IHSA Football Playoff Class Breakdowns
Here are some excellent notes about the Illinois High School Association playoff class breakdown courtsey of Matt Troha, IHSA media guru and assistant executive director…Enjoy
ALL CLASSES – HIGHS & LOWS
State Championships
Class 7A 14 schools have won state championships (20 titles)
Class 5A 32 total state championships won (11 schools)
Class 6A 5 schools have won state championships (15 titles)
Class 2A 9 total state championships won (7 schools)
By the Records
Class 3A has six 9-0 qualifiers and Class 2A/Class 5A/Class 6A have two
Class 2A/Class 6A have nine 8-1 qualifiers and Class 8A has four
Class 2A/Class 7A/Class 8A have 11 7-2 qualifiers and Class 1A/Class 3A have eight
Class 1A has eleven 6-3 qualifiers and Class 2A has five
Class 4A/Class 5A/Class 8A have six 5-4 qualifiers and Class 1A has three
Big & Small (Enrollment)
Hebron (Alden-H.) (1A) is the smallest school competing with an enrollment of 123.00
Chicago (Curie) (8A) is the largest school competing with an enrollment of 5997.75
Veteran & Rookie
34th playoff appearance for Geneseo (4A)
1st appearances for Chicago (Dyett) (4A), Chicago (Raby) (4A), Chicago (Orr) (5A), West Chicago (Wheaton Academy) (5A), Frankfort (Lincoln-Way North) (6A), Plainfield (North) (7A), South Elgin (7A) & Hillside (Proviso West) (8A)
Streaks & Droughts
26th consecutive appearance for DuQuoin (H.S.) (3A)
First playoff appearance for Chicago (Senn) (5A) since 1992
Toughest & Easiest Regular-Season Schedule (combined record of opponents)
New Lenox (Providence Catholic) (56-25) (6A)
Park Forest (Rich East) (25-56) (5A)
Top Scoring Offense & Defense
Offense: Rochester (48.7 ppg) (4A)
Defense: Quincy (Notre Dame) (3.6 ppg) (4A)
* Casey (C.-Westfield) (2A) only school to lead class in both (44.7 & 3.2 ppg)
Longest First Round Trip
257 miles Roselle (Lake Park) at Belleville (East) (8A)
Shortest First Round Trip
2 miles St. Charles (North) at South Elgin (7A)
Class by class info located below
CLASS 1A
State Champions (any class)
3 Freeport (Aquin)
3 Galena (H.S.)
2 Concord (Triopia) [Coop]
2 Dakota
2 Hardin (Calhoun) [Coop]
1 Alexis (United)
1 Flanagan (F.-Cornell)
1 Jacksonville (Routt)
1 LeRoy
1 Tuscola
2009 Class by Record 1A Champions by Record
9-0: 3 teams Undefeated: 22 teams
8-1: 7 teams One-Loss: 6 teams
7-2: 8 teams Two-Loss: 6 teams
6-3: 11 teams Three-Loss: 1 team
5-4: 3 teams Four-Loss: No teams
Big & Small (Enrollment) 2008 (Enrollment, Advancement)
Big: Toledo (Cumberland) (314.00) Mackinaw (Deer Creek-M.) (316.00, First Round)
Small: Hebron (Alden-H.) (123.00) Hebron (Alden-H.) (151.00, First Round)
Veteran & Rookie
24th playoff appearance for Galena (H.S.)
