SJO, Monticello return to 3A playoff list, Beardstown and Princeton are top seeds

The Sages of Monticello, last year's Class 3A state champions, and St. Joseph-Ogden earned spots in the southern half of this year's IHSA football playoff bracket. The two programs make up a five-team contingent from the Illini Prairie Conference that have shots at a 2019 state football title.

The Spartans, who fell on the road to the Sages two nights ago in their conference finale by way of a 35-6 decision, make their second consecutive appearance in the Skinner era on the heels of a 5-4 regular season finish. SJO will travel to Williamsville on Saturday to face the Bullets at 1pm.

It will be the second meeting in playoff history between the two programs. SJO currently owns the series 1-0.

At 6-3, Monticello's win on Friday secured the program's fourth place conference finish behind Illinois Valley Central, Unity and Prairie Central. The Sages also will hit the road, travel to DuQuoin to face the 8-1 Indians.

Beardstown (9-0) and Princeton (8-1) are the top two seeds in this year's Class 3A football playoff bracket.

Here is a look at the first round matchups that will be played this weekend. Official kickoff times will be released sometime late Monday afternoon.

Game 1 — #16 Poplar Grove (North Boone) (5-4) at #1 Princeton (8-1), TBA
Game 2 — #9 Spring Valley (Hall) (6-3) at #8 Peotone (6-3), TBA
Game 3 — #13 Seneca (5-4) at #4 Farmington (7-2), TBA
Game 4 — #12 Chicago (Carver) (6-2) at #5 Paxton (P.-Buckley-Loda) (7-2), TBA

Game 5 — #15 Rock Island (Alleman) (5-4) at #2 Byron (8-1), TBA
Game 6 — #10 Chicago (Harlan) (6-2) at #7 Durand [Du-Pec Coop] (6-3), TBA
Game 7 — #14 Lisle (Sr.) (5-4) at #3 Wilmington (8-1), TBA
Game 8 — #11 Chicago (Dunbar) (6-2) at #6 Eureka (7-2), TBA

Game 9 — #16 Newton (5-4) at #1 Beardstown (9-0), TBA
Game 10 — #9 Quincy (Notre Dame) (6-3) at #8 Greenville (7-2), TBA
Game 11 — #13 Alton (Marquette) (5-4) at #4 Fairfield (9-0), TBA
Game 12 — #12 West Frankfort (Frankfort) (6-3) at #5 Breese (Mater Dei) (8-1), TBA

Game 13 — #15 St. Joseph-Ogden (5-4) at #2 Williamsville (9-0), 1 pm
Game 14 — #10 Monticello (6-3) at #7 DuQuoin (H.S.) (8-1), TBA
Game 15 — #14 Virden (North Mac) (5-4) at #3 Vandalia (9-0), TBA
Game 16 — #11 Carlinville (6-3) at #6 Mt. Carmel (8-1), TBA

Class 4A IHSA football pairings are set, Unity Rockets earn #4 seed

The 32 teams and brackets are set for Illinois High School Association 2019 postseason for Class 4A. Locally, Scott Hamilton's Rockets in Tolono are the largest school in Champaign County to advance in this year's playoffs. Entering the postseason with one loss, Unity earned a first round home game on their new turf at Hicks Field against former Okaw Valley rival Clinton. Kickoff is slated for 2pm on Saturday.

Unity's Jared Routh blocks St. Joseph-Ogden's Payton Cain during their regular season Illini Prairie Conference game back in September. After dropping their opener to Illinois Valley Central, the Rockets put together eight consecutive victories to earn the #4 seed in their first ever Class 4A appearance. (Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks)

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Here is a look at the other Class 4A pairings and locations for this weekend. Official times for the games below will be available late Monday afternoon.

