Playoff Pigskin Picks | 2026 First-round IHSA football predictions

This week's IHSA football playoff predictions. Twelve games, eight predictions each. See who our guest analysts picked to win their first-round games tomorrow.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

TOLONO - Unity's Austin Wiersema celebrates his fumble recovery during his team's opening round playoff game against Robinson. The Rockets were picked unanimously by all eight analysts in this week's Sentinel Playoff Pigskin Picks. See detail below.

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#10 Villa Grove-Heritage (7-3) at #7 Salt Fork (7-2)

Frank	Salt Fork   28-7
KingsQueen	Villa Grove - Heritage   20-17
lg	Salt Fork   28-13
Cory	Salt Fork   28-21
SportsMom	Villa Grove - Heritage   28-14
Coltrane	Villa Grove - Heritage   35-34
DoubleJ	Salt Fork   34-28
The Sentinel	Villa Grove - Heritage   28-20

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#9 Oakwood (7-3) at #8 Greenfield-Northwestern (7-2)

Frank	Oakwood   35-14
KingsQueen	Oakwood   27-21
lg	Oakwood   35-21
Cory	Oakwood   34 28
SportsMom	Oakwood   35-31
Coltrane	Oakwood   48-27
DoubleJ	Oakwood   22-18
The Sentinel	Oakwood   35-28

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#9 Illini West (8-2) at #8 Peotone (7-2)

Frank	Peotone   45-25
KingsQueen	Peotone   27-24
lg	Peotone   41-21
Cory	Peotone   33 30
SportsMom	Peotone   21-14
Coltrane	Peotone   28-20
DoubleJ	Peotone   21-20
The Sentinel	Peotone   28-14

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#15 St. Teresa (5-5) at #2 Frankfort (8-1)

Frank	West Frankfort   35-21
KingsQueen	West Frankfort   44-21
lg	St. Teresa   21-14
Cory	West Frankfort   34 14
SportsMom	West Frankfort   48-10
Coltrane	St. Teresa   20-19
DoubleJ	West Frankfort   35-7
The Sentinel	St. Teresa   36-28

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#18 Prairie Central (5-5) at #2 Byron (9-0)

Frank	Byron   56-14
KingsQueen	Byron   56-7
lg	Byron   40-6
Cory	Byron   61-7
SportsMom	Byron   42-21
Coltrane	Byron   58-28
DoubleJ	Prairie Central   42-0
The Sentinel	Byron   42-28

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#10 Unity (8-2) at #7 Central Catholic (7-2)

Frank	Unity   35-28	.: I think Unity has been playing their best football the last few weeks.
KingsQueen	Unity   28-27
lg	Unity   42-36
Cory	Unity   35 32	.: I have a feeling it's going to be an absolute dogfight with the offense.
SportsMom	Unity   48-14
Coltrane	Unity   48-28	.: The Unity offense is playing almost perfect and Unity is the hottest team in the IPC, I think it’s close early but Unity wears down the saints.
DoubleJ	Unity   34-21
The Sentinel	Unity   34-28	.: If Hardin can deliver another week of brilliant running, Unity comes out on top in this knock-down-drag-em-out.

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#15 Althoff Catholic (7-3) at #2 St. Joseph-Ogden (9-0)

Frank	St. Joseph-Ogden   55-38
KingsQueen	St. Joseph-Ogden   54-23
lg	St. Joseph-Ogden   49-40
Cory	St. Joseph-Ogden   48- 17
SportsMom	Althoff Catholic   35-28
Coltrane	St. Joseph-Ogden   42-34	.: The SJO defense is suspect and Althoff is a tough team and gives SJO a fight.
DoubleJ	St. Joseph-Ogden   42-14
The Sentinel	St. Joseph-Ogden   54-36	.: Two talented running backs, a dual threat QB, and two speedy receivers ... SJO has too many offensive weapons.

