Top 25 Illinois high school football rankings (9/7/2023)

East St. Louis bounces back with win over Maryland squad

Mike Carpinelli | Sep 8, 2023

Undefeated St. Rita made a big jump into the Top 10 this week following the Mustangs' impressive victory over Kenwood Academy.

PREVIOUS RANKINGS: PRESEASON | AUGUST 30

SBLive Illinois Power 25 high school football rankings

September 7, 2023

1. Lincoln-Way East (2-0)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. Batavia 14-13

The Griffins brought home a thrilling victory against the Bulldogs in Week 2. Senior quarterback Braden Tischner threw two touchdown passes and the gritty Lincoln-Way East defense held strong as they stopped a 2-point conversion attempt with 8 seconds left in the game to secure the victory.

Next game: vs. Neuqua Valley (1-1), Sept. 8

2. Mount Carmel (2-0)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Def. Morgan Park 22-12

The Caravan handled business against a tough and talented Morgan Park squad on Friday. Junior quarterback Jack Elliott threw 3 first half touchdown passes. After Morgan Park scored with 3 minutes to play, Mount Carmel was able to ice the clock the rest of the way.

Next game: at Niles Notre Dame (2-0), Sept. 8

3. East St. Louis (1-1)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Def. St. Frances Academy (Md.) 13-7

The Flyers bounced back after a Week 1 loss to Mount Carmel with a win over previously nationally-ranked St. Frances Academy from Baltimore, MD. TaRyan Martin rushed for a touchdown to open the scoring and Robert Battle threw a fourth quarter touchdown to Rico Bond that proved to be the game-winner.

Next game: at Atascocita (Humble, TX) (2-0), Sept. 9

4. IC Catholic Prep (2-0)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Def. Orr 34-0

The Knights were firing on all cylinders from the start of their matchup with Orr on Friday as they returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and never looked back. IC Catholic’s defense was stubborn all night and after taking a 28-0 lead into the half, the Knights cruised the rest of the way.

Next game: at Benet Academy (2-0), Sept. 8

5. Loyola Academy (2-0)

Previous rank: 5 Last week: Def. Naperville North 27-6

A dominant defensive effort fueled the Ramblers during their non-conference win over Naperville North on Friday. Loyola’s defense returned two interceptions for touchdowns and held the Huskies in check. Senior quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald led the offensive effort.

Next game: at Marist (1-1), Sept. 8

6. Bolingbrook (2-0)

Previous rank: 7 Last week: Def. Hinsdale Central 39-31

The Bolingbrook offense, led by standout sophomore quarterback Jonas Williams, clicked all night in their victory against Hinsdale Central on Friday. After taking a 21-10 lead into the half, they were able to hang on for the victory.

Next game: vs. Naperville North (1-1), Sept. 8

7. Joliet Catholic (2-0)

Previous rank: 8 Last week: Def. Providence Catholic 19-0

Joliet Catholic made a statement in its shutout victory over Providence Catholic on Friday. Kicker Patrick Durkin’s four field goals and his extra point on the Hilltoppers' lone touchdown led the scoring effort. Defensive lineman Mitchell Ragusa led the defensive effort with two sacks and a fumble recovery.

Next game: vs. No. 10 St. Rita (2-0), Sept. 8

8. Hersey (2-0)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Def. Fremd 49-14

Hersey’s offense was unstoppable behind a phenomenal performance from quarterback Colton Gumino. The junior threw for 274 yards and three touchdowns and added two scores on the ground to lead Hersey past Fremd.

Next game: at Glenbrook North (1-1), Sept. 8

9. Glenbard West (1-1)

Previous rank: 6 Last week: Lost 10-0 to De Smet (Mo.)

Glenbard West could not get in a rhythm against Missouri powerhouse De Smet at the Gateway Scholars Football Classic at East St. Louis on Saturday. The Hilltoppers defense was able to hold the Spartans in check most of the day but the offense was not able to get in the end zone.

Next game: vs. Downers Grove North (2-0), Sept. 9

10. St. Rita (2-0)

Previous rank: 17 Last week: Def. Kenwood Academy 33-20

St. Rita improved to 2-0 after an impressive win over a talented Kenwood team. Senior running back DJ Stewart did the heavy lifting for the Mustangs with four rushing touchdowns, including his final score with 4 minutes left to ice the game.

Next game: at No. 7 Joliet Catholic (2-0), Sept. 8

11. St. Charles North (2-0)

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Def. Crete-Monee 30-14

After falling behind 8-6 at halftime, the North Stars offense got it together in the second half. Quarterback Ethan Plumb threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another to lead St. Charles North to a hard fought victory.

Next game: at Wheaton North (1-1), Sept. 8

12. Kankakee (2-0)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. Washington 7-3

Kankakee came out on top after a hard fought defensive battle with Washington. Senior running Back Tony Phillips scored the game's only touchdown with a 96-yard kickoff return and the Kays' fierce defense held tough all game.

