LEMONT, IL — Lemont High School's varsity football team will advance to the first round of the 2026 Class 5A IHSA football playoffs after defeating Peoria, 48-6, in the opening round.
Lemont will now face Morton (no. 4 seed) at 7 p.m. on Friday at Morton.
The postseason has a different look this year after IHSA member schools voted to expand the football playoffs for the first time since 1985.
Each of the eight classes will have 48 playoff qualifiers, up from 32. The change expands the total field from 256 to 384 teams.
To maintain historical consistency in the number of teams competing in each stage, the playoff rounds will be called the Opening Round, First Round, Second Round, Quarterfinals and Semifinals.
The winner of the Lemont vs. Morton game will play the winner of Triad vs. Washington in the second round of playoffs, according to IHSA.
The Class 5A state championship will be played Nov. 28 at Hancock Stadium in Normal.
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