Both Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South enter the final week of the regular season with playoff spots secured and a chance to improve their postseason seeding Friday, Oct. 16.

The Red Devils (5-3, 2-3 West Suburban Silver) travel to Oak Park-River Forest. The Hornets (4-4, 4-1 West Suburban Gold) close at Leyden. Wins would strengthen each team's case for a first-round home game when the IHSA brackets are set.

As we reported Saturday, Oct. 10, both programs rolled in Week 8. Central beat Proviso West 49-6, and South handled Morton 47-14.

Central closes at Oak Park-River Forest

Oak Park-River Forest beat Addison Trail 48-20 in Week 8. In an Oct. 5 playoff outlook, Friday Night Drive's Steve Soucie wrote that Central was looking to "secure at least a Class 8A first-round home game" with wins over Proviso West and OPRF.

Central sits near the enrollment line between Class 8A and 7A, according to Shaw Local's playoff projections. The Red Devils were listed among 8A teams closest to the 7A bracket. Their final classification could affect seeding.

Quarterback Beau Gatewood had thrown for nearly 1,800 yards and 15 touchdowns through seven games, with four receivers reaching double-digit catches led by James Skokna. Head coach Brian Griffin's squad went 7-4 last season and made the playoffs for the first time since 2021.

South looks to cap historic turnaround

Hinsdale South's playoff berth is the program's first since 2018, ending a drought that included four straight 4-5 finishes from 2021 through 2024. A win at Leyden (3-5, 2-3 West Suburban Gold) would push the Hornets to 5-4 and boost their seed in the Class 6A bracket.

South is the smallest school in the West Suburban Conference, competing as a 5A-enrollment program against 7A opponents.

Quarterback Ben Miller has driven the resurgence. Head coach Jarrod Amolsch praised Miller's composure in an Oct. 9 interview with the Hinsdale Journal: "The No. 1 thing with Ben is moxie … When things break down he doesn't panic."

Senior receiver Koby Armstrong, a 5-foot-6, 140-pound transfer from Romeoville, caught two touchdowns and recorded an interception in Week 7.

What's at stake

The IHSA expanded its playoff field to 384 teams in 2026, with 48 per class. The top 16 seeds in each class receive first-round byes. Both Hinsdale programs entered Week 8 with 37 playoff points apiece. Updated totals after their lopsided Week 8 wins have not been published.

First-round playoff dates have not been announced.