Playoff pairings quick takes: No Lincoln-Way East vs. Loyola title game, 7A's odd setup, Morgan Park's route

One thing stands out immediately in the Class 8A state playoff bracket: Lincoln-Way East and Loyola can’t meet in the state championship game.

That’s a shame, as they may be the best 8A teams and have developed a great rivalry that would have made for an outstanding title game at Illinois State. The Griffins and Ramblers would meet up in the semifinals, which leaves a spot in the state championship game for another team.

Lyons, Naperville Central and Oswego are my top contenders to advance from the lower bracket. Lincoln-Way East knocked off the Redhawks 28-7 in Week 9, but it was the first time the Griffins have trailed all season.

Overall, the lower bracket is wide open and should feature close games and some upsets, which will be fun.

Mount Carmel still the favorite in 7A

Mount Carmel coach Jordan Lynch made a joke that wasn’t really a joke after the Caravan lost to Loyola on Friday.

“The way the playoff system is built we might get a better draw [after losing],” Lynch said.

One look at the Class 7A bracket shows how the current football setup is goofy. Young is the top seed of the 32 teams. No offense to the Dolphins, but they know they aren’t the best team. The Illinois High School Association bases the seeds on records, so undefeated Young is the No. 1 seed and will host Kenwood in the first round, which snuck into the playoffs with a 4-5 record, which ends any talk of “only the best teams” qualifying for the playoffs.

Brother Rice and Fenwick, two Super 25 teams among the best in the state, are matching up in the first round. That drives home how weird the system is. But it should be a great first-round game.

Mount Carmel’s loss to Loyola wouldn’t normally be a huge cause for concern, but the Caravan was flat throughout the game. That’s rarely happened under Lynch. But Mount Carmel is still a pretty heavy favorite to win Class 7A. Batavia and Downers Grove North are the other top contenders but haven’t looked as strong as they were last year overall.

“I trust in our seniors, our captains and myself that we will get this figured out,” Lynch said. “There are some good teams in 7A and we are defending champions with a target on our back.”

Mount Carmel is at Harlem in the first round and would face the winner of Rolling Meadows vs. St. Charles North in the second round. Former Bear Robbie Gould managed to get the Mustangs back into the playoffs in his first season as coach.

Public League hopes

Twenty-three Public League teams are in the playoff field. Morgan Park is the only championship contender. The Mustangs are the top seed in the south section of the Class 5A bracket. That means they will avoid Sycamore, St. Francis, Prairie Ridge and Nazareth until the title game.

Morgan Park will host Tinley Park in the first round and could spend the second round and quarterfinals in central or southern Illinois. Joliet Catholic and Peoria are the other title contenders in the south bracket.

“I think we are ready to make a run in the playoffs,” Morgan Park coach Chris James said. “The guys just have to do their job and be fundamentally sound and everything will work out.”
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