All four Glenbard District 87 football programs qualified for the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) playoffs, according to official brackets published Sunday, Oct. 18, by Shaw Local.
Three of the four teams play opening-round games Friday, Oct. 23.
Glenbard West earned a first-round bye.
Glenbard West: No. 15 seed, Class 7A (6-3)
The Hilltoppers sit out the opening round as one of 16 bye teams in Class 7A. They will host the winner of No. 47 Benet Academy (2-7) at No. 18 Moline (6-3), a game set for 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Moline.
Glenbard West closed the regular season with a 56-6 win over Proviso West and is ranked No. 24 in the state by Sports Illustrated. The Hilltoppers' three losses came to St. Rita (36-35), Downers Grove North (24-14) and York (25-22).
Glenbard East: No. 17 seed, Class 7A (6-3)
The Rams host No. 48 Bartlett (2-7) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. A win would send Glenbard East to No. 16 Kenwood (6-3), which earned a bye, according to the Yahoo Sports bracket.
The Rams beat eighth-ranked South Elgin 27-24 in overtime in their regular-season finale, winning on a 23-yard field goal, according to Chicago Tribune columnist Rick Armstrong's Week 9 rankings.
Glenbard North: No. 38 seed, Class 7A (3-6)
The Panthers travel to No. 27 Hoffman Estates (5-4) for a 7 p.m. kickoff Friday, Oct. 23. The winner advances to face No. 6 Jacobs (8-1), which has a bye.
Glenbard North enters as one of the lower seeds in the 7A field at 3-6. Jacobs, the potential second-round opponent, finished 8-1 and is making its sixth straight playoff appearance under coach Brian Zimmerman, according to Shaw Local's McHenry County coverage.
Glenbard South: Class 5A (5-4)
Shaw Local's bracket and start-times listing show Glenbard South as the No. 16 seed hosting No. 17 Payton (5-4) at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23. Yahoo Sports' bracket lists the seedings reversed, with Glenbard South as No. 17 traveling to No. 16 Payton. Fans should watch for the IHSA's final confirmation.
The winner faces No. 1 Antioch (9-0) in the second round. Glenbard South is the lone District 87 team competing in Class 5A rather than 7A.
The IHSA was expected to finalize all opening-round dates and times Monday, Oct. 19. Championship games are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 27, and Saturday, Nov. 28.