3rd playoff appearance for East Dubuque
Consecutive Appearances (min. 10) & Longest Drought Ended
Tuscola 16 consecutive appearances
Dakota 12 consecutive appearances
Lena (L.-Winslow) 11 consecutive appearances
Pleasant Hill [P.H.-Western Coop] First playoff appearance since 1998
Toughest & Easiest Regular-Season Schedule (combined record of opponents)
Galena (H.S.) (42-39)
Alexis (Untied) (31-50)
Top Scoring Offense & Defense
Offense: Mt. Sterling (Brown County) (44.0 ppg)
Defense: Lexington (3.8 ppg)
Long & Short Trips
158 miles Hardin (Calhoun)
16 miles Oakland at Villa Grove
CLASS 2A
State Champions (any class)
3 Aledo (Mercer County)
1 Amboy [A.-LaMoille Coop]
1 Casey (C.-Westfield)
1 Kewanee (Wethersfield)
1 Manlius (Bureau Valley)
1 Maroa (M.-Forsyth)
1 Moweaqua (Central A & M)
2009 Class by Record 2A Champions by Record
9-0: 2 teams Undefeated: 20 teams
8-1: 9 teams One-Loss: 9 teams
7-2: 11 teams Two-Loss: 4 teams
6-3: 5 teams Three-Loss: 1 team
5-4: 5 teams Four-Loss: 1 team
Big & Small (Enrollment) 2008 (Enrollment, Advancement)
Big: Marshall (438.00) Marshall (438.00, Second Round)
Small: Moweaqua (Central A & M) (318.00) Bushnell (B.-Prairie City) [B.-P.C] (319.00, Quarterfinals)
Veteran & Rookie
25th playoff appearance for Casey (C.-Westfield)
3rd playoff appearance for Downs (Tri-Valley), Port Byron (Riverdale) & Red Burd
Consecutive Appearances (min. 10) & Longest Drought Ended
Toulon (Stark County) 14 consecutive appearances
Aledo (Mercer County) 13 consecutive appearances
Marshall 10 consecutive appearances
Milford [Coop] First playoff appearance since 1997
Toughest & Easiest Regular-Season Schedule (combined record of opponents)
Bismarck (B.-Henning) (48-33)
Knoxville & Red Bud (26-55)
Top Scoring Offense & Defense
Offense: Casey (C.-Westfield) (44.2 ppg)
Defense: Casey (C.-Westfield) (3.7 ppg)
Long & Short Trips
169 miles Johnston City at Petersburg (PORTA)
22 miles Red Bud at Chester
CLASS 3A
State Champions (any class)
3 Decatur (St. Teresa)
3 Sterling (Newman)
3 Stillman Valley
2 DuQuoin (H.S.)
1 Anna (A.-Jonesboro
1 Carterville
1 Carthage (Illini West)
2009 Class by Record 3A Champions by Record
9-0: 6 teams Undefeated: 20 teams
8-1: 5 teams One-Loss: 12 teams
7-2: 8 teams Two-Loss: 2 teams
6-3: 8 teams Three-Loss: 1 team
5-4: 5 teams Four-Loss: No teams
Big & Small (Enrollment) 2008 (Enrollment, Advancement)
Big: Aurora (A. Christian) (612.15) Stillman Valley (599.00, Second Round)
Small: Auburn (441.00) DuQuoin (H.S.) (444.00, Runner-up)
Veteran & Rookie
26th playoff appearance for DuQuoin (H.S.)
3rd playoff appearance for Camp Point (Central), Rockford (Christian Life) & Carthage (Illini West)
Consecutive Appearances (min. 10) & Longest Drought Ended
DuQuoin (H.S.) 26 consecutive appearances
St. Joseph (S.J.-Ogden) 19 consecutive appearances
Tolono (Unity) 16 consecutive appearances
Carterville 15 consecutive appearances
Wilmington 14 consecutive appearances
Auburn 13 consecutive appearances
Anna (A.-Jonesboro) 10 consecutive appearances
Robinson First playoff appearance since 2002
Toughest & Easiest Regular-Season Schedule (combined record of opponents)
Oregon (45-36)
Sherrard (31-50)
Top Scoring Offense & Defense
Offense: Camp Point (Central) (48.1 ppg)
Defense: Carterville (7.0 ppg)
Long & Short Trips
129 miles Camp Point (Central)
4 miles Braidwood (Reed Custer) at Monticello
CLASS 4A
State Champions (any class)
4 Bloomington (Central Catholic)
4 Geneseo
4 Kankakee (McNamara)
3 Belleville (Althoff)\
3 Morris
2 Metamora
2 Plano
1 Coal City
1 Harrisburg
1 Mahomet (M.-Seymour)
1 Mascoutah
1 Mt. Carmel
1 Richmond (R.-Burton)
2009 Class by Record 4A Champions by Record
9-0: 5 teams Undefeated: 20
8-1: 6 teams One-Loss: 11
7-2: 8 teams Two-Loss: 4
6-3: 7 teams Three-Loss: No teams
5-4: 6 teams Four-Loss: No teams
Big & Small (Enrollment) 2008 (Enrollment, Advancement)
Big: Morris (1013.00) Waterloo (H.S.) (918.00, First Round)
Small: Mt. Carmel (613.00) Aurora (A. Christian) (615.00, Runner-up)
Veteran & Rookie
34th playoff appearance for Geneseo
1st playoff appearance for Chicago (Dyett) & Chicago (Raby)
Consecutive Appearances (min. 10) & Longest Drought Ended
Metamora 16 consecutive appearances
Geneseo 14 consecutive appearances
Elgin (St. Edward) First playoff appearance since 2003
Toughest & Easiest Regular-Season Schedule (combined record of opponents)
Morris (49-32)
Quincy (Notre Dame) (26-55)
Top Scoring Offense & Defense
Offense: Rochester (48.7 ppg)
Defense: Quincy (Notre Dame) (3.6 ppg)
Long & Short Trips
215 miles Harrisburg at Quincy (Notre Dame)
18 miles Johnsburg at Harvard
CLASS 5A
State Champions (any class)
