“font-family: Verdana; line-height: 13px;”>The state playoffs get underway on the Illinois side with several metro east teams involved in first-round games this weekend.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>The IHSA Class 7A playoffs will feature four teams from the Southwestern Conference. Edwardsville (5-4) will visit O’Fallon (8-1) on Friday night at 7 p.m. Granite City will visit East St. Louis (7-2) on Saturday at 1 p.m.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>East St. Louis “font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>and O’Fallon shared the Southwestern Conference title this season. To reach the second round, they must defeat their conference rivals in a rematch. O’Fallon defeated Edwardsville 26-7 on Oct. 14 while East Side defeated Granite City 26-7 on Oct. 7.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>O’Fallon has an excellent offensive unit, led by senior tailback Ejay Johnson, who has rushed for 944 yards and 19 touchdowns. Quarterback Todd Porter has thrown for 1,258 yards and 10 touchdowns. Darius Mosely has become an exciting two-way threat as a receiver and defensive back. He has 456 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Senior linebacker Mike Cotton has a team-high five sacks. He has committed to Indiana.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>Edwardsville has a strong running tandem in Cameron James and Sam Mulford, who has combined for 14 touchdowns. The O’Fallon/Edwardsville winner will face either Moline or Pekin in the second round.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>East St. Louis “font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>enters the postseason on a roll with five consecutive victories. The young Flyers are starting to come of age. Senior quarterback Lamontiez Ivy has been a tremendous leader this season with 1,446 yards passing, 259 yards rushing and 16 total touchdowns. Senior Jeremy Nicholson and freshman Natereace Strong are now healthy at tailback after early-season injuries.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>Granite City “font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>is back in the playoffs after a long absence. The Warriors are led by junior tailback Kaprix Sloan, who has rushed for 1,227 yards and 18 touchdowns. The winner of the East St. Louis-Granite City game will face either Harvey Thornton or Oswego in the second round.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>Another Southwestern Conference team to qualify for the playoffs is Belleville East. The Lancers (5-4) will travel to Waubonsie Valley (8-1) for a first-round game on Friday night at 7 p.m.
“font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;”>Belleville Althoff (5-4) will visit Mater Dei (8-1) in a Class 4A first-round game on Friday night at 7 p.m.
