Kewanee and Annawan-Wethersfield both know their first-round opponents in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) football playoffs.
But between the two, the Boilers may face the tougher test.
Kewanee will travel Saturday to Olney to face the Richland County Tigers in a Class 3A matchup. The Tigers, at 9-0 on the season, are a no. 1 seed in Class 3A, while the Boilers, at 5-4 on the season, are a no. 15 seed.
The Tigers have run up big scores on several of their opponents this season. Just Friday, they defeated Robinson 50-27.
Their 2024 season also includes victories of 64-36 over Paris, 56-35 over Newton and 56-21 over Marshall.
The first two games of Richland County’s season were closer affairs. They opened with a 43-38 win over Taylorville, and beat Mattoon 24-22 the next week.
The Titans will host Rockford Lutheran Saturday afternoon. Like Annawan-Wethersfield, a No. 8 Class 1A seed, No. 9-seeded Lutheran is 6-3 for the regular season.
Rockford Lutheran is coming off Friday’s 29-14 loss to Genoa-Kingston. Their other losses were to Byron, 49-18, and Dixon, 56-13.
Lutheran posted key wins like a 49-14 defeat of Rock Falls, a 21-0 shutout of Poplar Grove North Boone and a 24-0 win over Oregon.
Another area school, Stark County, will also be in the playoffs. The 8-1 Rebels’ lone loss was to Princeville on Oct. 11.
They’ll host 5-4 Galena Saturday in their first-round game. The Rebels are seeded fifth in Class 1A.