13 Joliet (Catholic Academy)
4 Woodstock (Marian)
3 Springfield (Sacred Heart Griffin)
2 Belvidere (H.S.)
2 Maple Park (Kaneland)
2 Peoria (Richwoods)
2 Woodstock (H.S.)
1 Chatham (Glenwood)
1 Lombard (Montini)
1 Washington
1 Wheaton (St. Francis)
2009 Class by Record 5A Champions by Record
9-0: 2 teams Undefeated: 23 teams
8-1: 5 teams One-Loss: 8 teams
7-2: 10 teams Two-Loss: 3 teams
6-3: 9 teams Three-Loss: 1 team
5-4: 6 teams Four-Loss: No teams
Big & Small (Enrollment) 2008 (Enrollment, Advancement)
Big: Woodstock (1453.00) Chicago (Clark) (1339.80, First Round)
Small: West Chicago (Wheaton Acad.) (1059.30) Dunlap (921.00, Second Round)
Veteran & Rookie
33rd playoff appearance for Joliet (Catholic Academy)
1st playoff appearance for Chicago (Orr) & West Chicago (Wheaton Academy)
Consecutive Appearances (min. 10) & Longest Drought Ended
Lombard (Montini) 17 consecutive appearances
Joliet (Catholic Academy) 12 consecutive appearances
Rochelle 12 consecutive appearances
Springfield (Sacred Heart Griffin) 10 consecutive appearances
Chicago (Senn) First playoff appearance since 1992
Toughest & Easiest Regular-Season Schedule (combined record of opponents)
Lombard (Montini) (49-31)
Park Forest (Rich East) (25-56)
Top Scoring Offense & Defense
Offense: Springfield (Sacred Heart Griffin) (41.3 ppg)
Defense: Chicago (Senn) (6.2 ppg)
Long & Short Trips
214 miles Troy (Triad) at Joliet (Catholic Academy)
6 miles Lombard (Montini) at Wheaton (St. Francis)
CLASS 6A
State Champions (any class)
9 New Lenox (Providence Catholic)
2 Oak Lawn (Richards)
2 Oswego (H.S.)
1 Deerfield
1 Normal (Community)
2009 Class by Record 6A Champions by Record
9-0: 2 teams Undefeated: 13 teams
8-1: 9 teams One-Loss: 10 teams
7-2: 9 teams Two-Loss: 6 teams
6-3: 8 teams Three-Loss: No teams
5-4: 4 teams Four-Loss: No teams
Big & Small (Enrollment) 2008 (Enrollment, Advancement)
Big: Huntley (1967.00) Highland Park (1877.00, Second Round)
Small: Chicago (Harlan) (1473.00) Vernon Hills (1351.00, First Round)
Veteran & Rookie
30th playoff appearance for New Lenox (Providence Catholic)
1st playoff appearance for Frankfort (Lincoln-Way North)
Consecutive Appearances (min. 10) & Longest Drought Ended
Bloomington (H.S.) 23consecutive appearances
New Lenox (Providence Catholic) 19 consecutive appearances
Chicago (Hubbard) 15 consecutive appearances
Normal (Community) 14 consecutive appearances
Chicago (Morgan Park) 10 consecutive appearances
Oak Forest 10 consecutive appearances
Quincy (Sr.) First playoff appearance since 2003
Toughest & Easiest Regular-Season Schedule (combined record of opponents)
New Lenox (Providence Catholic) (56-25)
Quincy (Sr.) (31-50)
Top Scoring Offense & Defense
Offense: Cary (C. Grove) (44.3 ppg)
Defense: Crete (C.-Monee) & Lemont (H.S.) (6.3 ppg)
Long & Short Trips
229 miles Quincy (Sr.) at Chicago (Morgan Park)
6 miles Riverside (R.-Brookfield) at Chicago (Hubbard)
CLASS 7A
State Champions (any class)
