Playoff primer: Taking inside look at first-round matchups for Illinois prep football teams

QUINCY — The first round of the Illinois High School Association football playoffs provides lengthy road trips, rematches and the start of title defenses. Six area teams qualified for the postseason with four earning first-round home games.

Here is a look at each of the six games on top for Muddy River Sports area schools. Also, we will be going live at 8 p.m. Saturday for a playoff edition of Muddy Night Lights, powered by Farm & Home Supply:

Summit Argo at Quincy High School

What: Class 7A first-round playoff game

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Where: Flinn Stadium

Records: Summit Argo — 5-4 (3-3, third in South Suburban Conference Red Division). Quincy — 9-0 (6-0, first in Western Big 6 Conference).

Radio/Livestream: WGEM Streaming App, NFHS Network

Did you know?: Last season’s victory over West Chicago in the opening round of the Class 7A playoffs was the Blue Devils’ first home playoff victory in program history. Three of the program’s four all-time playoff victories have occurred in the past two seasons. The Argonauts have made the postseason just five times in program history and have one victory, a 14-12 win over Oak Forest in 2012. This is Argo’s third consecutive playoff appearance and it was outscored 92-14 in the previous two. The Blue Devils have won 12 of their last 15 home games and have scored at least 40 points in 11 of those. QHS has scored 40 or more points in all nine games this season with senior quarterback Bradyn Little throwing for 3,248 yards and 38 touchdowns.

Flora at Quincy Notre Dame

What: Class 2A first-round playoff game

When: 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Advance Physical Therapy Field

Records: Flora — 6-3 (5-3, fifth in Black Diamond Conference). QND — 8-1 (5-0, first in Central State 8 Conference West Division).

Radio/Livestream: Raider Broadcast Network

Did you know?: The Raiders are looking to end a trend. They have lost three consecutive home playoff games, dating back to the 2019 state semifinal loss to Williamsville. The last home playoff victory was a 21-7 victory over Beardstown in 2019. The Raiders are led by a pair of NCAA Division I recruits as senior safety Wyatt Mueller has committed to Illinois State University and senior linebacker Taylin Scott has committed to the University of Pennsylvania. Both will play a role offensively as well. Senior tailback Ivan Hun recently received a scholarship offer from Quincy University. Sophomore running back Kormik Massie leads the Wolves with 767 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, while averaging 7.2 yards per carry. Junior quarterback Parker Helm has thrown for 1,068 yards and nine touchdowns, while senior Garrett Patridge has 37 catches for 484 yards and two scores.

Nokomis at Camp Point Central

What: Class 1A first-round playoff game

When: 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Camp Point Central High School

Records: Nokomis — 5-4 (5-4, fifth in Lincoln Prairie Conference). Central — 8-1 (5-0, first in Western Illinois Valley Conference North Division).

Radio/Livestream: Central Illinois Sports on YouTube

Did you know?: The Panthers and Redskins have never met in the postseason. Beginning with the state runner-up finish in 2018, Central has won 15 of its last 19 playoff games, including going 10-1 at home. Nokomis has won just three playoff games in program history, the last coming in 2006. The Panthers have six running backs with 268 or more yards rushing and five with four or more rushing touchdowns. Senior Elijah Genenbacher, who moved from running back to quarterback, leads Central with 722 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns, while throwing for 248 yards and three scores.

Murphysboro at Macomb

What: Class 4A first-round playoff game

When: 3 p.m. Saturday

Where: Macomb High School

Records: Murphysboro — 7-2 (3-1, second in Southern Illinois River-To-River Conference Ohio Division). Macomb — 7-2 (5-2, third in Lincoln Trail-Prairieland Conference Large Division).

Radio/Livestream: Bomber Sports Network

Did you know?: This will be the third postseason meeting between the Bombers and Red Devils in the past four seasons. In 2021, Murphysboro beat Macomb 43-22 in a first-round matchup in Murphysboro. In 2022, in a second-round matchup at Macomb, the Red Devils won 20-16. The Bombers’ last two playoff victories both were against Quincy Notre Dame — a 21-19 victory in a Class 4A first-round matchup in 2012 and a 28-14 victory in the first round in Class 4A in 2022. Macomb senior quarterback Braden Holthaus leads the Bombers with 565 yards rushing and nine touchdowns while throwing for 1,567 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Brown County at Greenfield-Northwestern

What: Class 1A first-round playoff game

When: 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Greenfield High School

Records: Brown County — 5-4 (4-1, second in Western Illinois Valley Conference North Division). Greenfield-Northwestern — 7-2 (4-1, second in Western Illinois Valley Conference South Division).

Radio/livestream: BC Hornets Sports on YouTube, NFHS Network

Did you know?: The Hornets and Tigers opened the season at Greenfield with the Tigers winning 6-0 in a defensive slobberknocker. It’s one of four games this season Brown County has allowed six or fewer points. The Hornets’ 136 points allowed is just one more than the Tigers, who have posted three shutouts this season. Brown County and Greenfield have split their two previous postseason meetings with the Hornets winning 27-6 in the first round in 2016 and the Tigers winning 22-21 in the first round in 2019. Brown County has lost to Greenfield six consecutive times in the regular season in WIVC crossover games.

Illini West at Chicago Christian

What: Class 2A first-round playoff game

When: 5 p.m. Saturday

Where: Southwest Chicago Christian School Stadium, Palos Heights

Records: Illini West — 6-3 (4-3, fourth in Lincoln Trail-Prairieland Conference Large Division). Chicago Christian — 8-1 (6-1, second in Chicago Christian Conference).

Radio/livestream: NFHS Network

Did you know?: The Chargers are making their first playoff appearance since 2018 and haven’t won a road playoff game since beating Georgetown-Ridge Farm in 2014. Illini West opened the season with three consecutive losses — all were to playoff teams with a combined record of 24-3 — before ripping off six consecutive victories. Chicago Christian is making its third consecutive playoff appearance, although the previous two resulted in getting outscored 83-13. The Knights have not won a playoff game since 2007 and are 6-15 in the postseason all-time and have reached the state quarterfinals only once.