2026 IHSA playoffs: Steve Soucie’s Class 1A playoff analysis and picks

Round of 16 matchupsHeyworth (11-0) vs. Fisher (8-2): Heyworth’s schedule was called into question in terms of its preparation for the 1A playoffs as a top seed. The Hornets immediately survived a scare by fending off a gritty Galena squad in its first playoff matchup. Fisher won its first playoff game since 2019 in the first round and it has been a remarkable turnaround for a Bunnies program that had won just three games over the last five years.Pick: HeyworthClifton Central (9-1) vs. Dwight (8-3): Conference partners for awhile, there’s a bit of a history between these two programs, most recently a 43-14 Dwight victory in the second round of last year’s Class 1A playoffs. Central has won nine consecutive games and played extremely well since its Week 1 loss, particularly in the playoffs, but the Dwight program has shown a panache for playing well in the playoffs, reaching the quarterfinals in each of the last two years.Pick: Clifton CentralStockton (9-1) vs. Forreston (8-2): All of a