My Magnificent Seven...

...should now be only a Fab Four, but I'm going to include Maine West (7-2) after reading in Michael O'Brien's "four downs" column that the Warriors qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2002. How did I miss those guys?

So let's just call it a Fab Five and be done with it. The other four are, of course, Hersey (8-1), Buffalo Grove (8-1), Glenbrook South (5-4) and Crystal Lake Central (5-4). With the exception of Buffalo Grove, which hasn't appeared in the playoffs since 2003, none have played in the postseason since 2014.

Here's their schedule, with dates and times to follow:

8A: Glenbrook South at Barrington (9-0)

7A: Benet (6-3) at Maine West
       Rolling Meadows (6-3) at Hersey
       Belleville West (6-3) at Buffalo Grove

6A: Crystal Lake Central at Prairie Ridge (9-0)

Barring a miracle (or two) Glenbrook South and Crystal Lake Central should be eliminated in the first round. The Titans already lost to Barrington, 45-24, in Week Four. And Crystal Lake Central got creamed at Prairie Ridge, 56-13, in Week Three. Hard to believe next week's results will be a whole lot different.

This brings up a pet peeve of mine. Why schedule two teams in the first round who already faced each other? Especially two programs, like Crystal Lake Central and Prairie Ridge, from the same conference? How about a little more drama, IHSA?

Now, having said all that, I'm going to say in the very next breath that the most interesting of the other three games just might be that Rolling Meadows at Hersey contest. Why? Because the Huskies defeated Rolling Meadows by only one point, 21-20, as recently as two weeks ago. How's that for drama? (The Mustangs, the alma mater of Jimmy Garoppolo, also lost narrowly to Buffalo Grove last week.) So, weather permitting, I'd really like to see that matchup this weekend. I'll keep you posted.