L-W East Football Playoffs 2018: How, When Watch Game Vs. Loyola

WILMETTE, IL — Until last year's Class 8A state title game, Lincoln-Way East and Loyola Academy had never met on the football field. The Griffins were victorious in that matching, beating the Ramblers, 23-14, and capturing its first championship in 12 years.

In less than a year, the teams face off for a rematch. Although Saturday's game is still in the semifinal round, the stakes are almost as big as the 2017 meeting: The season ends for the loser, while the winner advances to Nov. 24 championship game in Champaign.

Here's what you need to know before the Class 8A IHSA semifinal round.

Lincoln-Way East (12-0) vs. Loyola Academy (9-3): The Basics

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17

Where: Loyola Academy, 1100 Laramie Ave., Wilmette

Weather: Snow, mainly before noon. High near 35, with a north wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent, and new snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches is possible.

Streaming: NFHS Network will live stream the game, but a subscription is needed to view it.

What's at Stake: Winner advances to the IHSA Class 8A state championship game to play the winner of Saturday's game between No. 1 Brother Rice (12-0) vs. No. 5 Marist (11-1)

Rankings and Seedings: L-W East is ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 25 in the country. The Griffins are seeded No. 2 in the Class 8A playoff bracket, behind only Brother Rice. Loyola Academy is ranked No.6 in the state and No. 185 in the country. The Ramblers a seeded at No. 19.

L-W East in the Postseason

Playoffs Since 2015: 11-2. The Griffins have made the postseason every year since debuting in 2001.

State Titles: 2005 and 2017. Runner-up in 2012.

RELATED: L-W East Wins 2017 State Football Title With Victory Over Loyola

How the Griffins Got Here: The Griffins haven't just been rolling past their postseason opponents, but the team hasn't lost a game since Nov. 12, 2016. In last weekend's quarterfinal game, Edwardsville did the one thing that no opponent had been able to do against L-W East in the playoffs: score points. But L-W East still dominated, winning a 50-14.

• No. 31 St. Charles East (5-4) 0, L-W EAST 49
• L-W EAST 45, No. 18 Glenbard West (8-2) 0
• No. 23 Edwardsville (8-3) 14, L-W EAST 50

L-W East Player to Watch: Outscoring teams 558-70, the Griffins' offense has received much of the spotlight this season. But that shouldn't take away from a defense that has shut out opponents in seven games. All-State senior lineman Dylan Shelton drives that stifling defense, which hhas kept running attacks in check.

Loyola Academy in the Postseason

Playoffs Since 2015: 16-2

State Titles: 1993 and 2015. Runners-up in 1992, 2011, 2013, 2016 and 2017.

How the Ramblers Got Here: As the 19th seed, the Ramblers have been underdogs throughout the playoffs. But the team has been up to the challenge. Loyola posted an impressive upset over Oswego, forcing four turnovers and holding the Panthers to just 27 rushing yards..

• No. 14 Minooka (7-2) 14, LOYOLA ACADEMY 38
• No. 3 Oswego (10-0) 0, LOYOLA ACADEMY 22
• LOYOLA ACADEMY 17, No. 6 Maine South (10-1) 0

Loyola Academy Players to Watch: The Ramblers have split their running game over two workhouse backs: senior Michael Gavric and junior Trevor Cabanban. Going into the Saturday's game, both backs were a yard shy of 1,000-yard mark for the season.

Images via high schools