Can the Okaw Valley really get three football teams to the state title games?
It’s looking that way.
Maroa has left little doubt, beating its first three opponents 101-20. Next is No. 4 seed Marshall. (Side note to that game … Marshall’s defensive coordinator is Kyle Shay, former Cerro Gordo star who is in his first year at the school).
Tolono Unity does get No. 1 seed Greenville in 3A but the Rockets have been impressive, piling up 123 points in their three wins.
Tuscola may have already taken on the top team in 1A and beaten them, knocking off Brown County in the second round. The Warriors have to beat No. 10 Jacksonville Routt to get another shot at Champaign.

It may have been the first thing many of us did when the 2A pairings came out — when is the possible rematch from an outstanding, back-n-forth regular-season game? Now we’ve got it.
And now lets have fun. Analyze, vocalize and get energized.
But let’s be careful to keep this respectful of players and each other in here.

When the seedings came out, there were probably few people around the state expecting this matchup. But stiff defenses by both teams have them in the quarterfinals.

This a rematch of the season opener and the first sign that the Warriors of Casey were simply reloading for another nice run.

Another rematch for our area teams. And Pana won’t be intimidated by top-seeded Greenville as the Panthers almost rallied for a win during the regular season.

There is so much good football still to be played. Among the games of area interest …
Tolono Unity continues its dominance and should be a big favorite against Nashville.
Breese Mater Dei has made it a long way back since getting slapped by Effingham in Week 1 to make the 4A quarters.
And the Big 12 has had a untypically poor postseason, with just Danville left.

Bismarck-Henning was one of a number of 5-4 teams to make it out of the first round. Will the Blue Devils be able to do it again against a Maroa-Forsyth team that is using all of its weapons?

Central A&M will have its hands full with a strong Petersburg PORTA offense. But the Raiders found a way to get past one good team.

This could be quite a defensive struggle. Top-seeded Brown County has eight shutouts on the season. Tuscola has six and has given up just six points in the last five games.

Red Bud looked awfully good in its first-round win. It’s two losses were by a touchdown to two playoff teams — 4A Freeburg and 3A Breese Central.

A pair of lower seeds got past the first round. Anna-Jonesboro has had some defensive lapses this season. It might be enough for Pana to make it another round.

Could we be in store for another wild 90-point game? Illini West averaged more than 56 points in the regular season.

Top-seeded Quincy Notre Dame warmed up with a 42-0 first-round win. Effingham prevailed in the slop with a last-minute field goal.

Maroa has won its first-round game in five straight seasons. But Carlinville carries a hot hand coming into this matchup.

Outside of a loss to Williamsville, the Auburn defense has been stiff this season. And the Trojans know about how to get it done in the postseason, getting their 13 straight years now.

Central A&M’s three losses came by a total of 14 points against two 3A playoff teams and one 2A playoff team. Flora won its last three games by a combined 129-2.

It’s been about the defense at Tuscola as the Warriors haven’t allowed an offensive touchdown in three games. They could be pushed by Cumberland’s strong ground game.

Freeburg had three straight weeks of giving up 38, 41 and 47 points. But the Midgets are capable of knocking off Mount Zion if the Braves are looking ahead to Breese Mater Dei.

MacArthur will have to travel three hours south to get its playoff journey started. The Generals get a Marion team that is from the tough South Seven Conference.

South Piatt’s reward for getting into the playoffs for the first time since 2003 is the No. 1 team that has given up just nine points all season.

Belleville Althoff lost two of its last four but those were to Class 5A No. 2 Cahokia and Class 5A 8-1 Marion. The Crusaders will be ready for Effingham.

Casey is one of just two unbeaten teams in 2A. Has Casey been tested enough to make a run? Will it even matter?

Camp Point Central has scored at least 60 points four times this season. Monticello will have to come through with another defensive effort like it had against St. Teresa.

Pittsfield was looking unbeatable until a 60-12 loss to Illini West. But Pittsfield still averaged more than 43 points per game.

Robinson is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2002 but will have to tighten up on defense if it wants to stay more than one round.