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#9 Geneseo (7-3) at #8 Montini (7-2)

Frank	Montini   28-21
KingsQueen	Montini   21-14
lg	Montini   35-24
Cory	Montini   49 14
SportsMom	Montini   56-24
Coltrane	Montini   49-14
DoubleJ	Montini   34-7
The Sentinel	Montini   21-14

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#9 MacArthur (8-2) at #8 Mt. Zion (7-2)

Frank	Mt. Zion   35-21
KingsQueen	Mt. Zion   44-31
lg	Mt. Zion   14-7
Cory	MacArthur   34 32
SportsMom	MacArthur   28-7
Coltrane	Mt. Zion   42-28
DoubleJ	Mt. Zion   28-21
The Sentinel	MacArthur   28-20

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#11 Providence Catholic (7-3) at #6 Kankakee (7-2)

lg	Providence Catholic   35-21
Cory	Providence Catholic   21 7
SportsMom	Providence Catholic   40-14
Coltrane	Providence Catholic   35-20
DoubleJ	Kankakee   18-16
The Sentinel	Kankakee   36-31

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#20 Nazareth Academy (5-5) at #4 Dunlap (8-1)

Frank	Dunlap   45-28
KingsQueen	Dunlap   34-0
lg	Nazareth Academy   28-6
Cory	Dunlap   34 3
SportsMom	Dunlap   56-13
Coltrane	Nazareth Academy   34-22
DoubleJ	Dunlap   18-16
The Sentinel	Nazareth Academy   28-20

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#18 Moline (7-3) at #15 Glenbard West (6-3)

Frank	Moline   35-32
KingsQueen	Moline   27-24
lg	Glenbard West   14-0
Cory	Moline   49 35
SportsMom	Glenbard West   56-20
Coltrane	Moline   20-13
DoubleJ	Glenbard West   24-21
The Sentinel	Glenbard West   34-28

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Sentinel football playoff leaderboard

1. Frank (11-1)
2. Cory H - Steamers (10-2)
3. Cory (9-3)
4. DoubleJ (8-4)
5. Hillary (8-4)
6. The Sentinel (6-6)

Want to share your predictions and go head-to-head with the experts in our next poll? Visit OurSentinel.com on Monday for details for the Sentinel Second-Round Pigskin Challenge.

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TAGS:

Area IHSA football scores for October 16

Week 9 scores from the Illini Prairie Conference and other Champaign County high school football programs.

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Colton Shubert throws a pass during the Sages road game at Unity. Monticello defeated Paxton-Buckley-Loda decisively in tonight's Week 9 contest, 43-8.

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Illini Prairie Conference Scores

Monticello 43, Paxton-Buckley-Loda 8
Unity 68, Mt. Vernon 36
Illinois Valley Central 48, Rantoul 6
Bloomington Central Catholic 41, Prairie Central 30
St. Joseph-Ogden 47, Pontiac 16

Other area scores

Champaign Central 49, Centennial 21
Mahomet-Seymour 57, Bloomington 21
Sullivan 35, Villa Grove 28
Oakwood 41, Salt Fork 28
Milford 32, Galva 26
Danville 62, Urbana 7

Scores from around the state

Clifton Central 53, Iroquois West 53
Tri Valley 34, Warrensburg-Latham 0
Williamsville 14, Maroa-Forsyth 7
Highland Park 28, Niles West 12
Sandburg 35, Bradley-Bourbonnais 19
Lake Forest 28, Mundelein 24
New Trier 42, Evanston 28
Carterville 56, Ana-Jonesboro 6
Belleville East 41, Mascoutah 21
St. Ignatius 53, Providence Catholic 33
Moline 49, Galesburg 20
Sterling 49, Rock Island 7
IC Catholic 6, Joliet Catholic Academy 0
Paris 41, Casey-Westfield 13
Stevenson 48, Waukegan 6
Jerseyville 31, Granite City 0
Kankakee 45, Thornridge 0
Jacksonville 49, MacArthur 6
Homewood-Flossmoor 49, Andrew 7
Camp Point Centra 57, North Greene 0
Wethersfield 22, ROWVA 0
Newman Central Catholic 42, Mendota 8
Momence 21, Aurora Central Catholic 14
Peotone 59, Herscher 6
Erie 43, Hall 8
Stockton 28, Forreston 14
Reed-Custer 42, Lisle 18
Pana 71, Carlinville 27
Macomb 42, Elmwood 6
Heyworth 53, Tuscola 0
Peoria Notre Dame 72, Peoria 22
Brooks 43, Nobel UIC 6
Coal City 14, Wilmington 0

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Area soccer scores for September 21

Three of five area teams saw action on Monday, improving their season records with solid wins.

