2003 5A Playoff Central

Throughout the playoffs this page will be updated with the most recent information and playoff out looks. Follow scores and rankings at Playoff Central & The Big 30.

All 2003 5A Qualifiers listed below

Brackets & Scores
1A / 2A / 3A / 4A / 5A / 6A / 7A / 8A

Last Years Champ; New Lenox (Providence)Celtics (14-0) Runner-up; Pontiac Indians (12-2)

2003 Title Game Date & Time; Nov. 29th 10am

Favorites to win the title; Rochelle,Joliet (Catholic)& Springfield (S.H.G.)
Other Title Threats;Geneseo, Rock Island (Alleman) & Riverside (R.-Brookfield)
Sleeper teams: Pontiac & Mahomet (M.-Seymour)

Favorites to win the title;
Rochelle - Rochelle has been to the 5A semifinals two years straight only to lose to eventual state champs & Chicago Catholic League schools. While the Hubs don't have the numbers that some of their counter parts in 5A may have, they do have the talent. That talent is also very young, with juniors Mark Allamang (QB) & Dusty Provow (RB) providing some offense on top of seniors Justin Johnson (RB) & Adam Erickson (RB).

Joliet (Catholic)- During a previous playoff game, an opposing coach yelled to remind a referee that JC didn't stand for Jesus Christ. And while they do make mistakes, they come few & far between, especially when you realize this team has some 2 & 3 year varsity experienced players. The Hilltoppers bowed out of the playoffs early last year, but just ask around, many said that while they could win it all in 2002, 2003 would be a sure title. Past opponents, Morris, Pontiac, Rochelle & Springfield (S.H.G.) may have something to say about that as JC at 8-1 is still the team to beat.

Springfield (S.H.G.) - The Cyclones are most likely on a collision course for a finals showdown with Joliet Catholic, which would be a repeat of the 1974 game in which the Hilltoppers won their first ever title. SHG will be looking to reverse the trend & set themselves up for a run at 4 in a row. But before they get to carried away, they'll need to get by a few other teams. The Cyclones may have lucked out though, getting what many will say is the weaker brackets. Either way, with the boys from the capital out scoring teams by 30 points while averaging 45 a game, either bracket could be easy.

Other Title Threats;
Geneseo- The Maple Leafs are making their 28 playoff appearance out of 30. They're only loss was to Rochelle in week 9. They have the best defense in 5A, allowing just 9 points a game.

Rock Island (Alleman) - The Pioneers triple threat of a running attack make them dangerous even if you don't have to watch for passes. Figuring out just who has the ball between QB Ryan McGinnis, FB Nate Just or HB Hank Belshause is only half the challenge. You've got to tackle them next. Their only loss was to cross town rival Rock Island HS who was just a coin flip away from being in 7A.

Riverside (R.-Brookfield) - Passing & lots of it. Britt Davis & his quintuplet of receivers are what sets the Bulldogs apart from the rest of the field. Very few high school defenses can defend against the past very well. Unfortunately that is the same thing that stops R-B from being a favorite, they have been know to give up a few scores a game, 19.8 on average actually.

Sleeper teams:
Pontiac - Pontiac is three points away from being 8-1. Top that off with the fact that two of their losses have come at the hands of not just playoff teams, but good playoff teams and it's not a stretch to see the Indians as a possible thorn in the side of a higher seeded team. It won't be easy for the Indians to make a repeat trip to Champaign, but given the fact that head coach Mic Peterson was unable to work with the team until the start of the season, due to a year suspension from coaching by the IHSA, you could even say Pontiac could be 9-0 if it weren't for a 13-0 week one loss to Morris.

Mahomet (M.-Seymour) - While they're offense hasn't been taking advantage of running clocks all season & the defense might not be shutting out teams left & right. At 7-2 with 6 regular season opponents making the playoffs, the Bulldogs could go deep if they beat Springfield (S.H.G.) or a very uncharacteristic Metamora team if they make the second round.