Playoff Qualifers (Pictured: Duane Bennett, Andy Waddel, 1986 Team Member, Rodney Byrd, Antoine Esters, Kareem Vaughn, Tommy Bonner, Junior Adams, and Dan Moore)


IHSA State Playoff "Sweet 16" Qualifiers
1987 • (9-3 Record, 6-1 Conference Record)

Coach: Gary Bridell

Conference: Mississippi Valley

Team Captains: N/A

2nd time to the playoffs and the Panthers win 2 games reaching the "Elite 8" in Class 5A (6A was the highest class in IHSA).  Lost to #1 ranked Peoria Richwoods, who lost to Joliet Catholic 14-13 in the State Championship.

Results: OTHS 27, Marion 13
OTHS 34, Decatur MacArthur 13
Peoria Richwoods 28, OTHS 7

1989 • (10-2 Record, 5-1 Conference Record)

Coach: Gary Bridell

Conference: Mississippi Valley

Team Captains: Antione Esters, Chris Weakley, Jeff Ross

4th straight playoff appearance. 2nd trip to the "Elite 8" in 3 years.  Lost both games to eventual State Semi-Finalists (Highland and Peoria Richwoods).  At the time, this team set the record for most wins in a season (2004 team won 11).

Results:
OTHS 15, Cahokia 3
OTHS 25, Decatur MacArthur 0
Peoria Richwoods 21, OTHS 0

1990 • (8-3 Record, 4-2 Conference Record)

Coach: Gary Bridell

Conference: Mississippi Valley

Team Captains: Loren Buckner, Jarod Leffler, Mike Goodin

5th consecutive trip to the postseason. 3rd time reaching the 2nd round in 4 years.  Lost to Semi-Finalists and number 1 ranked Bloomington.

Results:
OTHS 14, Edwardsville 12
Bloomington 15, OTHS 0

2003 • (8-3 Record, 5-2 Conference Record)

Coach: Todd Moeller

Conference: Southwestern

Team Captains: Kevin Duncan, Kevin Kombrink, Dan Moore

The Panthers earn just their fourth trip past the first round of the playoffs as they knock off conference rival Edwardsville before losing to another rival in East St. Louis.

Results:
OTHS 21, Edwardsville 14
East St. Louis 45, OTHS 3

2004 • (11-1 Record, 7-0 Conference Record)

Coach: Todd Moeller

Conference: Southwestern

Team Captains:  Dan Moore, Troy Wagner, Kris Kombrink, Ben Larimer, Scott Manning

This team is the 3rd team to reach the "Elite 8" in OTHS history.  Losing to Chicago Morgan Park.  Best overall record in OTHS history.  4 Division I-A players, 2 Division I-AA players.

Results:
OTHS 21, Alton 19
OTHS 38, Darien (Hindsdale South) 13
Morgan Park 40, OTHS 14

2009 • (8-4 Record, 5-2 Conference Record)

Coach: Brandon Joggerst

Conference: Southwestern

Team Captains:  N/A

This team is the 6th team to reach the 2nd Round in the IHSA Playoffs. Possessed a stingy defense posting just the 2nd playoff shutout in school history (1989 vs Decatur MacArthur the other).  1 Division I-A recruit (De'Ron Flood - Purdue).

Results:
OTHS 16, Lincoln-Way Central (New Lenox) 0
OTHS 17, Lincoln-Way East 16
East St. Louis 27, OTHS 14