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Area prep soccer scores

Normal West 4, Rantoul 1
Normal University 4, Urbana U-High 0
Fisher 7, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin 0
St. Thomas More 4, Oakwood 3
Judah Christian 5, Olympia 2

Prep soccer results from around the state

Bloomington Central Catholic 1, Peoria Christian 0
Kankakee 3, Bloom 0
Beardstown 7, Macomb 2
Sullivan 2, Orr 1
Illinois Valley Central 2, Princeton 1
St. Teresa 3, Riverton 2
Williamsville 2, Carlinville 0
Hindsdale South 4, Willowbrook 2
Jerseyville 4, Wesclin 0
Rock Island 6, Quincy Notre Dame 1
Robinson 3, Sullivan 0

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More Sentinel soccer articles

Prep volleyball scores for Wednesday, September 9

Hadley McDonald led SJO with 15 digs in straight set win over Oakwood. Watseka, Providence Catholic and Kankakee improve season records with another victory.

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Area volleyball scores

• St. Joseph-Ogden 2, Oakwood 0
25-20, 25-23

Outside hitter Hadley McDonald led the Spartan defense with 15 digs, and Ava Alexander chipped in 12 more. Emerson Williams led the offense with five kills, while Addi Stevens and Vivian Smith added five each. Alivia Learnerd distributed 12 assists.

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• Blue Ridge 2, Urbana U-High 0

Other scores from around the state

• Kankakee 2, Joliet Central 1
16-25, 25-22, 15-12

Central's Lezleah Zacarias delivered seven kills, while teammates Cali Judd and Annalyse Vargo added five and four, respectively, in the three-set loss.

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• Providence 2, Andrew 0
25-13, 25-14

Providence freshman Brenna Garrigan notched seven kills after taking 14 swings in the road match in Tinley Park. Kennady Kotowski collected six more in the non-conference win. Olivia Healy led the team with seven digs and Garrigan had five of the team's 22 digs. Providence pounded the Thunderbolts from the service line with four aces each from junior Lilly Lipke and Juju Batshon.

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• Watseka 2, Clifton Central 1
25-11, 17-25, 25-23

• Pinckneyville 2, Gallation County 0
25-13, 25-4

• Momence 2, Iroquois West 0
25-18, 26-24

• Paris 2, Salt Fork 1
20-25, 29-27, 30-28

• Quincy Notre Dame 2, Rushville-Industry 0
25-19, 25-10

• Bradley-Bourbonnais 2, McNamara 1
12-25, 25-18, 25-9

• Pinckneyville 2, Hamilton County 0
25-11, 25-13

• Carterville 2, Marion 0
25-17, 25-12

• Streator 2, Dwight 0
25-18, 25-13

• Quincy 2, Geneseo 0
25-20, 25-21

• Pleasant Plains 2, Sacred Heart-Griffin 0
25-19, 25-16

• Loyola Academy 2, Evanston 0
25-19, 25-22

Hey, volleyball coaches ~

Keep your fans and community informed. Send The Sentinel your match scores and player stats to sports@oursentinel.com to be included in our volleyball scoreboard and recaps.

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More volleyball articles

Notebook | SJO golf second at quad meet, Hoeing scores first goal for Unity

Quick notes and scores from area high school volleyball, golf, and soccer matches.

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Volleyball

Prairie Central's Miranda Hari collected ten kills in the Hawks 2-0 win over Herscher on Thursday. Mia Elliot had two blocks and eight service points. Cadyn Pride added seven service points of her own in the 25-13, 25-22 non-conference win.

Other volleyball scores ~

St. Joseph-Ogden 2, Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin 0
25-15, 25-22

Cerro Gordo 2, Urbana University 0
25-16, 25-19

Westville 2, Kansas 0
25-20, 25-14

Paxton-Buckley-Loda 2, Urbana 0
25-19, 25-22

Armstrong 2, Rantoul 1
25-10, 25-15, 25-12

Heyworth 2, Oakwood 0
25-14, 25-18

Soccer

Joel Hoeing scored an unassisted goal in Unity's non-conference game against Olympia. The junior's effort wasn't enough to hold off the Spartans in the 5-1 loss. Dropping to 0-3, the Rockets take the pitch at home on September 1 against Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond.

Other soccer scores ~

St. Thomas Moore 4, Effingham 1

Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin 9, Schlarman 0

Arthur-Lovington-Atwood-Hammond 3, Robinson 2

Monticello 10, MacArthur 3

Hoopeston Area 9, Gerogetown-Ridge Farm 1

Oakwood 7, Watseka 0

Teutopolis 2, St. Thomas More 0

Golf

The St. Joseph-Ogden golf team finished second in a quad meet with Hoopeston Area, Armstrong-Potomac, and Fisher at Willow Pond Golf Course in Rantoul. Garrett Loschen led the Spartans, shooting a 42, and Finn Miller finished with 43 strokes. The Cornjerkers took the title behind Eizen Pyle's match-best 37 and Felix Cantu's 39.

