Here’s a look at the first round of the IHSA football playoffs in the Northwest suburbs, including games being hosted by Prospect, Hersey, Buffalo Grove, Hoffman Estates and Maine South.

After a year off in 2020 due to COVID and a shortened spring 2021 football season, it is finally high school football playoff time in Illinois. On Saturday, the Illinois High School Association announced the pairings for the 256-team field that will make up the 8 classes. It will culminate on Thanksgiving weekend with the title games this year being played at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Opening round days and times will be announced on Monday afternoon.

Maine South bolted to its fifth consecutive undefeated Central Suburban South title in Winnetka on Friday. The Hawks built a 49-21 lead after three quarters and held off a late New Trier rally to win 49-42 in a game that was not as the final score would indicate.

Here’s a look at Week 9 football games in the Northwest suburbs, including key matchups between Hersey and Buffalo Grove as well as Hoffman Estates and Palatine.

The running men paced their way to another win Friday in Buffalo Grove. The Bison (7-1, 3-1 Mid-Suburban East) piled up 282 rushing yards on their way to a 35-7 win over Wheeling in a game that Buffalo Grove did not break open until the fourth quarter.

Here’s a look at Week 8 football games in the Northwest suburbs, including a key Mid-Suburban East clash between Prospect and Hersey, as well as an MSL West showdown between Barrington and Conant.

Maine South got through its tune-up just fine. The Hawks flew into Skokie Friday and exploded past Niles West 51-21 in their highest scoring output of the season.

Prospect moved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in Mid-Suburban East play with a 57-7 win over Elk Grove Friday in Elk Grove Village.

Here’s a look at Week 7 football games in the Northwest suburbs, highlighted by Conant playing at Hoffman Estates with first place in the Mid-Suburban West on the line.

After dropping a close game to Prospect last weekend, host Buffalo Grove wanted to get back on the winning track when the Bison hosted Elk Grove for their Homecoming contest Friday night. And after storming ahead of the Grenadiers 28-0 early in the second quarter, Buffalo Grove never looked back as almost three players rushed for 100 yards each to help pave the way to a 49-6 Mid-Suburban League East Division victory.

Here’s a look at Week 6 football games in the Northwest suburbs, highlighted by Glenbrook South (5-0) visiting Maine South (4-1) in a Central Suburban League showdown.

Hersey recorded 464 yards of total offense in its 42-7 Mid-Suburban Conference win at Elk Grove Friday.

Here’s a look at Week 5 football games in the Northwest suburbs, highlighted by Buffalo Grove (4-0) at Prospect (3-1).

Elk Grove returned home to a huge crowd and scored a huge win Friday night. After playing on the road for the first three weeks this season, the Grenadiers made things look easy, rolling over Maine East 42-0.

Here’s a look at the Week 4 football matchups in the Northwest suburbs, highlighted by Glenbrook South (3-0) at Barrington (2-1) and Glenbrook North (2-1) at Hersey (3-0).

The Mid-Suburban League wrapped up a successful football Friday night with its counterparts from the Central Suburban League. The MSL went 8-4 in their crossover games with the two conferences set to play again next Friday.

Just three games into the 2021 season, Vernon Hills is already on a 9-game winning streak. Ben Choi, a star in the Cougars’ thorough 41-6 victory over visiting Elk Grove on Friday, wasn’t even on the varsity team yet. But he thinks he knows exactly why Vernon Hills hasn’t lost a regular-season game since Week 8 of the 2019 season.

Here’s a look at Week 3 football games in the Northwest suburbs, as the Mid-Suburban League and the Central Suburban League clash again in nonconference action.

Thanks to some big plays in all three facets of the game: offense, defense, and special teams, Schaumburg held off a late rally from visiting Elk Grove 27-20 in a Mid-Suburban League crossover football game at Gary Scholz Stadium Friday night to leave both teams at 1-1 on the season.

Here’s a look at the Week 2 football games in the Northwest suburbs, highlighted by Warren, the No. 1 team in the Daily Herald Top 20, hosting No. 2 Maine South. Also, Prospect plays host to Fremd in one of six Mid-Suburban League crossovers.

Sophomore Belmonte scores 3 touchdowns in Elk Grove’s 36-14 non-conference win over Maine West.

Scouting Week 1 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Football: Scouting the 2021 fall season in the Mid-Suburban League

Meet the All-Area Football Team for the Northwest suburbs

The Mid-Suburban League all-conference football team has been announced.

Conant defeated Elk Grove in a football game Friday night.

Scouting Week 6 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Ben Clawson ran for 180 yards and scored 5 touchdowns to help Hersey record a 49-21 Mid-Suburban League East Division win over Elk Grove Friday night.

Scouting Week 5 football games in the Northwest suburbs

It has been close to 10 years since either Prospect or Buffalo Grove have won the Mid-Suburban East football championship. On Friday, when the two unbeaten teams meet at Buffalo Grove at 7 p.m. the winner will go home with a trophy.

Elk Grove defeated Wheeling in a football game Friday night.

Scouting Week 4 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Prospect quarterback Alex “Gary” Moeller answers to a pair of names. But so far this season his opponents have yet to find an answer to stop the senior.

Charlie Schmidt ran for 121 yards on 13 carries and scored 2 touchdowns to help Rolling Meadows to a 43-13 win over Elk Grove in Mid-Suburban East action Thursday night.

Scouting Week 3 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Prospect defeated Elk Grove 49-38 in a football game Friday night.

Here’s a look at this weekend’s football games in the Northwest suburbs.

Buffalo Grove’s Ian Luyando is a true diamond in the rough. Luyando, who is a senior quarterback, had only played just one half of organized football before his start last Saturday for the Bison. And he was more than impressive.

Buffalo Grove downed Elk Grove in football action Saturday.

Here’s a look at Saturday’s football games in the Mid-Suburban League

Scouting the football season in the Mid-Suburban League

Bart Miller, an Elk Grove graduate, is the new offensive line coach at the University of Illinois.