Top 25 Illinois high school football rankings (9/27/2023)

Loyola Academy at St. Rita highlights Week 6 schedule

Glenbard South moved into the Top 10 after scoring 63 points last week, while unbeaten Geneva and Morris both enter this week's SBLive Illinois Power 25 rankings. 

SBLive Illinois Power 25 high school football rankings

• PREVIOUS RANKINGS: PRESEASON | AUG. 30 | SEPT. 7 | SEPT. 14 | SEPT. 20 

September 27, 2023

Top 25 Illinois high school football rankings

1. Lincoln-Way East (5-0)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. Andrew 45-7

Lincoln-Way East had another convincing effort at Andrew on Friday. Senior running back Nuri Muhammad led the Griffins with a breakout performance of 183 rushing yards and five touchdowns. After surrendering a first quarter touchdown, the Griffins' defense shut out Andrew the rest of the way.

Next game: at Lockport (3-2), Sept. 29

2. Mount Carmel (5-0)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Def. Carmel 37-16

The Caravan defeated a stubborn Carmel team behind a strong performance by Darrion Dupree. The Wisconsin commit rushed 14 times for 114 yards and four touchdowns. After building a 14-10 halftime lead, Mount Carmel’s defense was stingy the rest of the way.

Next game: at No. 16 Brother Rice (3-2), Sept. 29

3. Loyola Academy (5-0)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Def. St. Patrick 38-0

Loyola cruised to a 38-point victory over ESCC/CCL crossover opponent St. Patrick on Saturday. Junior quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald led the Ramblers offense with three touchdown passes and the defense had the Shamrocks number as they pitched a shutout.

Next game: at No. 8 St. Rita (4-1), Sept. 29

4. IC Catholic Prep (5-0)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Def. Marist 28-21

IC Catholic proved that it can play with anyone in the state as last year's 3A state champion took down their 8A opponent in Marist, 28-21. Dennis Mandala led the offense with 262 yards passing and three touchdowns. 

Next game: at St. Francis (3-2), Sept. 29

5. East St. Louis (3-2)

Previous rank: 5 Last week: Def. O’Fallon 54-10

After falling behind 10-7 in the first quarter, East St. Louis was dialed in the rest of the way as the Flyers erupted for 47 unanswered points. Senior quarterback Robert Battle led the way with three touchdown passes and another touchdown on the ground. Junior defensive back Charles Bass led the defense with 15 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery.

Next game: at Belleville West (2-3), Sept. 30

6. Hersey (5-0)

Previous rank: 6 Last week: Def. Buffalo Grove 35-0

Hersey pitched a shutout in its win against Mid-Suburban East rival Buffalo Grove on Friday. Senior running back Nasir McKenzie was a workhorse for the Huskie offense with 234 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Next game: vs. Prospect (4-1), Sept. 29

7. York (5-0)

Previous rank: 7 Last week: Def. Hinsdale Central 38-10

The Dukes' offense could not be stopped during their West Suburban-Silver Conference matchup with Oak Park-River Forest. York used a balanced attack as quarterback Sean Winton finished the game with three touchdown passes and running back Jake Melion rushed for 156 yards and two scores.

Next game: at No. 11 Downers Grove North (5-0), Sept. 29

8. St. Rita (4-1)

Previous rank: 8 Last week: Def. Marmion 42-0

St. Rita was dominant throughout the first half of football and got the clock running with a 42-0 lead going into the break. The Mustangs used a balanced offensive attack with quarterback Jett Hilding throwing for 111 yards and two scores in the first half and DJ Stewart rushing for 114 yards and two TDs.

Next game: vs. No. 3 Loyola Academy (5-0), Sept. 29

9. Kankakee (5-0)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Def. Thornwood 54-0

Kankakee put on a scoring display against Southland Conference rival Thornwood on Friday. Senior running back Tony Phillips ran for 53 yards and three touchdowns in the first half to lead the Kays and Thornwood could not move the ball against a stout Kankakee defense.

Next game: at Rich Township (3-2), Sept. 29

10. Glenbard South (5-0)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Def. Bartlett 63-21

Glenbard South has had one of the best offensive units in the state so far this season and the Raiders kept their momentum going with a 63-point outburst against Upstate Eight rival Bartlett. Senior quarterback Michael Champagne tossed three touchdown passes and rushed for another two scores.

Next game: at South Elgin (5-0), Sept. 29

11. Downers Grove North (5-0)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. Oak Park-River Forest 38-6

Downers Grove North kept its win streak alive with a 38-6 West-Suburban Silver Conference victory over Oak Park-River Forest on Friday. The Trojan defense held the Huskies in check until allowing their only score in the fourth quarter.

Next game: vs. No. 7 York (5-0), Sept. 29

12. Batavia (4-1)

Previous rank: 13 Last week: Def. Wheaton North 23-17

The Bulldogs escaped with a victory over talented DuKane Conference rival Wheaton North on Friday. Ryan Boe and Charlie Whelpley led the Batavia offense. Boe threw for 200 yards and added a rushing touchdown and Whelpley rushed for 103 yards and a TD.

