The IHSA brackets are out!

In 8A, Stevenson and York are the No. 1 seeds (that's Joe Cassata of the Patriots, above), with Loyola and Lyons at No. 2. Stevenson is the only undefeated team in 8A. York, meanwhile, is one of three 8-1 teams from the West Suburban Silver conference.

Mount Carmel, at No. 3, enters the playoffs with the second longest streak of appearances, 25. (DuQuoin has the most, 27, in the 36 years since the IHSA began the state football playoffs.)

Maine South and Homewood-Flossmoor are both No. 4. The Vikings finished the regular season yesterday by beating Joliet West, 56-44. H-F is going into the post-season 7-2 after finishing last year at 1-8. They'll face No. 13 Curie.

Evanston is seeded No. 7 and will begin the playoffs against No. 10 seed Fremd. Glenbrook South is No. 11 and will play No. 6 Barrington. (GBS is one of 47 5-4 teams that made the playoffs; 17 did not.) And Brother Rice, at No. 12, will play No. 5 Waubonsie Valley.

In 7A, Wheaton Warrenville South is seeded No. 1, of course, and will open up against No. 8 seed Benet. Simeon is the other No. 1 seed, and the Wolverines will square off against No. 16 St. Ignatius.

St. Rita is at No. 2, and Carmel and Minooka are both No. 3. The Indians will play No. 6 Quincy. Glenbrook North and Plainfield North are the No. 7 seeds. The Spartans will take on No. 10 Harlem while Kapri Bibbs will lead the Tigers against No. 2 Glenbard West.

Finally, Schaumburg is at No. 9 and will play No. 8 Elk Grove. This could be the Game of the Night; the Saxons will try to avenge their 36-34 loss to the Grenadiers in the regular season.

6A has Lake Forest, Fenwick (who beat Brother Rice yesterday, 23-7) and Marmion.

5A has Joliet Catholic (ranked No. 5 in the Trib but only a No. 2 seed -- go figure!) and Montini.

4A, 3A, 2A, and 1A are linked here if anyone cares.

What's with the "A," anyway?