Schools
Oak Lawn Spartans (7-2) Host St. Laurence Vikings (5-4) Friday In First IHSA Playoff Game
Oak Lawn Community High School's football team is making its first playoff appearance since 2009, Friday, Oct. 31, at Napleton Field.
OAK LAWN, IL — The last time Oak Lawn Community High School football fans saw their team in the Illinois High School Association Playoffs, Barack Obama was in his first term as President of the United States. The average cost for a gallon of gas was $2.15. The year was 2009.
While the presidency has changed hands a few times and gas prices have soared since then, 2025 is a whole new era in Oak Lawn. The Spartans have generated a buzz on busy 95th Street. Head Coach Ryan Pattison raised the level of expectations within the program, and Friday night, Spartan fans will have the thrill of seeing playoff football once again as Oak Lawn ended its playoff drought with a triumphant seven-win campaign.
The Spartans (7-2) will host St. Laurence (5-4) of the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference in the 6A playoffs at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. All students need to purchase a GoFan ticket for entry. Students do NoT have free entry to this event, and all high school students will still need to show their school ID along with a GoFan ticket for entry.
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Oak Lawn is averaging 33 points a game on offense and is looking to keep the scoring going Friday night. The Spartans opened the year with a 58-0 win over Wheeling and a 47-6 victory over Thornridge. They followed that up with a dramatic one-point, 28-27 win over Shepard and convincing wins over Bremen and Argo. They went on to finish out the year with two more wins and pair of losses.
Meanwhile, St. Laurence opened the year with three consecutive wins, beating King, Evanston, and Niles North Notre Dame. After a loss to Carmel of Mundelein, the Vikings beat Leo, lost to Fenwick and beat St. Patrick for their fifth win of the year. St. Laurence closed out the season with back-to-back losses to Brother Rice and Montini Catholic.
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So, the table is set for a feast of playoff football Friday night in Oak Lawn. To purchase tickets, visit GoFan.
~ This story was contributed by Brian Frangella, OLCHS Feature Writer / Photos by Vince Olejniczak, OLCHS Staff Photographer
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