Wheaton Warrenville South crushed Riverside-Brookfield 45-14 on Friday, Nov. 6, punching the Tigers' ticket to the Class 6A quarterfinals.

The sixth-seeded Tigers (8-3) traveled to third-seeded Riverside-Brookfield (9-2) and left no doubt, according to statewide scores compiled by the Peoria Journal Star. The 31-point margin was the most lopsided Class 6A result of Friday's second-round slate.

It is WWS's first trip to the quarterfinals since 2019, according to a Shaw Local preview published before the playoffs began.

Junior quarterback AJ Rogers entered the game having thrown for 2,570 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season, according to a Shaw Local second-round preview. Top target Blake Ittersagen had 49 catches for 739 yards and eight touchdowns heading into the matchup. The defense, led by linebacker Clark Jensen and lineman Zach Turner, had held Joliet Catholic scoreless for more than three quarters in the Tigers' 38-7 first-round win on Oct. 30.

Riverside-Brookfield came in riding nine consecutive victories after a season-opening loss to Sandburg. The Bulldogs had scored at least 38 points in seven of their 10 games, but the Shaw Local preview noted R-B likely had not faced a defense the caliber of WWS since that Week 1 loss.

The Tigers will travel to No. 2 Normal West (10-1) in the quarterfinals, Central Illinois Proud reported. The Wildcats beat Pekin 33-21 on Friday. Quarterfinal games are scheduled for Nov. 13-14, according to Sports Illustrated's bracket tracker. A specific date and time had not been set as of Saturday.

Two Wheaton teams still standing

WWS was not the only local squad to advance. Wheaton North stunned No. 2 Geneva 36-35 in a second-round thriller, as we reported Nov. 6. The Chicago Tribune reported the Falcons marched 80 yards in 12 plays to win the game after trailing with 1:23 left.

Both Wheaton teams are now in the Class 6A quarterfinals. Wheaton North's opponent will be the winner of Saturday's Fenwick-Hononegah game, according to Shaw Local's quarterfinal bracket.

The Class 6A state championship is set for 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University.