ROCHELLE — Back-to-back victories over Chicago Catholic League schools have enabled the Rochelle Hub varsity football team to reach the second round of the IHSA playoffs for the third time in four seasons. After a dominant 42-7 win over Marmion at RTHS last week, Rochelle will return to its home field on Friday and seek out a third consecutive victory over a CCL school.

The Hubs (9-1, 4-1 Interstate 8) owned the Cadets in all three phases during last week’s first-round matchup, totaling over 400 yards on offense while holding Marmion scoreless over three quarters and recovering two short kickoffs on special teams. Senior quarterback Carson Lewis threw three touchdown passes, while junior fullback Roman Villalobos eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards on the season. The Hub defense recorded three sacks and three pass breakups.

“One of the things I admire about this group of kids is how competitive they are,” head coach Kyle Kissack said. “We encourage our kids to compete with each other to see who will be the guys to have an explosive play on offense, create a turnover on defense or make a momentum changing play on special teams. Our kids have really embraced that message this year… Our group has embraced the idea that, no matter what your role is, you have a role on this team.”

Rochelle has won each of its last six games and will attempt to extend that streak to seven on Friday at 7 p.m., when the No. 2 seeded Hubs welcome in the No. 7 seeded Benet Academy Redwings in the second round of the 5A playoffs. Benet Academy (7-3, 3-0 CCL/ESCC Purple) cruised over Chicago Perspectives/Leadership 48-0 in its first-round matchup last week. The Redwings won the CCL/ESCC Purple, which includes Saint Viator, St. Patrick and DePaul College Prep.

“We’re facing another quality opponent from a really strong league,” Kissack said. “They’re challenged week in and week out and they’ve been able to survive those challenges and find success. Their players at the skill positions are really dynamic, explosive and dangerous. They pair that with an ability to have size and physicality up front on both offense and defense.”

The Redwings, who are in the playoffs for the first time since 2019, are averaging 29.3 points per game this season. Among the standout athletes for Benet Academy are St. Thomas recruit Declan Walsh (OT/DE) and Butler University recruit Joe Rodi (DE/TE), who are two of the seven Redwings who received All-CCL/ESCC honors this season. Senior quarterback Ryan Kubacki and wide receivers Luke Doyle and Luke Wildes are the players to watch on offense.

“Our kids have embraced how we’ve built our program through offensive and defensive line play,” Kissack said. “It will be a challenge for those kids, but I don’t think the moment is lost on them in terms of the types of personnel we’ll see moving forward. We’re going to have to play well up front, offensively and defensively, and I think our kids will be ready for that challenge.”

The Hubs are seeking their second trip to the state quarterfinals in the last three seasons. A win on Friday would also be the 10th this season for the Hubs, who have not had a 10-win season since 2003. The winner of the second-round matchup between Rochelle and Benet Academy will face No. 3 seed Nazareth Academy or No. 6 seed Woodstock North in the quarterfinals.

“We know they’re going to bring it and our kids will have to rise to the challenge,” Kissack said. “They understand what’s at stake and the road that lies ahead of them…We have such a healthy football community in Rochelle and the support from our community for our program is something our kids genuinely appreciate. We’re very fortunate to be in a strong football community and being able to play at home certainly injects confidence in our kids.”