Update with game time: The Mt. Carmel Golden Aces (8-1) will host the Monticello Sages (5-4) at Riverview Stadium on Saturday, October 29th at 2:30pm. The gates will open at 1:00pm.

The Mt. Carmel Golden Aces will play host to the Monticello Sages in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs. Tonight, the Illinois High School Association released the brackets for the upcoming playoff series.

Friday night’s double overtime loss to Mt. Vernon was a costly one for the Aces. A victory would have given Mt. Carmel a #2 seed in the bottom half of the 32-team bracket. Instead, the Aces fell to a five seed and will face the 5-4 Sages out of the Illini Prairie Conference. They come into the playoffs on a two game losing streak falling 48-13 to #1 Prarie Central in Week 8 and 28-0 last night Tolono (Unity).

If Mt. Carmel beats Monticello, they’ll play at the winner of the Harrisburg (13th seed)-Tolono (Unity) (4th seed) game. After that, a quarterfinal game against Prairie Central looms. Semifinal possible opponents could include #2 seed Benton and #3 seed Williamsville.

Other teams of area interest:

In Class 1A, the Red Hill Salukis will host Salt Fork.  

In Class 2A, Carmi gets a home game against Auburn; Fairfield goes to North Mac; and Flora travels to undefeated Johnston City.

In Class 3A, #10 seed Robinson will travel to #7 seed St. Joseph-Ogden.

Class 3A First Round

Game 1 — #16 Peotone (5-4) at #1 Princeton (9-0), TBA

Game 2 — #9 Elmwood [E.-Brimfield Coop] (6-3) at #8 Genoa (Kingston) (7-2), TBA

Game 3 — #13 Chicago (King) (5-4) at #4 Elmhurst (IC Catholic) (8-1), TBA

Game 4 — #12 Monmouth (Roseville) (5-4) at #5 Stillman Valley (8-1), TBA

Game 5 — #15 Chicago (Carver) (5-3) at #2 Braidwood (Reed-Custer) (9-0), TBA

Game 6 — #10 Chicago (Catalyst/Maria) (6-3) at #7 Pecatonica [Du-Pec Coop] (7-2), TBA

Game 7 — #14 Winnebago (5-4) at #3 Seneca (9-0), TBA

Game 8 — #11 Lisle (Sr.) (5-4) at #6 Byron (8-1), TBA

Game 9 — #16 Paxton (Buckley-Loda) (5-4) at #1 Fairbury (Prairie Central) (9-0), TBA

Game 10 — #9 Roxana (6-3) at #8 Hillsboro (6-3), TBA

Game 11 — #13 Harrisburg (5-4) at #4 Tolono (Unity) (8-1), TBA

Game 12 — #12 Monticello (5-4) at #5 Mt. Carmel (8-1), TBA

Game 13 — #15 Stanford (Olympia) (5-4) at #2 Benton (8-1), TBA

Game 14 — #10 Robinson (6-3) at #7 St. Joseph (Ogden) (6-3), TBA

Game 15 — #14 Carlinville (5-4) at #3 Williamsville (8-1), TBA

Game 16 — #11 Beardstown (5-4) at #6 Eureka (7-2), TBA