Hersey seems to have an excellent team. On the other hand, the only team to defeat St. Rita in the playoffs the last three years has been Mt. Carmel. Mt. Carmel won the 7A championship each of those three years. St. Rita has played a Mid-Suburban East team three times in the playoffs over the last four years. St. Rita won those three games by 35 points, 22 points and 17 points. The last time St. Rita played a Mid-Suburban East team this deep in the playoffs (or deeper), they beat Prospect 42-20 in the 2021 7A semifinals.
Three of St. Rita's four losses this year came against undefeated Mt. Carmel, one-loss Brother Rice, and one-loss Nazareth. The one loss that both Brother Rice and Nazareth experienced came against Mt. Carmel. However, it should be mentioned that none of St. Rita's three losses to those teams was a close game. The fourth loss was by seven points to St. Francis, which just beat previously unbeaten Prairie Ridge last week.
It should be an interesting game. Hersey might win, but I wouldn't bet money on that outcome.