Rick Armstrong’s 4 high school football games to watch in Aurora-Elgin area and state quarterfinal predictions

Batavia, Burlington Central, Maine South and Brother Rice are picks to click for the state quarterfinals.

Oswego (9-2) at Maine South (10-1)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Matchup breakdown: Teams from two programs with a ton of playoff experience meet for the first time in this Class 8A quarterfinal matchup, and both are led by a pair of junior quarterbacks.

Drew Kleinhans, who has thrown for 1,340 yards and 13 touchdowns with four interceptions, will lead the Panthers in their 10th quarterfinals appearance. It’s the 35th time Oswego has been in the playoffs since the Illinois High School Association started postseason play in 1974.

Kleinhans had a strong second half as the Panthers broke open a 10-10 game to beat Lane Tech 45-10 in the second round.

Left-handed Jameson Purcell, an Indiana recruit who threw for 2,572 yards last season, rallied the Hawks from 19 points down to Hinsdale Central in a 33-29 second-round win.

This is the 40th playoff appearance and 21st time reaching the quarterfinals for Maine South, which has won six state titles to Oswego’s two.

Also a running threat, Purcell will challenge an Oswego defense that has 12 interceptions.

X-factor: Conor Tully, Oswego, senior, linebacker.

Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Maine South.

Glenbard North (8-3) at Batavia (9-2)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Matchup breakdown: They meet again.

The Bulldogs host their DuKane Conference rivals in a rematch of a Week 3 game that Batavia won 41-13 at home. The Bulldogs led 12-7 at halftime before breaking it open.

“Both teams have gotten better,” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said. “They really challenge you and don’t make a lot of mistakes on defense.”

Junior quarterback Michael Vander Luitgaren completed 16 of 20 passes for 256 yards and three TDs in a 42-21 second-round win over Glenbard East. He connected with eight different receivers.

Senior running back Donato Gatses ran 33 times for 233 yards, pushing his career total over 2,000 yards in Glenbard North’s 22-14 second-round win over Moline.

X-factor: Brett Berggren, Batavia, senior, wide receiver.

Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Batavia.

St. Charles North (10-1) at Brother Rice (10-1)

Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday.

Matchup breakdown: Junior quarterback JT Padron threw TD passes to senior receiver Braden Harms and senior running back Carsen Durante as the North Stars took advantage of three turnovers to come from behind for a 26-23 second-round win over Carmel.

The Corsairs play in the CCL/ESCC White. Up next are the Crusaders from the powerful CCL/ESCC Blue.

“It’s always interesting how it shakes out,” St. Charles North coach Rob Pomazak said of his team’s playoff path. “To be the best, you’ve gotta beat the best. They’re really big up front on both lines and massive defensively.”

Illinois recruit King Liggins, a 6-4, 280-pound senior defensive tackle, leads that line. It includes junior tackle Brayden Parks (6-3, 305) and sophomore edge rusher Kameron McGee (6-4, 235), both of whom have interest from Power Four schools.

Senior quarterback CJ Gray, an Army recruit, leads an offense that includes South Dakota State-bound senior receiver Jovan Green Jr.

X-factor: Lucas Tenbrock, St. Charles North, senior, kicker/punter.

Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Brother Rice.

Burlington Central (10-1) vs. Fenwick (8-3)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday at Triton.

Matchup breakdown: A sloppy track at Rocket Hill didn’t faze Burlington Central, which grinded out 274 yards on the ground in a 24-24 win over visiting Machesney Park Harlem in a Class 6A second-round game.

The victory got the Rockets into the quarterfinals for the first time since 2006, which is also the last time they had 10 wins.

Senior quarterback Landon Arnold, Burlington Central’s leading rusher who is complemented by a committee of running backs, ran for 131 yards and scored the clinching TD. Senior fullback Tyler McGladdery added two TDs.

Two future Miami of Ohio teammates will meet in Burlington Central two-way lineman Zach Hultgren and Fenwick safety/running back Tommy Thies.

Noah Sur, a senior kicker for the Friars, is a Northwestern recruit.

X-factor: Henry Deering, Burlington Central, senior, running back.

Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Burlington Central.