Hinsdale Central's football season comes down to a noon kickoff Saturday in Frankfort against the best team in Class 8A.

The No. 17-seeded Red Devils (8-3) face No. 1 Lincoln-Way East (10-0) in the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) second-round playoff game Nov. 7. A win would send Hinsdale Central to the state quarterfinals for the first time this season.

The Griffins are ranked No. 2 in the state, according to Sports Illustrated's Illinois Top 25, and No. 1 in the Chicago Sun-Times Super 25, per WGN. They haven't lost a game all year.

Hinsdale Central earned its spot with a 63-3 rout of Von Steuben on Oct. 31. The Red Devils are ranked No. 24 in the state and have won six of their last seven games.

What the Red Devils bring

Hinsdale Central's offense runs through junior quarterback Beau Gatewood, who had thrown for more than 2,166 yards with 21 touchdowns and four interceptions entering the playoffs, according to Shaw Local's opening-round preview. Third-year wide receiver James Skokna had 48 catches for 674 yards and seven touchdowns through eight games. George Zilliox (30 catches, 339 yards, four touchdowns) and Beau Knapp (28 catches, 544 yards, six touchdowns) give Gatewood additional targets.

On defense, senior end Tommy Riordan, an Iowa recruit, had 39 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks entering the postseason. John Breton added 10 tackles for loss and six sacks, and safety Henry Kohn led the team with 54 tackles.

The challenge ahead

Lincoln-Way East opened its postseason with a 31-7 win over Oak Park-River Forest on Oct. 30. Yahoo Sports reported the Griffins carried a 32.1-point average winning margin dating to Sept. 4.

Jack Murphy scored three touchdowns in that first-round win, catching a 28-yard pass and adding a 7-yard rushing score in the third quarter, Shaw Local reported. Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar said after the game that he expected starting quarterback Evan LeFevour, who missed the first-round game with an injury, to return for the second round.

Fan bus and what's next

The Hinsdale Central athletic department posted a fan bus sign-up for Saturday's game, urging students to fill the visitor section in Frankfort.

The winner advances to face either No. 8 seed Chicago Mt. Carmel or No. 24 seed Barrington. The state finals are scheduled for Nov. 27-28 at Hancock Stadium in Normal.