Two central Illinois high schools with limited success in football are in the postseason for the first time together in each school's history.

Lincoln High School football dates back to the fall of 1899 while Clinton High School football dates back to the fall of 1911. In the history of the two central Illinois communities with deep ties to Abe Lincoln, the two schools have never made the football playoffs in the same season - ever.

The Maroons have eight playoff appearances to Lincoln's two. Lincoln Coach Matt Silkowsi says it's been a heck of a season for his football team.

According to Clinton football Coach Ron Bass, he felt his team was a playoff team coming into the year and to be 6-3 is about where they thought they'd be.

Coach Silkowski has two incredibly dynamic tailbacks that have been record-setters for his Railsplitters but he notes, they have a terrific offensive line to run behind.

For Coach Bass, he feels his Maroons are on the right trajectory in his third year having made the playoffs.

The Railsplitters had to take advantage of the early schedule and Coach Silkowski felt his team knew they had a path to the playoffs.

Coach Bass calls his Maroons a very tight-knit group with eight sets of brothers on his roster this year, he feels this is a group that plays for each other.

Lincoln will travel to undefeated Rochester for its first playoff appearance since 1984. 

Clinton travels to 8-1 Sullivan for its first playoff game since 2019. Game time is 1:30 pm Saturday in Sullivan. Hear all the action on WHOW and all its WHOW platforms.