The high school football playoffs begin Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1.
Below are results and top performers around Springfield.
Cam Brinkman/Jovonis Lunford, Sacred Heart-Griffin
Brinkman, a junior quarterback, rushed for 159 yards on 15 attempts and totaled two touchdowns as No. 10 seed SHG defeated No. 7 Quincy Notre Dame 27-18 in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. Brinkman had a 15-yard TD run and threw a 10-yard touchdown to receiver Andrew Wolters. Lunford, a sophomore receiver, returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to give the Cyclones a 21-6 lead in the second period.
Hunter Morris, Petersburg PORTA
With one second on the clock, the senior kicker drilled a 26-yard field goal as time expired and eighth seed PORTA edged No. 9 Fairfield 9-8 in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.
Cash Lynch, Pana
The senior scored three touchdowns in fifth seed Pana’s 43-14 win over No. 12 Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin of the Class 2A first-round playoffs. Lynch had two rushing touchdowns (23 and 7 yards) and an 8-yard TD reception. He finished with 64 rushing yards, while teammate Cayden Durbin led the team with 75 yards, including a 20-yard TD run.
Nolan Herpstreith, Daryl Evans, Nokomis
Herpstreith and Evans combined for 296 rushing yards on 49 carries as No. 12 seed Nokomis upset No. 5 Arcola 28-19 in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs. Herpstreith had 23 carries for 158 yards, while Evans ran it 26 times and ended with 138 and two touchdowns. Herpstreith recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a TD in the third period.
Khorbin Gregory, Rochester
The senior had two return touchdowns totaling 155 yards in Friday’s Class 4A 56-7 win over Taylorville. With Rochester leading 7-0, Gregory refused to call for a fair catch on a punt and returned the ball 56 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 Rochester lead with 9 minutes, 7 seconds left in the opening quarter. Following the Tornadoes’ only touchdown, Gregory gathered the ensuing kickoff at the Rochester 1-yard line and raced everyone to the end zone for a 42-7 lead.
Grady Mueller/Colten Knoedler/Tristan Schwindt, Chatham Glenwood
Mueller, the senior running back, will need a bit of rest after rushing 25 times for 90 yards, picking up crucial first downs and moving the chains for the Titans in a 17-12 Class 6A win over visiting Joliet Catholic. Quarterback Knoedler was 12-for-22 passing with 161 yards and touchdown passes to Dylan Huff (42) yards and Henry Rose (18). Schwindt had five points — the margin of victory — with two extra-points and a 32-yard field goal. The Titans also had numerous stars on the defensive side to keep the Hilltoppers in check.
Jeremiah Jackson, Jacksonville
The sophomore had touchdown runs of 45 and 53 yards and he made the biggest play of the game when he intercepted a pass with 1 minute 10 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to seal an upset 41-39 victory for No. 16 seed Jacksonville over No. 1 Olney Richland County in the 4A playoffs. Jackson also caught a 40-yard pass that set up a touchdown in the fourth for the Crimsons’ final score.
ScorestreamComplete schedule
Class 6AÂ
No. 1 Chatham Glenwood 17, No. 16 Joliet Catholic Academy 12
Class 5AÂ
No. 5 New Lenox Providence Catholic 63, No. 12 Springfield High 19
Class 4AÂ
No. 16 Jacksonville 41, No. 1 Olney Richland County 39
No. 10 Sacred Heart-Griffin 27, No. 7 Quincy Notre Dame 18
No. 3 Rochester 56, No. 14 Taylorville 7
Class 3AÂ
No. 1 Williamsville 53, No. 16 Hillsboro 20
No. 8 Petersburg PORTA/A-C Central 9, No. 9 Fairfield 8
Class 2AÂ
No. 5 Pana 43, No. 12 Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin 14
No. 7 Du Quoin 48, No. 10 Carlinville 21
Class 1AÂ
No. 12 Nokomis 28, No. 5 Tuscola 19
No. 7 Mount Sterling Brown County 48, No. 10 Athens 0
No. 12 Dwight 29, No. 5 Rushville-Industry 26
8-ManÂ
No. 2 Kincaid South Fork 52, No. 15 Galva 6
No. 4 Pawnee 42, No. 13 Flanagan/Woodland 30