Prep Football: Playoff pairings announced for southern Illinois schools

Some southern Illinois football teams stormed through the regular season, while others limped towards the finish line, but in the end, a handful of area teams will represent the region as the first round of the IHSA playoffs get underway this weekend.

Four area teams are in the lower bracket of Class 2A, highlighted by No. 5 Johnston City (8-1). The Indians will host No. 12 Lawrenceville (6-3) in the first round. A win will pit JC against the winner of No. 4 Breese Mater Dei (9-0) or Carmi-White County (6-3) in the second round.

No. 6 Nashville (8-1) will host No. 11 Unity-Payson (6-3), while Chester, the No. 9 seed, will visit No. 8 Vandalia (7-2).

In Class 3A, Benton (9-0) got the No. 3 seed and will host Piasa Southwestern (5-4) at Tabor Field Saturday, while Du Quoin (5-4) got the No. 10 seed will travel to No. 7 Carlinville (7-2). Du Quoin knocked off Murphysboro Friday for that all important fifth win.

Also in 3A, Fairfield (8-1) got the No. 5 seed and will host No. 12 Hoopeston Area (5-4).

In Class 4A, a rematch of Friday night's regular season finale will see No. 5 Carterville (7-2) host No. 12 Harrisburg (5-4). Also in 4A, No. 7 seed Murphysboro (6-3) will host No. 10 Macomb.

In Class 5A, Marion, the No. 5 seed, will host No. 12 Metamora (5-4), while Carbondale (5-4) received the No. 16 seed and will travel to No. 1 seeded Kankakee (9-0).

Sesser-Valier, the lone southern Illinois team in Class 1A, received the No. 6 seed and will host No. 11 Casey-Westfield (6-3).