The first round of the Class 8A football playoffs was a high-scoring affair when No. 3-seeded host Maine South Maine South faced No. 30 Downers Grove South Friday night.

The perennial power Hawks held a one-score lead after one quarter before taking a commanding 22-point lead into halftime as senior running back Niko Kokosioulis scored four of his five touchdowns in the first half.

Maine South wound up rolling to a 56-20 victory, and it will play at No. 19 Hinsdale Central (a 45-15 winner over No. 14 South Elgin) next Saturday in the second round.

The Hawks (9-1) took a 7-0 lead 3:01 into the game on a 1-yard TD run by Kokosioulis (152 yards on 21 rushes) and the extra point by Kaden Hamdan.

The Mustangs (5-5) responded strongly on their first drive as they marched 86 yards on 11

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