Sauk Valley Second Round IHSA, I8FA football playoff previews

Class 4ANo. 12 Hillcrest (7-4) at No. 4 Sterling (8-2)When: 7 p.m. Friday About the Hawks: Hillcrest has faced two Chicago Public League teams in the playoffs, beating Chicago Noble/Johnson 63-0 and Chicago Phoenix 39-14. The Hawks started the season 0-3 while facing three teams with winning records. Their lone regular season win over a team with a winning record was a 38-20 win over Lemont.Quarterback Ladell Ross has thrown for 1,043 yards with 21 touchdowns and six interceptions. Running back Devan Watson has 956 yards rushing with 11 TDs, eclipsing 100 yards in three games. About the Golden Warriors: Sterling took care of Marmion 35-21 last week as QB Brady Berlin threw for 117 yards and a TD, pushing his season total to 2,030 yards and 22 scores. Sterling lost starting RB Cobey Shipma to injury in the win. Deseo Ibarra-Castillo stepped in with 118 yards rushing and a TD, while James Miller ran for 51 yards and Berlin had two rushing scores. DeAndre Maas ran the opening kick back fo