Game 1 — #16 Chicago (Phoenix) (3-4) at #1 Coal City (9-0), TBA
Game 2 — #9 Chicago (Agricultural Science) (6-2) at #8 Kewanee (H.S.) (6-3), TBA
Game 3 — #13 Chicago (Clark) (5-3) at #4 Wheaton (St. Francis) (8-1), TBA
Game 4 — #12 North Chicago (5-4) at #5 Genoa (G.-Kingston) (8-1), TBA

Game 5 — #15 Chicago (Urban Prep/Bronzeville) (4-5) at #2 Richmond (R.-Burton) (9-0), TBA
Game 6 — #10 Manteno (5-4) at #7 Marengo (7-2), TBA
Game 7 — #14 Chicago (Sullivan) (5-3) at #3 Elmhurst (IC Catholic) (8-1), TBA
Game 8 — #11 Dixon (H.S.) (5-4) at #6 Stillman Valley (8-1), TBA

Game 9 — #16 Taylorville (5-4) at #1 Chillicothe (Illinois Valley Central) (9-0), TBA
Game 10 — #9 Murphysboro [Coop] (7-2) at #8 Bethalto (Civic Memorial) (7-2), TBA
Game 11 — #13 Clinton (6-3) at #4 Tolono (Unity) (8-1), 2 pm
Game 12 — #12 Kankakee (McNamara) (6-3) at #5 Paris (8-1), TBA

Game 13 — #15 Roxana (5-4) at #2 Columbia (9-0), TBA
Game 14 — #10 Fairbury (Prairie Central) (7-2) at #7 Olney (Richland County) (7-2), TBA
Game 15 — #14 Breese (Central) (5-4) at #3 Effingham (H.S.) (8-1), TBA
Game 16 — #11 Salem (7-2) at #6 Benton (8-1), TBA

5A football pairings are out, Sterling and Mt. Zion earn top seeds

The 32-team bracket is set for this year's Illinois High School Association Class 5A football championships. Sterling and Mt. Zion, both with undefeated regular season records, are the division's top two seeds. Boylan Catholic, also 9-0 in regular season play, and Rochester (8-1) are the #2 seeds in this year's postseason standings.

Here is a look at the pairings and locations of the upcoming contests this weekend. Official times will be available late Monday afternoon.

Game 1 — #16 Chicago Heights (Marian) (5-4) at #1 Sterling (H.S.) (9-0), TBA
Game 2 — #9 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South) (6-3) at #8 Chicago (St. Rita) (6-3), TBA
Game 3 — #13 Burbank (St. Laurence) (5-4) at #4 Country Club Hills (Hillcrest) (8-1), TBA
Game 4 — #12 Oak Park (Fenwick) (5-4) vs. #5 Chicago (Payton) (8-0) at TBA, TBA

Game 5 — #15 Chicago (Hyde Park) (5-3) at #2 Rockford (Boylan Catholic) (9-0), TBA
Game 6 — #10 Aurora (Marmion Academy) (6-3) vs. #7 Chicago (Amundsen) (7-1) at TBA, TBA
Game 7 — #14 Evergreen Park (5-4) at #3 Sycamore (H.S.) (8-1), TBA
Game 8 — #11 Elmwood Park (6-3) at #6 Lombard (Montini) (7-2), TBA

Game 9 — #16 Decatur (MacArthur) (5-4) at #1 Mt. Zion (9-0), TBA
Game 10 — #9 Joliet (Catholic Academy) (6-3) at #8 Morton (7-2), TBA
Game 11 — #13 Peoria (Notre Dame) (6-3) at #4 Kankakee (Sr.) (8-1), TBA
Game 12 — #12 Mascoutah (6-3) at #5 Carbondale (H.S.) (8-1), TBA

Game 13 — #15 LaSalle (L.-Peru) (5-4) at #2 Rochester (8-1), TBA
Game 14 — #10 Highland (6-3) at #7 Cahokia (H.S.) (7-2), TBA
Game 15 — #14 Troy (Triad) (6-3) at #3 Marion (H.S.) (8-1), TBA
Game 16 — #11 Springfield (Sacred Heart-Griffin) (6-3) at #6 Morris (7-2), TBA