McHenry County football previews for the first round of the IHSA playoffs
A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, James Holloway brings a decade of experience covering local government issues, including stints with the Daily Herald and NPR Illinois. His insights into public policy and governance make him a go-to source for understanding the intricacies of local administration.
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FIRST-ROUND PLAYOFFSCLASS 8ANo. 34 Oswego East (5-5) at No. 2 Huntley (9-0)When: 7 p.m. FridayAbout the Wolves: Oswego East is in the playoffs for the second year in a row and 10th time since 2013, all under coach Tyson LeBlanc. The Wolves beat No. 31 Chicago Curie 49-8 in the opening round, as sophomore QB Carter Meindel completed 5 of 7 passes for 70 yards and one touchdown, a 32-yarder to Chase Lafin. Jeremiah Gbean ran for a score, helping East bolt to a 35-0 lead after one quarter. Special teams and defense also provided offense. Jayden Andrews ran the second-half kickoff back 65 yards for a TD, Gavin Ortiz and Jack English ran punts back for scores, Makane Tande recovered a fumble in the end zone, and Jack Ponto returned an interception 30 yards for a TD. ... The Wolves finished in last place in the Southwest Prairie West with an 0-5 record. They lost their last two regular-season games. ... East averages 22.4 points a game and allows 16.2. The Wolves have given up 30 points in o