Next game: at No. 23 Geneva (5-0), Sept. 29

13. Barrington (5-0)

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Def. Fremd 13-7

The Broncos grinded out a tough victory over Mid-Suburban West opponent Fremd on Saturday. Running back Dillon Fitzpatrick carried Barrington’s offense with 219 yards on 35 carries and scored both of his team's touchdowns.

Next game: at Schaumburg (2-3), Sept. 29

14. Sycamore (5-0)

Previous rank: 16 Last week: Def. Rochelle 21-6

Sycamore remains undefeated after a hard fought 21-6 victory over non-conference opponent Rochelle on Friday. After a scoreless first quarter, Sycamore put up 14 second quarter points which proved to be the difference. The Spartan defense held Rochelle scoreless until the fourth quarter.

Next game: vs. Kaneland (3-2), Sept. 29

15. Joliet Catholic (3-2)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Lost 33-28 to St. Francis (Wheaton)

The Hilltoppers took a two-touchdown lead in the second quarter against St. Francis on Friday but could not hold on for the victory. Senior running back HJ Grigsby had a strong performance with 169 yards and a touchdown on the ground but the defense could not slow down the Spartans' passing attack.

Next game: at Marist (1-4), Sept. 29

16. Brother Rice (3-2)

Previous rank: 17 Last week: Def. Saint Viator 56-7

After taking a 14-7 lead into the half, the Crusaders made some adjustments and erupted for 35 points in the third quarter to start the running clock. Senior running back Randall Nauden had 144 yards on eight carries to lead the Brother Rice offense and junior defensive back Donovan Brown got the defense on the scoreboard with a 30-yard interception return for a touchdown.

Next game: vs. No. 2 Mount Carmel (5-0), Sept. 29

17. Rochester (5-0)

Previous rank: 18 Last week: Def. Decatur Eisenhower 59-0

The Rockets put together a complete all-around effort in their dominant 59-0 win against Central State Eight opponent Decatur Eisenhower. Junior quarterback Bryan Zulauf led the offense with three first half touchdown passes and the defense got in on the scoring by returning two interceptions for touchdowns.

Next game: at Lanphier (0-5), Sept. 30

18. Edwardsville (5-0)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Def. Belleville West 47-0

Edwardsville remains undefeated after earning a 47-0 Southwestern Conference victory over Belleville West. Southern Illinois commit Jake Curry put together another solid performance with two passing touchdowns along with a score on the ground. 

Next game: vs. Alton (1-4), Sept. 29

19. Morgan Park (4-1)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Def. Perspectives Leadership 42-12

Morgan Park came out of Saturday with a convincing Chicago Public League win over Perspectives. The story of the day was offense for Morgan Park as the high powered unit was led by quarterback Marcus Thaxton and running back Terrance Gurley.

Next game: at Amundsen (4-1), Sept. 30

20. Normal Community (5-0)

Previous rank: 21 Last week: Def. Bloomington 34-0

Normal built a comfortable early lead with a 21-point first quarter outburst against Bloomington and cruised from there. The Ironmen held strong on the defensive side of the ball and did not let up a score to secure a Big Twelve Conference victory.

Next game: at Danville (2-3), Sept. 29

21. Prairie Ridge (5-0)

Previous rank: 22 Last week: Def. Cary-Grove 21-20

Prairie Ridge escaped its matchup with archrival Cary-Grove with a 21-20 victory. Cary-Grove could not convert on the extra point attempt to tie the game after scoring with under a minute to play. Then the Wolves recovered the ensuing onside kick to secure the win.

Next game: vs. Dundee-Crown (1-4), Sept. 29

22. Maine South (4-1)

Previous rank: 24 Last week: Def. New Trier 50-3

Maine South took care of business on the road against Central Suburban South rival New Trier. On the first play of the game, Maine South showed some trickery and scored on an 80-yard halfback pass. Constantine Coines threw four more first half touchdown passes and the clock was running by the third quarter.

Next game: at Glenbrook North (1-4), Sept. 29

23. Geneva (5-0)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Glenbard North 41-13

Geneva opened up a 34-0 first half lead against DuKane Conference opponent Glenbard North on Friday night largely thanks to its defense. Glenbard North was held to just one first down and 32 total yards in the first 24 minutes. Offensively, quarterback Nate Stempowski took over and tossed three touchdown passes and scored on a run to close out the first half.

Next game: at No. 12 Batavia (4-1), Sept. 22

24. Althoff Catholic (4-1)

Previous rank: 25 Last week: Def. Alton Marquette 42-0

Althoff put the game out of reach early on against Alton Marquette on Friday by scoring 28 first quarter points. Dierre Hill Jr. carried the ball twice in the first quarter and scored on both carries with touchdown runs of 99 and 36 yards.

Next game: at Collinsville (3-2), Sept. 29

25. Morris (5-0)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Lasalle-Peru 40-0

Morris was firing on all cylinders against Interstate 8 Conference opponent Lasalle-Peru on Friday. The balanced offensive attack was paced by senior quarterback Carter Button (233 passing yards and three touchdowns) and senior running back Jacob Swartz (130 rushing yards and two TDs).

Next game: vs. Richmond-Burton (5-0), Sept. 29

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