LHS Football Faces Eisenhower In First Round Of Playoffs

LEMONT, IL — The Lemont High School football team will face off against Eisenhower in the first round of the IHSA Class 6A playoffs.

Lemont went undefeated (9-0) in regular season, and was seeded No. 1 in playoffs. Eisenhower went 5-4, and is seeded No. 16.

"It's always tough playing a conference opponent, even though [Eisenhower] is a school from the other side of the conference," Coach Bret Kooi told Patch. "That school always has an abundance of information about your program, and it makes it even tougher to prepare that week. Like always, your focus has to be a week-to-week preparation, and I feel our kids have done a great job with their concentration being all on Eisenhower."

Sheamus Murphy, head coach at Eisenhower, said this is the first time since the 1960s that Eisenhower has had four winning regular seasons in a row. The team has made the playoffs three years in a row.

"We are excited to be back in the playoffs and have the opportunity to compete against one of the premier programs in the state," Murphy told Patch. "Coach Kooi and his staff do a tremendous job. Lemont is well-coached, disciplined, and a talented football team. Our guys are excited and will be ready to compete."

Murphy, who lives in Lemont, said that coaching in his hometown will be special for his family.

"My boys (Cooper, newborn and Palmer, age 2) will hopefully play for Lemont someday. It's going to be a great experience," he told Patch.

Lemont and Eisenhower will play at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at LHS.

The winner of the Lemont vs. Eisenhower match-up will play against the winner of (seed No. 8) Chatham's Glenwood and Quincy Senior High School (seed No. 9).

The Class 6A state championship game will be held on Nov. 26 in Champaign.