Next game: vs. Thornridge (0-2), Sept. 8

13. Brother Rice (1-1)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Lost 30-24 to Marist

The Crusaders lost a thriller against archrival Marist in the Battle of Pulaski on Friday. After falling behind 24-3 at half, Brother Rice erupted for 21 third-quarter points to tie the game but a Marist touchdown with 38 seconds to play sealed the outcome.

Next game: at St. Ignatius (1-1), Sept. 8

14. Glenbard South (2-0)

Previous rank: 20 Last week: Def. Fenton 56-0

Glenbard South was dominant in their convincing 56-0 win over Fenton on Friday night. Quarterback Michael Champagne commanded the offense, while senior Zach Hyzy scored three touchdowns and Notre Dame commit Cam Williams continued his strong start to his senior season.

15. York (2-0)

Previous rank: 22 Last week: Def. Nazareth Academy 42-13

York made a statement in its big 42-13 victory over Nazareth Academy. First-year starting quarterback Sean Winton threw four touchdown passes, including three in the Dukes’ 28 point second quarter, and Jake Melion ran for 163 yards and two scores in the balanced offensive effort.

Next game: at Downers Grove South, Sept. 8

16. Batavia (1-1)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Lost 14-13 to Lincoln-Way East

The Bulldogs came up just short against top ranked Lincoln-Way East on Friday. Quarterback Ryan Boe had a phenomenal performance and completed 15 of 18 passes for 163 yards and rushed for 94 yards and two scores but was stopped at the goal line on a 2-point conversion attempt to go for the win with 8 seconds left to play.

Next game: at Lake Park, Sept. 8

17. Barrington (2-0)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Prospect 49-14

Barrington’s offense looked like an elite unit during the Broncos 49-14 statement win over Prospect. Quarterback Nick Peipert led the charge with five touchdown passes to five different receivers.

Next game: at Glenbrook South, Sept. 8

18. Downers Grove North (2-0)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Downers Grove South 35-13

In front of a sold-out crowd against crosstown rival Downers Grove South, Downers Grove North turned in an impressive second half effort to come out on top. Noah Battle rushed for 113 of his game-high 131 yards and three of his four touchdowns in the second half to lift the Trojans.

Next game: at Glenbard West (1-1), Sept. 9

19. Marist (1-1)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Brother Rice 30-24

Marist bounced back from its week 1 loss with an impressive victory over rival Brother Rice in the Battle of Pulaski. Quarterback Owen Winters shined and was credited with 256 of the RedHawks 308 yards including the game-winning 33 yard touchdown pass with 38 seconds remaining.

Next game: vs. Loyola Academy, Sept. 8

20. Edwardsville (2-0)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Cahokia 47-6

Edwardsville had a dominant showing against non-conference opponent Cahokia on Friday. The Tiger defense, led by junior phenom Iose Epenesa held the Comanches in check and the offense could not be slowed down.

Next game: vs. Soldan (St. Louis, Mo.), Sept. 8

21. Morgan Park (1-1)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Lost 22-12 to No. 2 Mount Carmel

Although Morgan Park did not get the result they were looking for, they put the state on notice by hanging tough with a top program in the state in Mount Carmel. Quarterback Marcus Thaxton led the Morgan Park offense with 120 yards through the air and two touchdowns.

Next game: at Whitney Young, Sept. 8

22. Sycamore (2-0)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Simeon 28-6

Sycamore’s defense did not allow Simeon to do much on Saturday. Junior running back Dylan Hodges got the offense on track in the first half with touchdown runs of 2 and 92 yards. Simeon could only manage a third quarter touchdown while the Spartans found the endzone 2 more times in the second half to increase the deficit.

23. Rochester (2-0)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Springfield 58-0

It was all Rochester in its Central State Eight Conference opener against Springfield. The Rockets did not leave any doubt as they took a 30-0 lead in the first quarter. Nolan Mrozowski led the offense with 3 rushing touchdowns and the defense was dominant and pitched a shutout.

Next game: at MacArthur, Sept. 8

24. St. Francis (Wheaton) (1-1)

Previous rank: 25 Last week: Def. Sterling 42-28

The Spartans bounced back from their Week 1 loss by lighting up the scoreboard against Sterling on Friday. Senior quarterback and Ball State commit Alessio Milivojevic led the charge with a near flawless performance, completing 16 of 19 passes for 266 yards and four TDs and he added another touchdown on the ground.

25. Althoff Catholic (2-0)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. St. Teresa 46-13

Althoff had a stellar showing against last year's 2A state champion St. Teresa. Highly touted junior Dierre Hill led the charge on offense with 3 first quarter rushing touchdowns to open up a big lead and the Crusaders never looked back.

Photos/video: East St. Louis edges St. Frances Academy at Gateway Scholars Football Classic

Glenbard West shut out by De Smet at Gateway Scholars Football Classic

Illinois high school football: Top standouts, best performances in Week 2

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Published Sep 8, 2023

MIKE CARPINELLI