Previewing the best second-round IHSA football playoff games

Here's a look at some of the best games in the second round of the IHSA playoffs. Check out all the pairings here.

Class 7A: No. 11 Batavia at No. 3 Brother Rice, 4 p.m. Saturday

Two of the state's top quarterbacks match up here. Batavia senior Michael Vander Luitgaren, a Wyoming commit, has completed 73% of his passes for 2,638 yards and 30 touchdowns with six interceptions. He also leads the Bulldogs (8-2) in rushing with 714 yards and 15 TDs. Devin Ashiru is a rare 1,000-yard receiver with 85 catches for 1,068 yards and nine scores. Freshman Sam Holcomb is now the full-time starter for Rice (8-2) after splitting time earlier in the season. He's completing 74% of his passes for 1,320 yards and 21 TDs with no interceptions. Notre Dame recruit Brayden Parks and Kameron McGee lead a formidable defensive front for the Crusaders.

Class 8A: No. 13 St. Ignatius at No. 8 Maine South, 2 p.m. Saturday

St. Ignatius (8-2) is having a bounceback season after missing the IHSA playoffs the last two years. A big reason is the play of junior quarterback Reid Hites, who missed almost all of last season with an injury but now leads a potent option offense. Maine South (9-1) lost its opener to Batavia and has been tested only twice since, beating Central Suburban South rivals Glenbrook South and New Trier by a touchdown each. Indiana-bound quarterback Jameson Purcell has put up big numbers despite often not playing much in the second half. Last week against O'Fallon, he threw for 293 yards and four TDs in three quarters.

Class 4A: No. 15 Montini at No 19 Morris, 4 p.m. Saturday

The winner of this game becomes the favorite to win the 4A championship. Like most powerhouse teams this year, they each have an elite quarterback. Morris (1-0) is led by junior LaSalle-Peru transfer Marion Persich, who has completed 70% of his passes for 1,353 yards and 17 touchdowns with four interceptions while running for a team-high 933 yards and 19 TDs. Montini (8-2) counters with Miami commit Israel Abrams, a 64% passer for 2,471 yards and. 26 TDs. He also has 206 rushing yards and 14 TDs. Linebacker Ben Evenson had 101 tackles, including 15 for loss, to lead the Broncos defense.

Class 5A: No. 17 Providence vs. No. 25 Morgan Park, noon Saturday at Stagg Stadium

A week after coming from behind in the second half to eliminate a ranked Kankakee team, Providence (7-3) gets another tough test, It helps to have workhorse back Broden Mackert healthy. He ran for 241 yards and three touchdowns against the Kays and teams with running back/receiver Brayden McKay and quarterback Dominic Vita to lead a diverse offense. Morgan Park (9-1) has won nine straight since a five-point loss to Downers Grove North in Week 1 and is again the Public League's best team. Ole Miss commit Darrell Mattison can make an impact on both sides of the ball for the Mustangs and junior quarterback Ronald Smith Jr. has passed for 1,535 yards and 21 TDs with six interceptions.

Class 8A: No. 12 Homewood-Flossmoor at No. 18 New Trier, 7 p.m. Friday

Four-star defensive lineman David Hill, a Wisconsin commit, fuels a Homewood-Flossmoor defense that has four shutouts this season, including a 21-0 win against Conant last week. Junior quarterback Karter Nicholson threw for 187 yards and four TDs for the Vikings (8-2). New Trier (9-1) also has four shutouts and its only loss was by seven to Maine South. Purdue commit Jackie Ryder has thrown for 2,097 yards and 25 TDs. Junior Paul Liang is a player to watch as a receiver and punt returner.