Highschool soccer: Breaking down the highest second-round playoff video games

Class 8A: No. 4 York at No. 10 Marist, 1 p.m. Sat.

York (10-0), which snapped a 10-year postseason drought final 12 months. is searching for its first quarterfinal berth since 2006. The Dukes haven’t allowed greater than 17 factors in a recreation this season and have held seven opponents to single digits. Two-year starter Matt Vezza is likely one of the greatest quarterbacks within the state on the subject of making a giant play when it’s wanted. He had 219 whole yards in final week’s win over Oswego East. Marist (7-3) has playmakers on either side of the ball. Senior quarterback Dermot Smyth accounted for 284 yards and three TDs final week in opposition to Naperville North. Defensive lineman Jamel Howard and defensive again John Nestor are each Large Ten recruits, to Wisconsin and Iowa respectively.

Class 7A: No. 7 Hersey at No. 18 Batavia, 1 p.m. Sat.

Mid-Suburban East champ Hersey is 10-0 for the primary time since 1975 and in search of its first journey to the quarterfinals since successful the 6A title in 1987. Keep watch over junior Carson Grove, who returned an onside kick 55 yards for a landing on the primary play of final week’s straightforward win over Argo. One of many extra fascinating developments for Batavia (7-3) has been the rising offensive workload for Wisconsin-bound linebacker Tyler Jansey (11.2 yards per carry, six TDs). Ryan Whitwell leads the Bulldogs’ floor recreation with 1,076 yards and 18 touchdowns.

7A: No. 11 St. Rita at No. 9 Prospect, 7 p.m. Fri.

Don’t low cost the emotional issue for St, Rita (8-2), whose coach, Todd Kuska, is retiring after 25 seasons. The Mustangs would like to ship him out with a 3rd straight journey to state. Junior DJ Stewart highlights an efficient floor recreation for St Rita wth 918 speeding yards and eight TDs, together with 153 yards and two scores final week in opposition to Geneva. Prospect (9-1) has nearly as good a pass-and-catch duo as you’ll discover: quarterback Brad Vierneisel piled up 3,073 whole yards within the common season with 37 touchdowns and receiver Frank Covey IV is a Northwestern recruit.

7A: No. 19 Lake Zurich at No. 17 Wheaton North, 4 p.m. Sat.

Lake Zurich’s greatest groups have at all times been constructed round protection and this one isn’t any exception The North Suburban champion Bears (9-1) haven’t allowed greater than 21 factors in a recreation and have held eight opponents to 10 factors or fewer. Working again/linebacker Cal Grabowski has been a productive two-way participant for Lake Zurich. Wheaton North (9-1) graduated most of final 12 months’s 7A championship workforce and misplaced Holy Cross-bound linebacker Ross Dansdill to damage. However the Falcons are nonetheless a one-point highway loss to St. Charles North away from being unbeaten.

Class 6A: No. 14 Crete-Monee vs. No. 5 Simeon at Gately, 1 p.m. Sat.

Whoever comes out of the south half of 6A will certainly have earned it. These are simply two of the groups left with critical title hopes in a bracket that additionally options East St. Louis and 10-0 Lemont. Simeon (10-0), which needs to be the second Public League workforce after Phillips to win state, is led by two-way star Malik Elzy and working again Andre Crews, who has a number of 200-yard video games this season. Crete (8-2) is likely one of the few groups round with pace to deal with Simeon’s. Mid-American Convention commits Josh Franklin (Western Michigan) and Lynel Billups-Williams (Miami, Ohio) are two to look at for the Warriors.