurich. 

Pick: Lake Zurich 

Class 5A 

Wheaton (St. Francis) (10-2) at LaGrange Park (Nazareth Academy) (7-5)
Sat., Nov. 18, 2:00 pm

Back in Week 9, Nazareth Academy was in a must-win mode at 4-4 taking on St Francis (6-2) for a potential spot in the IHSA state playoffs. St. Francis went on to win that Week 9 showdown 35-17, but as luck would have it the Nazareth Academy Road Runners would be getting an at-large state playoff spot with a 4-5 record. Nazareth Academy and head coach Tim Racki for the second straight playoff season are making a deep postseason run and playing their best football of the year after that shaky regular season. The Road Runners offense is led by junior QB Logan Malachuk who has a stable of talented underclassmen receivers and backs including junior WR James Penley, junior Garrett Reece plus sophomore WR Trenton Walker and junior RB/LB Lesroy Tittle. The Nazareth Academy defense has also stepped up its game in the postseason and junior 4 star ranked OLB/DE Gabe Kaminski is a three year starter who is a huge impact performer again this fall.

St Francis and head coach Bob McMIllen also had a somewhat slow start with a 2-2 record, but the Spartans found its groove and have now won 8 straight games including wins against some top CCL/ESCC schools. St Francis senior QB Alessio Milivojevic (Ball State) is putting up huge numbers this season and much like irs opponent on Saturday, St. Francis also has a deep and talented group of offensive skills including RB/LB Dom Beres, WR Zach Washington along with RB Ty Ransom plus WR Deshaun Williams. The Spartans defense has also been consistently forcing opponents into turnovers week in and week out and this defense has very good overall team speed this season. 

Last possession wins on Saturday? Can Nazareth Academy slow down St Francis and QB Alessio Milivojevic this time around? Can Nazareth Academy just keep finding a way to win big game after big game? 

Pick: St. Francis