Benton hosts Robinson, S-V-W-W on road to Vienna in first round playoff games

The football camps in July, those grueling two-a-day practices in August and every one of those Friday night battles for nine tough weeks are all geared toward one thing: Saturday afternoon football in Week 10.

In short, let the playoffs begin.

Southern Illinois teams will be well-represented in the field of 256 teams that will begin play on Oct. 27 in eight different classes. Of the 28 teams that comprise the three football conferences in Southern Illinois – South Seven, Southern Illinois River-to-River and the Black Diamond — 14 teams will be in action in first-round games.

Here’s a breakdown of the teams in our region:

Class 2A

Carmi-White County (6-3 No. 14 seed) at Casey-Westfield (9-0 No. 3 seed)

Johnnston City (7-2 No. 9 seed) at Du Quoin (7-2 No. 8 seed)

Belleville Althoff (6-3 No. 15 seed) at Chester (9-0 No. 2 seed)

 Class 3A

Anna-Jonesboro (6-3 No. 8 seed) at Greenville (9-0 No. 1 seed)

Sesser-Valier Co-op (6-3 No. 5 seed) at Vienna-Goreville (6-3 No. 4 seed)

Robinson (6-3 No. 7 seed) at Benton (8-1 No. 2 seed)

Carterville (6-3 No. 6 seed) at Vandalia (7-2 No. 3 seed)

 Class 4A

Herrin (5-4 No. 8 seed) at Harrisburg (8-1 No. 1 seed)

Class 5A

Marion (7-2 No. 5 seed) at Chatham Glenwood (7-2 No. 4 seed)

Jacksonville (5-4 No. 7 seed) at Centralia (9-0 No. 2 seed)

Game times will be set on Monday for all IHSA playoff games.