York hosts Lyons Friday with playoff bye at stake

York hosts 6-2 Lyons Township at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Duchon Field with a potential first-round playoff bye on the line.

A block away in Villa Park, Willowbrook hosts Addison Trail at 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, in the District 88 Crosstown Classic. That game was moved up a day because Willowbrook's stadium will host the IHSA flag football state finals Friday and Friday, Oct. 16-17.

Both matchups close the regular season with postseason seeding at stake.

York riding late-season wins

York (5-3) has won consecutive games over two of the West Suburban Silver's strongest teams, beating Downers Grove North and then topping Glenbard West 25-22 at Duchon Field, according to Shaw Local's Friday Night Drive.

Running back Chris Georgas topped 100 rushing yards in both games, piling up 168 yards on 27 carries with a touchdown against Glenbard West. Quarterback Zack Assaad threw for 124 yards and added both a passing and rushing touchdown in that win.

"A Win + 0 sacks let up = breakfast w/ the O line on me!!" Assaad wrote on X after the Glenbard West game, crediting the offensive line's performance.

Two-way linemen Owen Roberts and Brayden Byford anchor the Dukes' defense. Roberts is committed to Purdue and Byford to Dayton, per Shaw Local reporter Joshua Welge.

As we reported Wednesday, York has already clinched its sixth straight playoff bid. A win Friday could push the Dukes further. Shaw Local's playoff outlook reports York has positioned itself to potentially host an opening-round game, with its seed line trending upward. The IHSA expanded the football playoffs to 384 teams this year, with the top 16 seeds in each class receiving first-round byes.

Lyons (6-2, 38 playoff points) is locked into the postseason but likely needs a win to secure its own bye, according to the same outlook. The Lions are coming off a 17-10 loss at Downers Grove North that cost them a shot at a share of the Silver title. Running back EJ Kuhlman had 88 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown in that loss, while Brendan McCabe threw for 105 yards.

Lyons beat York twice last season, in Week 9 and in the first round of the playoffs.

Willowbrook-Addison Trail kicks off Thursday

Willowbrook (5-3, 3-2) and Addison Trail (5-3, 3-2) meet Thursday in Villa Park instead of the usual Friday slot. The IHSA confirmed the flag football state finals will run at Willowbrook on Oct. 16-17, forcing the schedule change.

Willowbrook Athletics announced the Thursday date along with a second annual "Reading for Raymond" community event tied to the game.

The Warriors shut out Proviso East 35-0 on Oct. 9 and have won three straight, though all three opponents carried 1-7 records. Willowbrook has locked in its 10th consecutive playoff appearance, according to Shaw Local, and a win could secure a home game in the opening round. The program appears to be on the dividing line between Class 6A and 7A.

Addison Trail, the Gold division champion last year, has struggled defensively this season, allowing 53 points per game in its three losses. The Blazers fell 48-20 to Oak Park-River Forest and have not beaten a team with a winning record. Junior quarterback Robbie Morales leads their offense.

Last year, Addison Trail snapped Willowbrook's nine-game winning streak in the rivalry with a 35-0 rout.