7 East St. Louis (Sr.)
5 Wheaton (W.-Warrenville South)
3 Mt. Prospect (Prospect)
3 Wheaton (North)
2 Chicago (St. Rita)
1 Burbank (St. Laurence)
1 Chicago Heights (Marian)
1 Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)
1 Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West)
1 Lake Zurich
1 Mundelein (Carmel)
1 New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)
1 Northbrook (Glenbrook North)
1 Rockford (Guilford)
2009 Class by Record 7A Champions by Record
9-0: 3 teams Undefeated: 2 teams
8-1: 5 teams One-Loss: 5 teams
7-2: 11 teams Two-Loss: 1 team
6-3: 9 teams Three-Loss: No teams
5-4: 4 teams Four-Loss: No teams
Big & Small (Enrollment) 2008 (Enrollment, Advancement)
Big: Chicago Heights (Marian) (2544.30) Chicago (St. Rita) (2514.60, Quarterfinals)
Small: Geneva (1978.00) Lansing (T.F. South) (1887.00, First Round)
* East St. Louis (Sr.) is the smallest school in 7A after (1926.00) petitioning to play up a class.
Veteran & Rookie
30th playoff appearance for East St. Louis (Sr.)
1st playoff appearance for Plainfield (North) & South Elgin
Consecutive Appearances (min. 10) & Longest Drought Ended
New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central) 15th consecutive appearance
Chicago (St. Rita) 10th consecutive appearance
East St. Louis (Sr.) 10th consecutive appearance
Mundelein (Carmel) 10th consecutive appearance
Chicago (Bogan) First playoff appearance since 1996
Toughest & Easiest Regular-Season Schedule (combined record of opponents)
South Elgin (52-29)
Chicago (Bogan) & Palos Heights (Shepard) (27-54)
Top Scoring Offense & Defense
Offense: East St. Louis (Sr.) (44.3 ppg)
Defense: Crystal Lake (South) (6.1 ppg)
Long & Short Trips
236 miles Belleville (West) at Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)
2 miles St. Charles (North) at South Elgin
CLASS 8A
State Champions (any class)
10 Chicago (Mt. Carmel)
3 Park Ridge (Maine South)
2 Lockport (Twp.)
2 Naperville (North)
1 Downers Grove (South)
1 Frkln Pk.-Northlk. (Leyden)
1 Naperville (Central)
1 Wilmette (Loyola Academy)
2009 Class by Record 8A Champions by Record
9-0: 3 teams Undefeated: 3 teams
8-1: 4 teams One-Loss: 2 teams
7-2: 11 teams Two-Loss: 3 teams
6-3: 8 teams Three-Loss: No teams
5-4: 6 teams Four-Loss: No teams
Big & Small (Enrollment) 2008 (Enrollment, Advancement)
Big: Chicago (Curie) (5997.75) Chicago (Lane) (6745.00, First Round)
Small: Schaumburg (2582.00) Schaumburg (H.S.) (2575.00, Quarterfinals)
Veteran & Rookie
26th playoff appearance for Chicago (Mt. Carmel) & Chicago (Simeon)
1st playoff appearance for Hillside (Proviso West)
Consecutive Appearances (min. 10) & Longest Drought Ended
Chicago (Mt. Carmel) 24 consecutive appearances
Lincolnshire (Stevenson) 21 consecutive appearances
Bolingbrook 18 consecutive appearances
Park Ridge (Maine South) 18 consecutive appearances
Palatine (Fremd) 15 consecutive appearances
Downers Grove (South) 13 consecutive appearances
Naperville (North) 13 consecutive appearances
Chicago (Taft) First playoff appearance since 1996
Toughest & Easiest Regular-Season Schedule (combined record of opponents)
Chicago (Mt. Carmel) (55-26)
Roselle (Lake Park) (31-50)
Top Scoring Offense & Defense
Offense: Park Ridge (Maine South) (45.3 ppg)
Defense: Wilmette (Loyola Academy) (7.7 ppg)
Long & Short Trips
257 miles Roselle (Lake Park) at Belleville (East)
3 miles Nile (Notre Dame) at Glenview (Glenbrook South) &
Chicago (Mt. Carmel) at Chicago (Simeon)
Great work on compiling these very interesting statistics. Congratulations & best of luck to all teams in the playoffs!