Top 25 Illinois high school football rankings (10/4/2023)

IC Catholic at Loyola Academy highlights Week 7 schedule

IC Catholic dropped a few spots in this week's Power 25 rankings after a heartbreaking loss to St. Francis – the first loss of the season – and the Knights will have to bounce back quickly when they host unbeaten Loyola Academy this week.  

SBLive Illinois Power 25 high school football rankings

• PREVIOUS RANKINGS: PRESEASON | AUG. 30 | SEPT. 7 | SEPT. 14 | SEPT. 20 | SEPT. 27 

Top 25 Illinois high school football rankings

October 4, 2023

1. Lincoln-Way East (6-0)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. Lockport 41-0

Lincoln-Way East continued its dominant season with a 41-0 shutout victory over Southwest Suburban Conference rival Lockport on Friday. Nuri Muhammad led the offense with 132 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The Griffins defense has been outstanding all season and have allowed just 17 points over its last four games.

Next game: vs. Homewood-Flossmoor (3-3), Oct. 6

2. Mount Carmel (6-0)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Def. No. 16 Brother Rice 42-7

The Caravan made another statement with a lopsided 42-7 victory over CCL/ESCC Blue rival Brother Rice. Junior quarterback Jack Elliott has solidified himself as a difference maker this season and threw three touchdown passes in the win. Mount Carmel allowed a second quarter touchdown but shut down the Crusaders for the rest of the game.

Next game: at Fenwick (4-2), Oct. 6

3. Loyola Academy (6-0)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Def. St. Rita 21-5

The Ramblers defeated CCL/ESCC crossover opponent St. Rita 21-5 on Friday night. Loyola went into the half with a 14-2 lead. St. Rita kicked a field goal with 10:49 left to play, but Loyola put up another touchdown late in the game to leave no doubt in the outcome.

Next game: at No. 7 IC Catholic Prep (5-1), Oct. 6

4. East St. Louis (4-2)

Previous rank: 5 Last week: Def. Belleville West 63-0

East St. Louis continued its win streak against conference opponents with a 63-0 victory over Belleville West. Junior running back Larevious Woods led the offense with three rushing touchdowns and the defense got on the board with an interception return for a touchdown to start the scoring.

Next game: at Alton (1-5), Oct. 6

5. Hersey (6-0)

Previous rank: 6 Last week: Def. Prospect 28-3

Hersey’s offense continued to roll with another solid effort against conference rival Prospect on Friday. Running back Nasir McKenzie put together his second straight 200-yard performance and the Colton Gumino to Carson Grove connection was tough to stop as it produced 166 yards and a touchdown.

Next game: at Rolling Meadows (2-4), Oct. 6

6. York (6-0)

Previous rank: 7 Last week: Def. Downers Grove North 32-21

York made a statement with a victory over previously unbeaten Downers Grove North on Friday. Jake Melion stole the show as he ran wild for 257 yards and two touchdowns along with a 31-yard touchdown reception.

Next game: vs. Glenbard West (4-2), Oct. 6

7. IC Catholic Prep (5-1)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Lost 35-34 to St. Francis

The Knights lost a heartbreaker on the road at St. Francis on Friday. IC held a 34-27 lead late in the fourth quarter but a St. Francis touchdown and a 2-point conversion with 19 seconds left to play decided the outcome.

Next game: vs. No. 3 Loyola Academy (6-0), Oct. 6

8. Kankakee (6-0)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Def. Rich Township 57-7

The Kays had an impressive effort on the road against Southland Conference opponent Rich Township on Friday. Kankakee put the game out of reach early with 20 points in each of the first two quarters to start the running clock in the second half.

Next game: vs. Bloom (3-3), Oct. 6

9. Glenbard South (6-0)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Def. South Elgin 14-13

Glenbard South put an end to South Elgin’s 29-game Upstate Eight Conference win streak on Friday night. The Raiders were led by junior running back Vontae Clark, who ran for a game-high 131 yards and a touchdown.

Next game: vs. West Chicago (4-2), Oct. 6

10. Batavia (5-1)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. Geneva 21-18

The Bulldogs won a hard-fought matchup with conference rival Geneva on Friday. Senior quarterback Ryan Boe paced Batavia’s offense with 137 yards and a touchdown through the air and another 109 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Next game: vs. St. Charles East (1-5), Oct. 6

11. Barrington (6-0)

Previous rank: 13 Last week: Def. Schaumburg 55-14

The Broncos offense could not be slowed down in their 55-14 victory over Mid-Suburban West opponent Schaumburg. Nick Peipert led the scoring outburst with 330 yards passing and four touchdowns.

Next game: at Hoffman Estates (4-2), Oct. 6

12. St. Rita (4-2)

Previous rank: 8 Last week: Lost 21-5 to Loyola Academy

St. Rita could not get anything going against CCL/ESCC Blue rival Loyola Academy on Friday. The Mustangs were able to kick a field goal with 10:49 left to play to narrow the Rambler lead to nine points but could not stop them on the ensuing possession.

