Win or go home. Survive and advance. These postseason cliches’ and more apply to the upcoming IHSA Class 8A football state playoffs, which kick off this weekend (Oct. 26-27).
Rolling into the playoffs on a six-game winning streak, Oak Park and River Forest is the hometown favorite to go far in the playoffs. Sentimentality aside, the Huskies can ball. They are strong in all three phases of the game, earned a share of the West Suburban Conference Silver Division championship and are highly motivated. A signature win over Glenbard West in Week 8 came at the perfect time.
Melvin is certainly all in on the Huskies, predicting an extended run for the team. With a dominant defense and plenty of playmakers on offense like quarterback Jaden McGill, running backs Nazareth Bryant and Keith Robinson, and wide receivers Trevon Brown and Craig Shelton, OPRF is a great dark horse pick.
And don’t forget OPRF kicker Henry Darrow (the least popular football player in Glen Ellyn), courtesy of his 42-yard field goal in the closing seconds of 10-7 victory against Glenbard West.
On the flipside, if the Huskies get by New Trier in a tricky opening-round matchup, top-seeded Brother Rice likely awaits OPRF. Lincoln-Way East, Marist, Maine South, Loyola and Homewood-Flossmoor (among others) headline the rest of a stacked draw.
Good luck to all the teams, especially OPRF. And remember 8A entrants, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to win five games to be the last team standing.
Otherwise, to borrow another cliché’ (this time, basketball), you’ll be “Gone Fishin'” with Ernie, Shaq, Kenny “The Jet” and Sir Charles.
MARTY’S PICKS (IN BRACKET ORDER)
FIRST ROUND (in bracket order):
Brother Rice over Zion-Benton
OPRF over New Trier
Warren over Neuqua Valley
Hinsdale Central over Conant
Homewood-Flossmoor over Fremd
Barrington over Oswego East
Marist over Stevenson
Plainfield South over Naperville Central
Lincoln-Way East over St. Charles East
Glenbard West over Bartlett
West Aurora over South Elgin
Edwardsville over Evanston
Oswego over Taft
Loyola over Minooka
Maine South over Huntley
Waubonsie Valley over Bolingbrook
SECOND ROUND
Brother Rice over OPRF
Warren over Hinsdale Central
Homewood-Flossmoor over Barrington
Marist over Plainfield South
Lincoln-Way East over Glenbard West
Edwardsville over West Aurora
Loyola over Oswego
Maine South over Oswego
QUARTERFINALS
Brother Rice over Warren
Marist over Homewood-Flossmoor
Lincoln-Way East over Edwardsville
Maine South over Loyola
SEMIFINALS
Marist over Brother Rice
Maine South over Lincoln-Way East
CHAMPIONSHIP
Maine South over Marist
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
MELVIN’S PICKS (IN BRACKET ORDER)
FIRST ROUND (in bracket order):
Brother Rice over Zion-Benton
OPRF over New Trier
Warren over Neuqua Valley
Conant over Hinsdale Central
Homewood-Flossmoor over Fremd
Barrington over Oswego East
Marist over Stevenson
Naperville Central over Plainfield South
Lincoln-Way East over St. Charles East
Glenbard West over Bartlett
West Aurora over South Elgin
Edwardsville over Evanston
Oswego over Taft
Loyola over Minooka
Maine South over Huntley
Bolingbrook over Waubonsie Valley
SECOND ROUND
OPRF over Brother Rice
Warren over Conant
Homewood-Flossmoor over Barrington
Marist over Naperville Central
Lincoln-Way East over Glenbard West
Edwardsville over West Aurora
Loyola over Oswego
Maine South over Bolingbrook
QUARTERFINALS
OPRF over Warren
Marist over Homewood-Flossmoor
Lincoln-Way East over Edwardsville
Loyola over Maine South
SEMIFINALS
Marist over OPRF
Lincoln-Way East over Loyola
CHAMPIONSHIP
Lincoln-Way East over Marist