Hoggard, Henry and Huchel to represent area in Illinois Shrine Game

Three area football standouts will represent their schools and communities in the 52nd Annual Illinois High School Shrine Game, a statewide all-star event benefiting Shriners Children's hospitals.

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Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Wide receiver Tre Hoggard tries to shed a Central Catholic tackler while carrying the ball during last fall's regular season conference game. Hoggard was one of the Rockets' key threats on both offense and defense.

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by Sentinel News Service
OurSentinel.com

BLOOMINGTON - Three area football standouts will take the field one final time as high school athletes later this month when they participate in the 52nd Annual Illinois High School Shrine Game at Illinois Wesleyan University.

Unity wide receiver Tre Hoggard, Villa Grove defensive back Aidan Henry and Oakwood defensive back Tyler Huchel have been selected to represent the area in one of Illinois' most respected all-star football traditions. All three players will suit up for the Red Team in the game scheduled for Saturday, June 20, at Tucci Stadium in Bloomington.

Kickoff is set for 11 a.m., with pregame festivities beginning an hour earlier.

The annual Shrine Game brings together many of the state's top graduating football players while raising funds and awareness for Shriners Children's hospitals in Chicago and St. Louis. This year's roster includes 97 standout athletes from across Illinois.

For the players, the event offers one last opportunity to compete alongside and against some of the state's best talent while representing their schools and communities. For organizers, the game remains focused on a mission that extends well beyond the football field.

The Illinois High School Shrine Game serves as a fundraiser for Shriners Children's, a network of hospitals and outpatient facilities that provides specialized pediatric care regardless of a family's ability to pay or insurance status. The healthcare system treats children facing orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, cleft lip and palate, and other complex medical needs.

Last year's game generated nearly $16,000, with every dollar directed toward patient care programs.

"The mission of the Illinois High School Shrine Game is to provide a memorable experience for players, families, Shriners and Shrine Kids while raising awareness and support for the life-changing care provided by Shriners Children's," organizers said.

The event has become one of Illinois high school football's longest-running traditions. Now entering its 52nd year, the game is jointly presented by the Illinois Coaches Association and the Shriners of Illinois.

This year's banquet speaker will be veteran coach Barry Creviston, who recently completed his 33rd season on the sidelines. Throughout his coaching career, Creviston had the opportunity to coach alongside three of his sons, all of whom participated in the Illinois High School Shrine Game.

Fans wishing to attend can purchase tickets for $12 at the gate. Complete team rosters and additional event information are available through the Illinois High School Shrine Game website.

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TAGS: Illinois High School Shrine Game 2026 roster, Tre Hoggard Unity football Shrine Game, Aidan Henry Villa Grove all-star football, Tyler Huchel Oakwood football Shrine Game, Illinois football all-star game benefiting Shriners Children's

Ackerman, Ploense and Wells advance out Catlin sectional to state

Three local athletes earned trips to the IHSA Girls Track and Field State Finals during sectional competition Wednesday night in Catlin. Oakwood’s Taylor Wells qualified in two events, while Armstrong’s Ashlyn Ackerman and Heritage’s Bre Ploense also advanced.

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CATLIN - Three area athletes extended their seasons Wednesday night at the IHSA Class 1A Catlin Sectional, earning trips to the IHSA Girls Track & Field State Finals scheduled for Thursday in Charleston.

Armstrong senior Ashlyn Ackerman advanced in the high jump, while Heritage junior Bre Ploense and Oakwood sophomore Taylor Wells each qualified in running events during competition hosted by Salt Fork.

Oakwood finished tied for 10th place in the team standings with Armstrong and Georgetown-Ridge Farm-Chrisman at 24 points. Heritage placed 13th with 18 points.

Bismarck-Henning captured the sectional championship with 118 points. Paxton-Buckley-Loda finished second at 72 points, while Clifton Central took third with 71.

Ackerman secured her return to state competition in the high jump, continuing her senior campaign for Armstrong.

Ploense punched her ticket to Charleston after placing third in the 200-meter dash with a qualifying time of 26.83 seconds. The Heritage sprinter will look to advance into next Saturday’s championship finals.

Wells qualified for state in two events for Oakwood. She earned an automatic berth in the 800-meter run after finishing second in 2 minutes, 24.38 seconds. Wells later added another state qualification by taking third in the 1,600-meter run to secure a second appearance in Thursday’s preliminary races.