Next game: at No. 25 St. Francis (4-2), Oct. 6

13. Downers Grove North (5-1)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Lost 32-21 to York

Playing without standout running back Noah Battle, the Trojans could not keep up with York. Quarterback Owen Lansu threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns but York put up over 450 yards of offense.

Next game: at Lyons Township (4-2), Oct. 6

14. Sycamore (6-0)

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Def. Kaneland 22-21

Sycamore won a thriller in the final minute against conference rival Kaneland on Friday. After scoring a touchdown to trim the deficit to one, the Spartans lined up for the point-after kick to tie, but then took a timeout to think it over. The Spartans went for the win instead and came up with a successful 2-point conversion to win it.

Next game: at Woodstock North (2-4), Oct. 7

15. Joliet Catholic (4-2)

Previous rank: 15 Last week: Def. Marist 21-20

Joliet Catholic narrowly escaped with a 21-20 victory over CCL/ESCC crossover opponent Marist on Friday. Hilltopper wide receiver Adrian Washington did the heavy lifting for the offense as he caught three touchdowns. A final hail mary attempt by Marist was caught and stopped just short of the end zone.

Next game: vs. Leo (2-4), Oct. 6

16. Rochester (6-0)

Previous rank: 17 Last week: Def. Lanphier 63-6

The Rockets had a dominant all-around performance against Central State Eight opponent Lanphier on Friday. The Rochester defense snagged three first half interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, and the offense was able to start several possessions with good field position.

Next game: at Lincoln (5-1), Oct. 6

17. Edwardsville (6-0)

Previous rank: 18 Last week: Def. Alton 56-8

Edwardsville had control of its game against conference rival Alton from the start. The Tigers led 56-0 in the third quarter before Alton was able to score. 

Next game: at Belleville East (5-1), Oct. 6

18. Morgan Park (5-1)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Def. Amundsen 28-0

After scoring just six points in the first half, Morgan Park's offense found its footing in the second half and rolled to a 28-0 victory. Quarterback Marcus Thaxton and receiver Chris Durr connected for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

Next game: vs. Kenwood (4-2), Oct. 7

19. Normal Community (6-0)

Previous rank: 20 Last week: Def. Danville 42-10

Normal Community got off to a strong start against Big Twelve Conference opponent Danville on Friday. The Ironmen put the game out of reach with a 28-point outburst in the second quarter and did not allow Danville to get on the board until the second half. 

Next game: vs. Urbana (0-6), Oct. 6

20. Prairie Ridge (6-0)

Previous rank: 21 Last week: Def. Dundee-Crown 50-8

Prairie Ridge kept its undefeated season alive with a 50-8 win over Fox Valley Conference rival Dundee-Crown. The Wolves ran their way to a 42-0 lead in the third quarter to get the clock running and did not allow any points on the board until the fourth.

Next game: at Burlington Central (3-3), Oct. 6

21. Maine South (5-1)

Previous rank: 22 Last week: Def. Glenbrook North 52-15

Maine South won its fifth straight game with an impressive performance against Central Suburban-South opponent Glenbrook North. Junior quarterback Constantine Coines has settled into the starting role and led another strong offensive performance as the Hawks topped 50 points for the second game in a row.

Next game: vs. Glenbrook South (2-4), Oct. 6

22. Althoff (5-1)

Previous rank: 24 Last week: Def. Collinsville 38-27

After falling behind 21-14 halftime, the Crusaders were able to rally for a 38-27 come-from-behind victory. Junior running back and defensive back Dierre Hill Jr. continued his impressive season as he rushed for 161 yards and scored touchdowns on both sides of the ball in the second half.

Next game: vs. Mater Dei (5-1), Oct. 6

23. Morris (6-0)

Previous rank: 25 Last week: Def. Richmond-Burton 35-7

Morris had an impressive performance against Richmond-Burton to remain undefeated. Quarterback Carter Button led the offensive attack as four of his first nine passes went for touchdowns.

Next game: vs. Woodstock (1-5), Oct. 6

24. St. Francis (Wheaton) (4-2)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. IC Catholic Prep 35-34

St. Francis won a thriller against a talented IC Catholic Prep team on Friday. After scoring with 19 seconds left to play, the Spartans converted a 2-point conversion to take the lead. Ball State commit Alessio Milivojevic led the way with two passing touchdowns and two more rushing scores.

Next game: vs. No. 12 St. Rita (4-2), Oct. 6

25. Brother Rice (3-3)

Previous rank: 16 Last week: Lost 42-7 to No. 2 Mount Carmel

Brother Rice could not get into a rhythm against CCL/ESCC Blue rival Mount Carmel. Navy commit Randall Nauden was able to find the end zone in the second quarter, but the Crusaders would not score again.

Next game: at Nazareth Academy (2-4), Oct. 6

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