2026 IHSA playoffs: Steve Soucie’s Class 2A playoff analysis and picks

Quarterfinal matchupsPeotone (9-2) vs. Wilmington (10-1): Conference rivals for many years and separated by just 20 miles, it is a series that has been dominated by the Wildcats for the better part of the last 30 years including a 48-8 win by Wilmington in Week 3. Peotone has beaten Wilmington just twice in the 2000’s with wins in 2001 and 2018.Pick: WilmingtonEl Paso-Gridley (11-0): vs. Aurora Christian (10-1): El Paso-Gridley hasn’t been remotely pushed all season with just two teams finishing within three touchdowns of them (Stockton and Tri-Valley), but this Aurora Christian team might present an interesting challenge. The Eagles can post some points and might be one of the few teams capable of engaging with the Titans in a point trading event.Pick: El Paso-GridleyJohnston City (11-0) vs. Nashville (9-2): Johnston City continues to put opposing offenses under extreme pressure to get things done as the Indians have allowed more than two touchdowns to the opposition just once (Flora,