(Seeds preceed school name)

#16 Franklin Park-Northlake (Leyden) (5-4) at #1 Chicago (Mt. Carmel) (9-0)

#9 Palatine (H.S.) (6-3) at #8 Chicago (Lane) (7-2)

#13 Bartlett (6-3) at #4 Glenview (Glenbrook South) (8-1)

#12 Winnetka (New Trier) (6-3) at #5 Park Ridge (Maine South) (8-1)

#15 Lincolnshire (Stevenson) (5-4) at #2 Palatine (Fremd) (9-0)

#10 Gurnee (Warren) (6-3) at #7 Wilmette (Loyola Academy) (7-2)

#14 Carol Stream (Glenbard North) (5-4) at #3 Chicago (Whitney Young) (9-0)

#11 Chicago (Curie) (6-3) at #6 Elmhurst (York) (7-2)

#16 Flossmoor (Homewood-F.) (5-4) at #1 Downers Grove (South) (9-0)

#9 Tinley Park (Andrew) (7-2) at #8 Belleville (East) (7-2)

#13 Plainfield (Central) (6-3) at #4 Chicago (Brother Rice) (7-2)

#12 Hinsdale (Central) (6-3) at #5 Aurora (Waubonsie Valley) (7-2)

#15 Chicago Heights (Marian) (5-4) at #2 Naperville (North) (8-1)

#10 New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central) (6-3) at #7 Bolingbrook (7-2)

#14 Naperville (Neuqua Valley) (5-4) at #3 LaGrange (Lyons) (8-1)

#11 Naperville (Central) (6-3) at #6 Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) (7-2)

Naperville NorthClick BartlettClick Maine SouthClick Glenbrook SouthClick BolingbrookClick Lincoln-Way CentralClick Waubonsie ValleyClick Chicago Mount CarmelClick Lincoln-Way EastClick Class 8A Video Vault: Make sure and check out some EDGYTIM.com video clips for several Class 8A teams.Here to view this Link.Here to view this Link.Here to view this Link.Here to view this Link.Here to view this Link.Here to view this Link.Here to view this Link.Here to view this Link.Here to view this Link.

North Bracket? #1 ranked Chicago Mount Carmel joins #6 ranked Fremd, #7 ranked Loyola Academy, #11 ranked Maine South, #13 ranked Glenbrook South and #25 ranked York.

South Bracket? #3 ranked Naperville North joins #5 ranked Downers Grove South, #10 ranked Bolingbrook, #12 ranked Brother Rice, #18 ranked Lyons Township and #21 ranked Andrew.

So how does the field shape up in 8A? We all knew that the Class 8A field from very early on would be loaded, and now that we have the brackets, the Class 8A field might be the toughest 1-32 group we've seen since the IHSA expanded the classes a few years ago. From the North or the South, the path to a state title is loaded with potholes. Interestingly, Chicago Mount Carmel winds up getting sent North, sparking plenty of intrigue from this at best questionable move based off of geography.

So who could be the first Top seed to fall in Class 8A? Since the IHSA wisely decided to again stick to the 1-16 brackets as opposed to the quads this time around, I'll look at more than just the two #1 seeds here. Three top seed teams have me worried heading into the post-season in Class 8A. Downers Grove South, Chicago Whitney Young and Fremd are highly seeded teams that should get tested early on in Class 8A. Downers South and veteran head coach John Belskis always has his teams prepared, yet the Hit Hard gang come into the playoffs with a less than impressive 36 playoff points. Fremd is also somewhat in the same boat as the Mustangs. Fremd enters the playoffs with just 37 playoff points and leaves the question for both teams about overall strength of schedule this fall. Whitney Young is in as a #2 seed and could be the only underdog #2 seed entering it's first round game.

So how does Class 8A really stack up under the IHSA's Geographical Principle? By sending Chicago Mount Carmel to the North bracket instead of say Naperville North or a handful of others, we will continue to have issues and questions regarding the IHSA and it's fuzzy math and geographics. It's a real shame that this process can't be done on a more level basis, yet on the other hand isn't this what makes it fun when the brackets come out? Also, I found it amazing that a few sources knew about this drastic move an hour or so BEFORE the IHSA released the brackets. My free board had a posting regarding MC heading North nearly an hour before the brackets were released. Loose lips from the IHSA? Again, it's interesting to say the least.

#9 seed Palatine From the early part of the summer, I was hearing good things about the Pirates this fall and how this young team could be a real surprise. Head coach Tyler Donnelly has Palatine back into the state playoff field after some serious down years, including a less than stellar 2-7 record in 2006. The Pirates finished this year with a 6-3 record, and those three losses came to three state playoff teams in Lake Forest (1 point loss), Rolling Meadows (7 point loss) and Fremd.

