IHSA football playoffs: How Chicagoland high school teams fared in the first round

Here’s how Chicagoland high school football teams fared in the first round of the IHSA football playoffs.

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Class 5A: Morgan Park 40, Oak Forest 16

Morgan Park’s Kenneth Sims is a magician with the ball who favors the sleight of hand.

The 5-foot-8, 175-pound Sims is listed on the Mustangs’ roster as a wide receiver/athlete. And make no mistake about it, he has a way of making defenses look spectacularly foolish.

“Check my tape,” Sims said. “I never go down the first time or just one guy trying to stop me. I got that ball and the first thing I noticed was making the big tackle swing and miss me.”

There were a lot of swings and misses trying to stop Sims on Saturday.

Sims, who finished with 39 yards on only four carries, delivered an 8-yard touchdown run to ignite host Morgan Park to a 40-16 victory over Oak Forest in a Class 5A first-round playoff game at Stagg Stadium in Chicago. Read more here.

Class 7A: Richards 50, Niles North 8

Junior safety Naquan Griffin is starting to feel comfortable playing wide receiver for Richards.

Because of injuries, Griffin was forced into double duty in the middle of the season. Days before the playoffs, he was confident enough to make a promise to senior quarterback Eric Jacobs.

“I told Eric in practice that every time he throws me the ball I’m going to catch it,” Griffin said. “He said he trusted me and he showed me he trusted me.”

Griffin made good on his promise Saturday afternoon.

He caught early touchdown passes of 65 and 78 yards to spark a monster game, lifting the host Bulldogs to a 50-8 win over Niles North in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs in Oak Lawn. Read more here.

Class 7A: Batavia 39, Lincoln-Way Central 10

Senior running back Charlie Rosengren has embraced his role this year for Batavia.

Rosengren realized that things were going to be different than in the past, especially since the Bulldogs were boasting Division I recruits at quarterback, wide receiver and tight end.

Rosengren popped off some big plays Friday night. He scored on TD runs of 31 and 17 yards for host Batavia in a 39-10 win over Lincoln-Way Central in a Class 7A first-round playoff game. Read more here.

Class 8A: Mount Carmel 55, Marist 21

As a 6-foot-5, 370-pound junior defensive tackle with scholarship offers from just about every major college football program, Mount Carmel’s Caleb Tucker has quite a fitting nickname with “Bonecrusher.”

But it’s a moniker that goes way back to well before Tucker earned any attention from college coaches. He has been “Bonecrusher” since he was 5 years old.

Tucker certainly lived up to the name Friday night. He had three sacks and forced a fumble to help the host Caravan roll to a 55-21 win over Catholic League Blue rival Marist in a Class 8A first-round game in Chicago. Read more here.

Class 8A: Lincoln-Way East 31, Oak Park River Forest 7

When he was 6 years old, Lincoln-Way East’s Tyler Spychalski suited up for his first football game and played quarterback.

It’s been the only position he has ever played. And according to teammate Jack Murphy, Spychalski has always thrived behind center. “I love that guy,” Murphy said. “He was our quarterback throughout youth football, and he was great.”

Spychalski picked a perfect time to be great again Friday night.

He stepped into the starting lineup and completed 14 of 19 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown while also running for 33 yards in a 31-7 win over Oak Park-River Forest in a Class 8A first-round playoff game in Frankfort. Read more here.

Class 8A: Naperville North 38, Fremd 31

This was as good of a return as junior running back Jayke Collins could have wanted for Naperville North.

After suffering a broken collarbone in Week 5, Collins could only watch from the sidelines for the Huskies, who did not play in the opening round. That factor fueled Collins on Friday night: “I’m back, better than ever.”

Better than ever, indeed. Collins ran for 135 yards and two touchdowns for Naperville North in a 38-31 victory over Fremd in a Class 8A first-round playoff game at Harshbarger-Welzel Stadium in Naperville that wasn’t settled until the final seconds. Read more here.

Class 7A: St. Rita 36, Buffalo Grove 10

Senior running back Brandon Johnson Jr. never goes down on first contact for St. Rita.

At the start of the third quarter Friday night, Johnson provided a perfect example as he dragged eight Buffalo Grove defenders 20 yards down the field in a staggering display of dominance.

He rushed for 174 yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns, sparking host St. Rita to a 36-10 victory over the Bison in a Class 7A first-round playoff game in Chicago. Read more here.

Class 5A: Wauconda 42, Lakes 14

Linebacker Cashton Silton was huge again Friday night, when fourth-seeded Wauconda forced three turnovers on downs in their territory to beat 20th-seeded Lakes 42-14 in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.

The Bulldogs (8-2), who will play 12th-seeded Belvidere North (7-4) in the second round, piled up over 400 yards of offense as senior running back Brody Rudolph rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns and senior running back Brody McKenna added 122 yards and two TDs. Read more here.

Class 8A: Barrington 24, Sandburg 17

With 11 sets of eyes on him at all times, Barrington running back Lamar Osterhues will sometimes go four or five carries in a row without gaining much ground.

But that sixth carry, he could be long gone.

Osterhues finished with 214 rushing yards on 30 carries, and the Broncos went down to the South suburbs to beat No. 9 seed Sandburg 24-17 in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs Friday night.

Barrington (7-4) will travel to four-time defending champ Mount Carmel (8-2) next week. Read more here.

Class 2A: Aurora Christian 42, Winnebago 14

The revelation from sophomore running back/safety Luke Baumann, given his development in football this season for Aurora Christian, now seems unthinkable.

“I play AAU basketball and get to travel around the country,” Baumann said. “This year, though, I’ve really grown to like football and let my coaches know I want to keep my options open for it, that I’m open to going to college for football, too, if God takes me that way.

“So yeah, I’d honestly say basketball and football are pretty even for me right now.”

It’s easy to see why, considering Baumann’s performance Friday night. He teamed up with junior running back Jalen Callaway to lead the host Eagles to a 42-14 win over Winnebago in a Class 2A first-round playoff game. Read more here.