Can state-ranked Washington win a football state title? Let's look at the path

Wes Huett, Peoria Journal Star
Washington's Kainon McQueary (2) weaves his way through the Morton defense in the second half of their Week 9 football game Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 in Morton.
Washington's Kainon McQueary (2) weaves his way through the Morton defense in the second half of their Week 9 football game Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 in Morton.

The Washington football team just rolled to an unbeaten season in the Mid-Illini Conference and heads into the playoffs ranked No. 3 statewide in Class 6A as the program's all-time winningest coach Darrell Crouch wraps up a two-decade career.

The Panthers (8-1) enter the 32-team Class 6A bracket as the No. 2 seed in the lower half behind only No. 2-ranked and top-seeded Kankakee (9-0), which handed Washington its only loss this season, 7-3, in Week 2.

The Panthers are no strangers to playoff success, making their 36th appearance all-time — among the 20 best statewide. This is the 16th postseason in 19 years under Crouch, whose teams have 10 quarterfinal trips and two trips to the semifinals. Washington's best playoff finishes were a state championship in 1985 and a runner-up finish in 1983.

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Can they add to those numbers this season? As the highest-ranked team in the Peoria area, here is a look at Washington's possible path through the Class 6A playoffs.

First round

Opponent: Danville (5-4)

The Panthers enter the playoffs averaging 39.4 points per game against 8.9 allowed — the second-best points differential in the 6A field. Washington is led by dynamic running back Kainon McQueary and a dominant defense that creates points off turnovers and only twice has allowed more than one touchdown.

Washington is the favorite over the third-place Big 12 Conference finisher, which was 1-4 against playoff teams, including a 56-32 loss to Peoria High. Danville has wins over Richwoods (21-3) and Manual (58-12).

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Second round

Likely opponent: Crete-Monee (6-3)

Tough draw for the Panthers: A state-ranked opponent with some familiarity. No. 8-ranked Crete-Monee has eliminated Washington at the quarterfinal level twice in the last four postseasons. The Southland Conference program lost to Kankakee 42-0 in Week 9.

Washington would host Crete-Monee but will travel east if Champaign Centennial (6-3) of the Big 12 Conference wins the first-round game.

Quarterfinals

Likely opponent: Oak Lawn Richards (7-2)

The third-seeded and unranked Bulldogs from the South Suburban Red are battle-tested, with six games against playoff teams. They would bring a nine-game win streak into a quarterfinal meeting.

Washington's defense is up to the task and has an offense versatile enough to advance to its first semifinal since 2017.

Washington head coach Darrell Crouch calls in a play as the Panthers battle Morton in a Week 9 football game Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 at Dozer Park in Peoria.
Washington head coach Darrell Crouch calls in a play as the Panthers battle Morton in a Week 9 football game Friday, Oct. 20, 2023 at Dozer Park in Peoria.

Semifinals

Likely opponent: East St. Louis (7-2) or Kankakee (9-0)

Washington will get a monumental test here no matter the matchup — and the survivor will be favored to win the title on Thanksgiving weekend in Normal.

ESL is ranked No. 1 statewide in 6A and ranked behind only Chicago Mount Carmel in the MaxPreps all-class rankings. ESL's losses are to Class 7A No. 1 Chicago Mount Carmel (36-33) and Humble (Texas) Atascocita, unbeaten and ranked No. 7 in Texas' largest class.

The Flyers have at least 10 players either signed or with Division-I offers, including commits in safety Leontre Bradford (Purdue), athlete Taylor Powell (Northern Illinois), receivers Jesse Watson (Purdue) and Rico Bond (Lindenwood), and defensive back Jaion Jackson (Central Michigan). Senior offensive lineman Aiden Taylor has an offer from Ball State, while another four juniors (Keylan LaGrant, Charles Bass, TaRyan Martin and Mekhi Mixon) are ranked by 247sports.com and have multiple D-I offers.

No. 2-ranked Kankakee beat Washington 7-3 in Week 2 — its lone touchdown on a kickoff return — so a rematch here would be filled with drama. The Kays have offensive tackle signee Marques Easley (Georgia), a former Peoria Manual player, and uncommitted running back Tony Phillips, who has multiple Division-I offers.

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Championship

Likely opponent: Lake Zurich (8-1) or Cary Grove (7-2)

If Washington is in this game on Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, it will be its first appearance in the championship game since the 1985 team won the 4A title back when the state had six classes.

No. 4-ranked Lake Zurich of the North Suburban Conference was a Class 7A semifinalist last season and its only loss this year was to 8A playoff team Gurnee Warren. No. 5 Cary Grove has two one-point losses, one to unbeaten Class 5A No. 1 Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge and to 8A No. 7 Huntley (8-1).

Journal Star-area playoff games

Here is the Peoria Journal Star-area schedule for the 2023 Illinois High School Association football playoffs, listed class-by-class and in bracket order.

Class 6A

First-round games

  • (9) Dunlap (6-3) at (8) Blue Island Eisenhower (6-3), 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27

  • (15) Danville (5-4) at (2) Washington (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27

Class 5A

First-round games

  • (12) Joliet Catholic (6-3) at (5) Peoria High (7-2), 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27

  • (15) New Lenox Providence (5-4) at (2) Morton (8-1), 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28

  • (11) Decatur MacArthur (6-3) at (6) Metamora (7-2), 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28

Class 4A

First-round game

  • (14) Peoria Notre Dame (5-4) at (3) Kewanee (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27

Class 3A

First-round games

  • (15) Paxton Buckley-Loda (5-4) at (2) Princeton (8-1), 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28

  • (10) Monmouth-Roseville (5-4) at (7) Poplar Grove North Boone (6-3), 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27

  • (11) Eureka (5-4) at (6) Lombard Montini (6-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27

  • (10) Litchfield Co-op (6-3) at (7) Stanford Olympia (7-2), 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28

Class 2A

First-round games

  • (13) El Paso Gridley (6-3) at (4) Downs Tri-Valley (9-0), 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28

  • (10) Knoxville (7-2) at (7) Momence (8-1), noon Saturday, Oct. 28

  • (11) Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin (7-2) at (6) Farmington (8-1), 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28

Class 1A

First-round games

  • (13) Deer Creek-Mackinaw (5-4) at (4) Annawan/Kewanee Wethersfield (8-1), 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at Wethersfield

  • (15) Princeville (5-4) at (2) Toulon Stark County (9-0), 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27

  • (10) Oneida ROWVA/Williamsfield (7-2) at (7) Sterling Newman (7-2), 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at Sterling High School

  • (14) Peru St. Bede (5-4) at (3) Chicago Hope Academy (8-1), 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 at Altged Park

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Washington football road to state championship goes through East St. Louis

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