Boylan (Rockford, Ill.) at Lake Zurich (Ill.)Boylan's multi-season winning streak was extended and its quest for a third-consecutive 7A state title was salvaged by a heroic 90-yard punt return for a touchdown by
Peter Cimino as time expired in last Saturday's second-round game against Fenwick (Oak Park).
Zach Mathews found the end zone on the subsequent 2-point conversion attempt allowing the Titans (11-0) to salvage win No. 39 in a row and punch their ticket to this weekend's quarterfinals with a thrilling 22-21 victory.
View the MaxPreps Illinois football playoff brackets
In addition to continuing the march toward possibly its first state title since 2007, Lake Zurich (9-2) hopes to avenge a 16-10 loss to Boylan in last year's semifinals. The Bears' path to this weekend's matchup was less theatrical than that of Boylan: a 49-0 rout of South (Crystal Lake) in round one followed by a 17-6 win over Honoegah (Rockton) last Saturday. The Honoegah win marked the seventh time in 10 games (not counting one forfeit) that Lake Zurich held an opponent to six points or less.
Mitch Stephens: Lake Zurich 21, Boylan 20
Steve Montoya: Boylan 21, Lake Zurich 20
Stephen Spiewak: Boylan 17, Lake Zurich 10
Kevin Askeland: Boylan 31, Lake Zurich 30
Leland Gordon: Lake Zurich 20, Boylan 19
Jamie DeMoney: Boylan 17, Lake Zurich 14
Freeman Computer prediction: Lake Zurich 20, Boylan 17
