High School Football: Woodstock Streaks Extend Playoff Drought

Woodstock High School football players used a mandatory bye week to shake off a humiliating regular-season finale and return to the field with fresh legs.

The Blue Streaks arrived at the Class 5A playoffs after falling 49-0 to Richmond-Burton in Week 9. That defeat snapped a three-game winning streak and ended the team's regular season with a 7-1 record. The loss cost Woodstock a chance at the Kishwaukee River Conference title, leaving them with a No. 7 seed.

Coach Mike Brasile said the extra week allowed his squad to focus on fundamentals rather than preparing for a specific opponent. Many players returned from the break fully healed. "We were able to ramp up the intensity at practice. The kids responded to that," Brasile stated.

Saturday night at Larry Dale Field, Woodstock capitalized on that recovery. The Streaks defeated No. 23 Prairie Ridge 35-7, ending the Wolves' three-game winning streak. The victory marked Woodstock's first playoff win in 17 years. The last time the program advanced past the first round was in 2009.

Quarterback Cash White led the offense with a balanced performance. He threw two touchdown passes and ran for two scores, completing 6 of 8 passes for 119 yards. His 65-yard strike to running back Nick Morrow in the first half set the tone. Morrow finished with 137 rushing yards. The defense, led by linebacker Jaxon Hansen, held Prairie Ridge scoreless until the fourth quarter. Hansen recorded two tackles for loss.

Hansen credited the bye week for allowing the team to refine their approach. "We rose up to the occasion tonight because we could work on what we needed to do," Hansen said. The win was only the second time a Kishwaukee River Conference team has beaten a Fox Valley Conference opponent since the KRC formed in 2016. The previous occurrence was in 2017.

Woodstock (8-2) travels next to face No. 18 Wheaton St. Francis at 1 p.m. Saturday. The host team, which is 6-5, upset No. 2 Kaneland in the first round.

Other McHenry County teams also benefited from the extended preparation time. Huntley (10-0) used the break for rest and rehab, defeating Oswego East 48-17 in the Class 8A first round. Huntley hosts No. 18 Lane (8-3) at 7 p.m. Friday. Meanwhile, Marian Central (4-7) lost to Johnsburg 27-0 in Class 3A, though the program celebrated its first playoff appearance since 2017.