On Saturday evening, the IHSA announced seeding for the first round of the football playoffs. Warren Township drew a #10 seed and is set to play at home against Oswego.

Oswego is the #23 seed in the 8A bracket, finishing with a 6-3 record on the regular season. The Panthers started the season off hot, winning their first four games while outscoring opponents 147-17. But, they are on a slide heading into the playoffs, losing 2 out of their last 3.

The Blue Devils have found themselves in the opposite situation. Warren lost their first two games against Barrington and Maine South. Despite these losses being disappointing, both these squads are considered some of the best in the state. The Devils bounced back from those losses winning out the remainder of the season and finishing 7-2.

This week’s matchup will likely see a large emphasis on the ground game. Both teams have found most of their success running the ball and it is probable they will turn to that yet again in order to win. Warren’s runningback combination of Aaron Stewart and Donovan Mcneal have dominated this season for the Devils. If they can play like they have all season long, a Warren victory would be hard to prevent.

If the Blue Devils beat Oswego, they will play the winner of Lane Tech Vs. South Elgin. The Devils will be playing an away game in the second round, no matter the oppponent. If Warren can win in the second round, their most likely next opponent would be Lincoln-Way East.

The Blue Devil’s playoff campaign will begin on either Friday or Saturday this week as they will look to expand their season success beyond their NSC Championship.