Addison Trail beat Willowbrook 37-20 on Thursday, Oct. 15, in the District 88 Crosstown Classic, ending the Warriors' regular season at 5-4 heading into the IHSA playoffs.
The Blazers won the District 88 rivalry for the second straight year. Addison Trail beat Willowbrook 35-0 last season, snapping what had been a nine-game Warriors winning streak in the series, according to Shaw Local's pregame preview. Both teams entered the Week 9 finale at 5-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play.
The game was moved from its usual Friday slot to Thursday because the IHSA flag football state finals are being held at Willowbrook on Friday, Oct. 16, and Saturday, Oct. 17, Shaw Local reported.
The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for head coach Nick Hildreth's squad. Willowbrook had won three straight over Morton, Proviso West and Proviso East, all teams with 1-7 records entering Week 9. The Warriors shut out Proviso East 35-0 on Oct. 9.
Playoffs up next
Despite the loss, the Warriors' postseason is secure. Willowbrook clinched the program's 10th consecutive playoff berth with a Week 6 win over Morton, as we reported Oct. 14. The Warriors carried 30 playoff points into Week 9, according to Shaw Local's playoff outlook.
The IHSA expanded its football playoffs this year to 384 teams, up from 256. Each of the eight class brackets now holds 48 teams. The top 16 seeds in each class receive first-round byes.
Willowbrook appeared to sit on the dividing line between Class 6A and Class 7A entering the finale, Shaw Local reported.
Willowbrook Athletics said on X that the Warriors' next game will be in the opening round. The official pairings will be announced Saturday, Oct. 17, at 9 p.m. during a live selection show on the NFHS Network and on WCIU, Sports Illustrated reported.
