Making its fourth playoff trip in the past five years, the Macomb High football squad has a different challenge entering this year’s postseason.
After playing Murphysboro in their previous three playoff trips, losing all three, the Bombers face a totally different scenario Saturday at MHS Stadium.
The Bombers (8-1) move to the north side of the 32-team state-wide bracket this year as the No. 3 seed. Macomb will face No. 14 seed Hillcrest from Country Club Hills (5-4) in a 2 p.m. contest.
Hillcrest will make the 230-mile to Macomb on the heels of capturing its ninth straight playoff bid dating back to 2016.
Differing from past seasons however, is that Hillcrest drops down from Class 5A to Class 4A for the first time.
The Hawks have the highest enrollment among Class 4A schools at 1,001. Meanwhile, Macomb comes in the third smallest in 4A at 610.
Both teams have just one playoff victory since 2021.
Macomb beat Quincy Notre Dame 28-14 in an opening-round contest in 2022.
In 2023, Hillcrest defeated Carbondale 22-8.
Last year, Macomb lost to Murphysboro 56-33, while Hillcrest lost to Peoria High 52-36.
Hillcrest’s opponents this year had an average enrollment of 1391, compared to 355 for Macomb.
The Hawks, a member of the South Suburban Blue Division, faced four playoff teams this season. That includes Class 5A schools, Thornton Fractional North, Lemont and Oak Forest, along with Class 4A Lombard Montini.
Macomb, a member of the LincolnLand Large School Division, faced five playoff teams.
Those teams included West Hancock, Illini West and Farmington in Class 2A, along with Rushville-Industry and Knoxville in Class 1A.
Hillcrest started its season 0-3 that included losses to Lombard Montini and Thornton Fractional North.
But the Hawks won five of their final six games with the only loss coming to Lemont (31-24) in week seven.
The victories included a 34-8 win in week eight over previously unbeaten Oak Forest.
In that contest, Hillcrest recorded 235 yards rushing on 31 carries, along with nine completed passes for 164 yards.
In the Hawks 32-15 victory at Tinley Park that wrapped up the regular season, the team rolled up 301 yards rushing on 33 carries, along with adding 115 yards passing on just five completions.
Stats for the Hawks include the following: PASSING
Anthony Bradley (5-feet, 9-inches, 150 pounds) – 42-of-93, 589 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions.
Micah Robinson (5-10, 156) – 35-of-64, 495 yards, three TDs and four INTs.
Derrick Streeter, listed as a QB/WR/Athlete (5-8, 145) was 8-of-18 for 166 yards and two TDs.
Season totals – 85-of-175, 1250 yards 10 TDs and seven INTs.
RUSHING
Jamari Thomas (tailback, 5-5, 130) – 76 carries, 615 yards and seven TDs Streeter – 26 carries, 208 yards and five TDs Season totals – 258 carries, 1,665 yards and 22 TDs RECEIVING
Streeter – 16 catches, 204 yards Maurice Garrett (WR 6-1, 205) – 16 catches, 322 yards and four TDs Jacob Johnson (TB 5-11, 191) – 12 catches, 144 KICKOFF RETURNS
Lavon Vaughns (5-5, 145) – 295 yards DEFENSE
Zyon Boateng (OLB, 6-1, 210) – 52 total tackles including 39 solos with three sacks Jaydan Simmons (SS, 5-11, 170) – 48 total tackles including 35 solos Max Carmicle (DE, 6-7, 260) – 41 total tackles including 30 solos Jayden Lucas (CB 5-10, 162) – 39 total tackles including 35 solos.
Anthony Tolliver Jr. (DE, 6-0, 195) – six sacks and four fumble recoveries Andres Bowers (CB, 6-0, 170) – five INTs OTHER
22.8 yards per punt average 15-of-34 on two-point conversion attempts Macomb had a week off after opponent LVC announced it was forfeiting the week nine finale to the Bombers due to a low number of healthy players.
The lone loss of the season came in week six to stateranked Farmington (30-16).
In that contest, the visiting Farmers scored twice in the final minutes in securing the win.
Stats for the Bombers include the following: PASSING
Kaden Knupp – 64-of-110 for 1,251 yards, 13 TDs and five INTs RECEIVING
Drew Watson – 33 catches for 644 yards and six TDs Kyler Norton – 10 catches for 206 yards and four TDs Nolan Hoge – 10 catches for 200 yards and two TDs Carter Havens – 11 catches for 200 yards and one TD
RUSHING
Drake May – 126 carries for 989 yards and 14 TDs Knupp – 52 carries for 342 yards and eight TD Season totals – 207 carries for 1,576 yards and 24 TDs DEFENSE
May – 40 solos, 72 assists, 112 total tackles Jeshua McPheeters – 20 solos, 44 assists, 64 total tackles Blaze Howell – nine solos, 35 assists, 44 total tackles with three sacks Hoge – 17 solos, 19 assists, 36 total tackles Drake Taber – six solos, 30 assists, 36 total tackles Hoge recorded four INTs and Watson had three INTs OTHER
Hayden Katz – 35-of-36 on PAT kicks, 1-of-2 in field goals Bombers were also 2-of-4 in two-point conversion attempts The Hillcrest/Macomb winner will face No. 11 seed Rochelle (6-3) or No. 6 Geneseo (7-2) in next week’s second round.
That game is slated for Friday evening at 7 p.m.
The Hillcrest/Macomb winner would host Geneseo or travel to Rochelle.
