Who’s still standing in the NIC-10

The field of five NIC-10 teams in the IHSA playoffs was reduced to two Friday and Saturday.

Hononegah, the No. 1 seed in the 7A playoffs, lived up to its seed by beating Harlem 42-21 in Rockton. The Indians will play Lisle Benet Academy, the 17 seed in the second round.

Belvidere North turned the tables on Auburn, winning 20-7 Friday, a 14 seed ousting a 3 seed. Auburn had beaten North, 15-8, in week four. The Blue Thunder take on Grayslake North, an 11 seed in round two.

Rockford East made the playoffs for the fifth time in school history and for the first time the E-Rabs were ousted in the first round, falling to Lincoln-Way Central.

While football generates the most attention in the fall, several other sports are wrapping us as well.

SOCCER

Freeport is one win away from state in Class 2A after beating Lake Villa Lakes, 2-1, Friday on penalty kicks. The Pretzels (15-6-3) finished fourth in the NIC-10 at 5-4 but have knocked off Harvard (in penalty kicks), Belvidere North, Arlington Heights St. Viator and now Lakes.

The Pretzels take on Chicago St. Patrick at 5 p.m. on Halloween at St. Charles North.

VOLLEYBALL

Hononegah tied for second in the NIC-10 with Guilford, one game behind Belvidere North. The Indians though got revenge on both schools this past week in the Rockford East 4A regionals.

Hononegah topped the Vikings, 25-22, 25-20, in the regional semifinals and then ousted the Blue Thunder, 25-19, 26-24, in the regional championship.

The Indians play St. Charles North Monday night in DeKalb in the first game of the IHSA 4A sectional.

CROSS COUNTRY

Ten NIC-10 cross country runners advanced to next's IHSA finals.

Only Belvidere North's Alec Scott survived among the boys, qualifying as an individual in the Class 2A Maple Park Kaneland sectional.

Belvidere North's powerhouse girls team won its Kaneland sectional. That means Madison Diercks, Gianna Sagona, Sabrina Elder, Sydnie Elder, Mia Rodriguez, Kayla McGuire and Olivia Zaluckyj all will be running next week.

In 3A, Hononegah's Taylor Frommer and Lauren Johnston advanced as individuals in the Aurora Waubonsie Valley sectional.