#13 seed Bartlett The Hawks and head coach Tom Meaney always seem to start slow then gain momentum towards the end of the regular season. After starting the season at 1-2, the Hawks have rolled behind a big and physical offensive line and a punishing running game.

#14 seed Glenbard North The Panthers get in the Class 8A field with a 5-4 record, and coming out of the rugged DuPage Valley conference will always prepare you for the state playoffs. Other than a 37-7 Week 5 loss to Naperville North, the Panthers have been in every ball game this fall.

#9 seed Andrew The reloading plan for Andrew head coach Jim Zimmer was expected to take at least another year or two, but the TBolts have moved the progress clock up just a bit. The Bolts get in with a 7-2 record behind a very solid defense and an offense that has made progress all season long.

#10 seed Lincoln-Way Central The Knights suffered a tough blow when standout kicker/wide receiver Jake Wieclaw suffered an off field season ending injury, yet the Knights and head coach Rob Glielmi will rely upon his son QB Robbie Glielmi and a very solid defense.

#11 seed Naperville Central The Redhawks and 2nd year head coach Mike Stine are back in the state playoffs, and the Central kids have been playing much better football towards the end of the regular season. Keep an eye out for senior QB Harrison Daniels, who has made solid improvement all season long this fall.

#12 seed Hinsdale Central The Red Devils and head coach Mike DiMatteo reloaded the offense this fall and the once ground hugging Central attack is now more of a wide open passing game behind sophomore QB John Whitelaw.

#16 seed Homewood-Floosmoor Has any 16 seed had as much potential and D-1 prospect than the Vikings have this fall? The Vikings and first year head coach Kenneth Smith have been up and down all season long, but if this team is up, beware.

Playmakers! Players to Watch in Class 8A? QB Tim O'Connell/Leyden RB Josh Serrano/Leyden LB Steven Filer/Chicago Mount Carmel RB Edwin Williams Chicago Mount Carmel DE Glenn Foster Chicago Mount Carmel QB Matt Rossi/Palatine RB Dan Sutton/Palatine RB Chris Blackmon/Chicago Lane Tech QB Frank Bougher Chicago Lane Tech OL Mark Alagna/Bartlett RB Vinnie Libreri Bartlett QB Ryan McGrath Glenbrook South DE Sean Progar Glenbrook South RB George Brigandi New Trier QB Dillon Napoleon New Trier QB Charlie Goro Maine South RB David Chao Maine South QB Zach Wujcik/Stevenson RB Geoff Matthews/Stevenson QB Mark Tolzien/Fremd RB Mike Gyetvay/Fremd RB Ryan Maguire/Warren RB Greg Kennedy/Warren QB Peter Badovinac/Loyola Academy OL Brian Mulroe/Loyola Academy RB Tyler Doll/Glenbard North QB Evan Watkins/Glenbard North RB Jordan McCord/Chicago Whitney Young RB Spencer Ingle/York OL Neal Deiters/York WR Supo Sanni/Homewood-Floosmoor WR Russell Ellington/Homewood-Floosmoor QB Chandler Whitmer/Downers Grove South WR/S Tyler West/Downers Grove South QB Matt Brown/Andrew DE Pat Wertz/Andrew RB Jamon Bester/Belleville East QB Eric Watkins/Belleville East QB Cyle Schultz Plainfield Central WR/S Chris Schultz Plainfield Central RB Jeremy Rhodes/Chicago Brother Rice QB Tom Gibson Chicago Brother Rice QB John Whitelaw/Hinsdale Central RB Billy Auriemma/Hinsdale Central LB Spencer Merritt/Waubonsie Valley K/P Mitch Ewald/Waubonsie Valley TE Dennis Kelly/Marian Catholic RB Malcolm Allen/Marian Catholic QB Jordan Tassio/Naperville North LB Kyle Lackner/Naperville North QB Robbie Glielmi/Lincoln-Way Central LB Brandon Nigro/Lincoln-Way Central RB Erik Smith/Bolingbrook DE Perry Burge/Bolingbrook QB Alex Lincoln/Neuqua Valley OL Jeff Radek/Neuqua Valley QB Eddie Viliunas/Lyons Township OL Jeff Adams/Lyons Township QB Harrison Daniels/Naperville Central DE Josh Jelesky/Naperville Central QB/WR Blake Hammond/Lincoiln-Way East RB Dan Cebula/Lincoln-Way East DL Dan Giordano/Lincoln-Way East

#9 Palatine at #8 Chicago Lane Tech It's always seems like everyone dumps on the Chicago Public League teams come state playoff time, yet Lane Tech year in and year out is always a solid team under veteran head coach Rich Rio. Lane is playing in a newly renovated stadium and the program has received a real morale boost from the latest on-going renovations. Palatine and head coach Tyler Donnelly has done a very solid job in getting the Pirates back into the state playoffs this fall for the first time since 1997. Palatine and Lane Tech both have young talent, and both will be serious teams to watch in 2008.

