Predictions for IHSA football quarterfinal games around Springfield
Sacred Heart-Griffin, Rochester and Williamsville are no strangers to the high school football quarterfinals. SHG is making its 30th quarterfinal appearance, followed by Rochester (17th) and Williamsville (15th) in their respective Saturday, Nov. 14 games. If both SHG and Rochester survive their road games, they will reunite in a semifinal showdown at Rocket Booster Stadium. It would be their fifth playoff meeting since 2019. IHSA football quarterfinal predictions for the Springfield area Class 4A No. 3 Rochester (10-1) at No. 10 Highland (9-3), 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 14: The Rockets are as dominant as they come in the quarterfinals with a 14-1 record under coach Derek Leonard since 2009 and nine state titles to boot. The Rockets breezed to an early 27-0 lead in the second quarter against Cahokia en route to another running-clock win, 54-27. Junior running back Evrim Tabag supplied 245 total yards and five touchdowns, including a 52-yard TD reception in the first half. Tabag currently totals 1,288 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on 172 carries. Rochester lineman Dylan DuRocher and receiver/defensive back Nate Swaney were each tabbed all-state in Class 4A by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association. Highland junior running back Carter Harris, also
