In 5A, I was all set to...

...just pick the favorites and be done with it. But, after what happened to the town of Washington last week, how can you not root for the Panthers? (Especially if, like me, you know nothing about them or their opponent, the Sacred Heart-Griffin Cyclones. The who?)

But first, there's No. 2 Sycamore (12-0) at No. 1 Montini (12-0) in a battle of undefeateds. The Spartans beat Antioch, Nazareth and Lincoln-Way West in the playoffs by a combined score of 102-66. The Broncos, meanwhile, outscored their opponents, Morgan Park, Marian Central and Joliet Catholic, 105-34. But, really, who cares? Check this out:

2012: Montini 24, Sycamore 22
2010: Montini 28, Sycamore 7
2009: Montini 31, SYCAMORE 17
2007: MONTINI 14, Sycamore 3

Until proven otherwise, the Spartans just can't beat Montini. And they won't beat them on the road this weekend. The Broncos are headed for a five-peat.

Then there's No. 2 Washington (12-0) at No. 1 Sacred Heart-Griffin (12-0). That's Panthers' quarterback Colton Marshall's dad standing in the wreckage of the family home in Washington. Again, I ask you, how can you not be pulling for these kids? (Sorry, SH-G.)

Washington beat its three postseason opponents, Peoria, Mount Vernon and University, 125-40. The Cyclones topped theirs, Richwoods, Glenwood and Highland, 142-22. Surprisingly, I can't find any previous meeting between the two schools. The game is really a push (both teams are undefeated, remember?), but I have to go with Washington.

To recap (upsets in bold):

8A

Stevenson over Loyola
Naperville Central over Marist

7A

Glenbard West over Lake Zurich
Mount Carmel over Edwardsville

6A

Batavia over Rockford Boylan
Richards over East St. Louis

5A

Montini over Sycamore
Washington over Sacred Heart-Griffin

Enjoy the games!