#13 Bartlett at #4 Glenbrook South This will be an interesting matchup of two teams with somewhat similar styles. Both teams love to run the ball, and Bartlett has a very big and physical front five on the offensive side of the ball. Glenbrook South also likes to play ball control and grind things out, yet the difference maker for the Titans all season has been the play action passing of senior QB Ryan McGrath. If Bartlett can play some pass defense and take away the play action passing from GBS, this could be a lot closer than many might think.

#15 Stevenson at #2 Fremd Stevenson and veteran head coach Bill Mitz have been a great mystery to myself and many others this fall. The Patriots, who were ranked in the Pre-Season EDGYTIM.com Top 25 poll looked to have a ton of starters back, yet it took Stevie awhile to get things sorted out this fall. Stevenson has been on a roll, having started the year 0-3 yet a Week 9 loss to Warren leaves issues again for Stevie. Fremd has been on a roll all year behind a great mix on offense led by senior RB Mark Tolzien and a very solid running game featuring junior RB Mike Gyetvay. The question remains for Fremd is just how battle tested has this team been all year?

#14 Glenbard North at #3 Whitney Young Glenbard North has been battle tested this fall and has been in basically every game this season. Whitney Young enters the state playoff field with just 35 playoff points and played a brutally easy cross-over schedule in the CPL. The defense has allowed just 43 points and has posted 6 shutouts so far for the Dolphins is a definite positive.

#16 Homewood-Floosmoor at #1 Downers Grove South Again it all depends which H-F team decided to show up for this opening round game. H-F and 1st year head coach Kenneth Smith has some serious talent in house, but can the Vikings overcome some late season injuries? H-F has been pretty battle tested this fall and they have the potential to hurt teams several different ways. Downers Grove South has a few marquee wins and has been just rolling along all season. If the Mustangs can set the tone early with it's offense and get some quick scores, game over. If the Mustangs let the Vikings hang around early on, beware.

#9 Andrew at #8 Belleville East Andrew has done a great job this year under 2nd year head coach Jim Zimmer, who brings a new approach to the always defensive minded TBolts. Andrew will need to survive the long road trip to Belleville, located just outside of the St. Louis Metro area. Belleville East also posted an impressive season from the Southwestern conference and it's only loss came to a very solid East St. Louis team. Andrew will hope to continue the good luck that Chicago area teams have had over recent years in the St. Louis area.

#12 Hinsdale Central at #5 Waubonsie Valley Hinsdale Central and head coach Mike DiMatteo definitely changed things up on the offensive side of the ball this year, going from his traditional ground hugging style he brought from Lake Zurich to a more wide open passing/spread attack. The Warriors and head coach Paul Murphy has his most talented team at WV this season, and the Warriors have a chance to make a good run here if they can get past the Red Devils. This is a good measuring stick to see how good the West Suburban Silver is compared o the Upstate 8 and vice versa.

#10 Lincoln-Way Central at #7 Bolingbrook I was at the first meeting between these two Southwest Suburban teams, and in the first meeting it was all about the defense as the Raiders held on for a 7-6 win. Bolingbrook looks to have improved it's offense since that last meeting and senior QB Shadonta Travis has made some impressive strides. Lincoln-Way Central will look to get it's offense going behind senior QB Robbie Glielmi, yet the defense for the Knights is a real strength.

#11 Naperville Central at #6 Lincoln-Way East Naperville Central and head coach Mike Stine has been up and down all season, yet year in and year out the Redhawks always have talent on the field. Senior QB Harrison Daniels has been making strides and senior RB Mike Caulfield is a player to watch along with senior DE Josh Jelesky. The Griffins and head coach Rob Zvonar made a serious change in it's offense in Week 9, bringing in junior QB Spencer Stanek and moving D-1 TE prospect Blake Hammond from quarterback to receiver. The defense has remained a mainstay for East all year, yet can the offense continue to roll behind a quarterback seeing his second varsity start?

Chicago Mount Carmel over Leyden

Palatine over Lane Tech

Glenbrook South over Bartlett

Maine South over New Trier

Fremd over Stevenson

Loyola Academy over Warren

Glenbard North over Whitney Young

York over Curie

Downers Grove South over H-F

Andrew over Belleville East

Brother Rice over Plainfield Central

Waubonsie Valley over Hinsdale Central

Naperville North over Marian Catholic

Bolingbrook over Lincoln-Way Central

Lyons over Neuqua Valley

Lincoln-Way East over Naperville Central