(2) Aledo Mercer County (11-0), (4) Amboy/LaMoille (9-2)
Class: 2A.
Gametime: 7 p.m. Saturday at The Harbor, AHS
BCR insider: This 2A quarterfinal is a matchup of two small school programs that know all about playoff success. The Clippers won one state championship with two runner-up finishes from 1979-84. Mercer County is the merger of the former Aledo and Joy Westmer districts, formed in 2009. AMC has reached the playoffs all four years with a combined 33-6 record, reaching the 2A quarterfinals a year ago. The former Aledo Dragons won three 2A state championships along with two runner-up finishes (1A/2A), qualifying for the playoffs in the previous 13 years leading into the consolidation. The Clippers will look to mount a similiar ground game it employed against Orion last week with 485 yards rushing, but it won't come as easy against a Golden Eagles' defense allowing just 6.5 points per game. AMC, the Lincoln Trail Conference champion, pitched five shutouts and gave up six points or less in seven of its 11 games thus far.
Stat sheet: Offense - AL 28.8; Orion 46.5. Defense - AL 14.8; AMC 6.5.
Playoff history: Appearances - AL 18; AMC 4. Consecutive - AL 1; AMC 4. Record: AL 26-16; AMC 6-3. Best finish: AL 2A state champs, 1984, 2A runners-up, 1979, 80; AMC 2A quarterfinals, 2011.