Previewing Week 10's top high school football games

Class 8A

No. 20 York at No. 17 Lyons, 7 p.m. Friday

Seeding the two biggest classes 1 through 32 was supposed to limit regular-season rematches in the early rounds. But these West Suburban Silver rivals are meeting for the second consecutive week, and at the same location. Lyons (7-2) won 34-26 last Friday behind a historic performance from running back EJ Kuhlman, who ran 43 times for a program-record 246 yards and three touchdowns. York (6-3), which is without starting quarterback Dominic Alfano (broken collarbone) had big nights from running back Henry Duda (23 carries, 236 yards, two touchdowns) and backup quarterback Zack Assaad (238 yards, touchdown).

Stevenson at No. 14 Lincoln-Way East, 7 p.m. Friday

For the first time since 2004, Lincoln-Way East (7-2) has lost back-to-back games. USC-bound quarterback Jonas Williams, who set the IHSA record for career passing touchdowns earlier this season, missed both those games because of injury. Edge rusher Jacob Alexander (Illinois) and receiver Blaise LaVista (Washington) both have been hurt as well, and the Griffins’ postseason hopes largely are pinned to their stars’ health. Stevenson (6-3) has a dynamic dual-threat quarterback in Aidan Crawley.

Oswego East at Bolingbrook, 7 p.m. Friday

It has been a bounce-back season for Bolingbrook (7-2), which won the Southwest Prairie West a year after finishing last in the conference and earned its first playoff berth since 2022. Tyson Ward and TJ Lewis both ran for two touchdowns in last week’s victory against Yorkville. It’s the second meeting of the season for Bolingbrook and Oswego East; the Raiders won 32-7 at home on Sept. 26. Oswego East (6-3) also is in the playoffs for the first time since 2022 and is one of five playoff qualifiers in the six-team conference.

Class 7A

Prospect at No. 9 Downers Grove North, 7 p.m. Friday

Mid-Suburban East runner-up Prospect
(7-2) has a potent pitch-and-catch duo in junior quarterback Jackson Cacini (1,752 yards, 25 touchdowns) and Harvard commit Nathan Cichy (831 receiving yards, 11 touchdowns). Ditto for Downers Grove North (7-2), which looks to Minnesota-bound quarterback Owen Lansu and Illinois-bound tight end Will Vala. The Trojans tied Lyons and York for second in the rugged West Suburban Silver, which produced five playoff qualifiers.

Class 5A

No. 25 St. Francis vs. Morgan Park 1 p.m. Saturday at Gately Stadium

Nine weeks after coming to Gately Stadium and escaping with a 38-34 victory against Kenwood, St. Francis (6-3) returns to the city to face another Public League power. The Spartans are coming off a 42-16 loss to three-time defending Class 5A champ Nazareth. Quarterback Brock Phillip has two productive receiving options in Zach Washington (Michigan State) and Dario Milivojevic (Southern Illinois). Morgan Park (6-3) has the Public League’s top player, two-way Illinois recruit Nasir Rankin. Sophomore quarterback Ronald Smith Jr. has been improving throughout the season.