The IHSA Girls Track & Field State Finals begin Thursday at Eastern Illinois University.

Here is a list of area athletes and their results, competing at the Catlin Sectional.

100M Dash
4. Bre Ploense, Heritage - 13.13
8. Leanne Snow, Oakwood - 13.46
14. Evie Johnson, Oakwood - 13.94
21. Laurilei Pierce, Salt Fork - 14.72
22. Willa Tatman, Heritage - 14.89

200M Dash
2. Brycie Hird, Salt Fork - 26.47
3. Bre Ploense, Heritage - 26.83
15. Leanne Snow, Oakwood - 28.95

21. Sloan Hoyt, Oakwood - 30.89
25. Aleyah Carley, Armstrong - 33.61

400M Run
11. Olivia Cravens, Oakwood - 1:08.46
14. Cala Reifsteck, Armstrong - 1:09.62
24. Willa Tatman, Heritage - 1:14.93
26. Kimber Sands, Heritage - 1:17.95

800M Run
2. Taylor Wells, Oakwood - 2:24.38
13. Emily Lancaster, Oakwood - 2:50.75
17. Aubrey Self, Armstrong - 2:58.80
19. Kimber Sands, Heritage - 3:17.87
24. Miley Pierce, Salt Fork - 3:50.37

1600M Run
3. Taylor Wells, Oakwood - 5:27.75
9. Amber Betzwiser, Oakwood - 6:24.40
11. ra Jones, Heritage - 6:33.08
12. Addyson Tholl, Armstrong - 6:33.33
13. Kayla Wernigk, Armstrong - 6:34.87

3200M Run
4. Addyson Tholl, Armstrong - 13:37.11
6. Emily Lancaster, Oakwood - 13:41.04
7. Amber Betzwiser, Oakwood - 13:42.85
8. Kayla Wernigk, Armstrong - 13:55.21
10. Kira Jones, Heritage - 14:55.15

100M Hurdles
16. Aleyah Carley, Armstrong - 20.63

300M Hurdles
14. Aleyah Carley, Armstrong - 1:03.14

4x100 RELAY
8. Oakwood - 57.71
(Evie Johnson, Kenzie Marcotte, Sloan Hoyt, Leanne Snow)

4x200 RELAY
6. Oakwood - 2:01.04
(Evie Johnson, Kenzie Marcotte, Sloan Hoyt, Leanne Snow)

4x400 RELAY
10. Armstrong - 5:33.70
(Aubrey Self, Kayla Wernigk, Cala Reifsteck, Addyson Tholl)

4x800 RELAY
4. Armstrong - 11:32.85
(Aubrey Self, Kayla Wernigk, Cala Reifsteck, Addyson Tholl)

5. Heritage - 12:33.95
(Kimber Sands, Kiara Jones, Willa Tatman, Reaghan Stierwalt)

SHOT PUT
6. Kalyn Miller, Heritage - 10.24
18. Mady Nicoson, Oakwood - 8.48
19. Emma Koontz, Oakwood - 8.42
20. Adisyn McCarty, Armstrong - 8.28
24. Erika Bonilla, Heritage - 6.89

DISCUS
6. Adisyn McCarty, Armstrong - 29.71
8. Aleyah Carley, Armstrong - 29.31
11. Mady Nicoson, Oakwood - 26.76
17. Kalyn Miller, Heritage - 24.21
27. Erika Bonilla, Heritage - 20.40

HIGH JUMP
3. Ashlyn Ackerman, Armstrong - 1.52
7. Chesney Franzen, Armstrong - 1.37
10. Sloan Hoyt, Oakwood - J 1.37
11. Kenzie Marcotte, Oakwood - 1.32

LONG JUMP
14. Chesney Franzen, Armstrong - 4.05
14. Willa Tatman, Heritage - 4.05

TRIPLE JUMP
7. Chesney Franzen, Armstrong - 9.17

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TAGS: IHSA Class 1A Catlin Sectional results, area athletes qualify for state track, Oakwood Taylor Wells state finals, Heritage Bre Ploense track results, Armstrong Ashlyn Ackerman high jump

Photo Gallery | Unity softball team defeats Oakwood at home

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

TOLONO - Danika Eisenmenger gives Shelby Smith a high-five before the start of the third inning in the Rockets' home game against Oakwood. Eisenmenger earned the win, helping Unity defeat the Comets 9-0. She finished game 1-for-2 at bat with two RBI. Here are more photos from last weeks game at Unity High School.

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