Top 25 Illinois high school football rankings (10/26/2023)

IHSA football playoffs begin this week

With the start of the Illinois High School Association playoffs beginning this week, here is a look at the SBLive Illinois Power 25 high school football rankings going into the start of the postseason.

SBLive Illinois Power 25 high school football rankings

• PREVIOUS RANKINGS: PRESEASON | AUG. 30 | SEPT. 7 | SEPT. 14 | SEPT. 20 | SEPT. 27 | OCT. 4 | OCT. 11 | OCT. 18 

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Illinois high school football rankings

October 26, 2023

1. Lincoln-Way East (9-0)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. Bolingbrook 20-0

The Griffins closed out their regular season with another dominant defensive effort in a 20-0 victory over Bolingbrook. Junior running back Zion Gist provided the offensive spark and rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

Next game: vs. Taft (4-5), Oct. 28

2. Loyola Academy (9-0)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Def. Mount Carmel 23-21

Loyola snapped Mount Carmel’s 22-game win streak in its 23-21 victory on Saturday. Junior quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald led the way for the Ramblers with two rushing touchdowns and a touchdown pass. 

Next game: vs. Plainfield North (4-5), Oct. 28

3. Mount Carmel (8-1)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Lost to Loyola Academy 23-21

Mount Carmel could not overcome a tough performance by rival Loyola Academy on Saturday. After falling behind 17-7, the Caravan staged a valiant comeback attempt but could not convert on a 2-point conversion attempt to tie the game with 3 minutes left to play.

Next game: vs. St. Rita (5-4), Oct. 27

4. East St. Louis (6-2)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Idle

The Flyers earned an impressive road win at Edwardsville in Week 8 to claim another Southwestern Conference championship and then had a week off to rest and heal up to get ready for another postseason run. 

Next game: vs. Lemont (5-4), Oct. 28

5. Hersey (9-0)

Previous rank: 5 Last week: Def. Elk Grove 63-14

Hersey closed out the regular season with a strong showing in a 63-14 victory over Mid-Suburban East opponent Elk Grove on Friday. A dominant offensive line effort paved the way for six rushing touchdowns by the Huskies.

Next game: vs. Wheaton-Warrenville South (5-4), Oct. 28

6. Kankakee (9-0)

Previous rank: 6 Last week: Def. Crete-Monee 42-0

Kankakee finished a perfect regular season with a dominant 42-0 victory over Southland Conference rival Crete-Monee. After taking a 21-0 lead into the half, the Kays erupted for 21 points in the third quarter to start the running clock.

Next game: vs. Bremen (5-4), Oct. 27

7. Batavia (8-1)

Previous rank: 7 Last week: Def. Glenbard North 41-7

The Bulldogs won their regular season finale 41-7 over conference opponent Glenbard North on Friday. Senior quarterback and North Dakota State commit Ryan Boe lit up the stat sheet and threw for 360 yards and six touchdowns.

Next game: vs. Brother Rice (5-4), Oct. 27

8. Barrington (9-0)

Previous rank: 8 Last week: Def. Conant 45-19

Barrington capped off the 10th undefeated 9-0 regular season and 13th Mid-Suburban West title in its history with a 45-19 win over Conant. Quarterback Nick Peipert paced the offense with four touchdown passes and Dillon Fitzpatrick rushed for 198 yards and three TDs.

Next game: vs. Glenbrook South (4-5), Oct. 27

9. York (8-1)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Def. Proviso West 49-12

The Dukes got off to a strong start with 28 first quarter points and rolled from there in a 49-12 win over Proviso West on Friday. Senior quarterback Sean Winston was near perfect and completed nine of his 10 passes for 121 yards and four touchdowns and added another touchdown on the ground.

Next game: vs. Homewood-Flossmoor (5-4), Oct. 27

10. Rochester (9-0)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Def. Sacred Heart-Griffin 31-21

Rochester overcame several penalties and came out on top of a hard fought battle with rival Sacred Heart-Griffin on Friday. Quarterback Bryan Zulauf and running back Nolan Mrozowski each accounted for two touchdowns.

Next game: vs. Lincoln (5-4), Oct. 27

Illinois high school football brackets: 2023 IHSA state playoffs matchups, game times

11. Glenbard South (8-1)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. Elgin 47-14

Glenbard South finished its regular season with a dominant 47-14 victory over Upstate Eight opponent Elgin on Friday. Cam Williams, a Notre Dame commit, made plays on both sides of the ball and finished with a touchdown reception, a 64-yard touchdown run, and an interception.

Next game: vs. UIC Prep (7-2), Oct. 27

12. Normal Community (9-0)

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Def. Manual 42-0

The Ironmen finished off their regular season with a 42-0 victory over Manual to remain undefeated. Normal had a dominant first half – scoring 16 points in the first quarter and then 26 in the second quarter – to get the clock running for the entirety of the second half.

Next game: vs. Argo (5-4), Oct. 27

13. Edwardsville (8-1)

Previous rank: 15 Last week: Def. De Smet (Mo.) 29-12

Edwardsville bounced back from a loss to East St. Louis with a big road win at previously unbeaten De Smet in St. Louis. Southern Illinois recruit Jake Curry threw two touchdown passes and ran for another in the victory.

Next game: vs. West Aurora (5-4), TBA

14. Morgan Park (8-1)

Previous rank: 16 Last week: Def. Simeon 16-8

Morgan Park survived a tough battle with Chicago Public League Red Conference rival Simeon. Running back Terrance Gurley rushed for 80 yards and a touchdown to lead the offense and the defense held strong all game.

Next game: vs. Corliss (5-4), Oct. 28

15. St. Francis (Wheaton) (7-2)

Previous rank: 17 Last week: Def. Nazareth Academy 35-17

After taking a 7-3 lead into halftime on Friday, St. Francis rattled off 21 points in the third quarter to build a sizable lead on its way to a 35-17 victory. Senior quarterback and Ball State commit Alessio Milivojevic threw two touchdown passes and ran for another.

Next game: vs. Rochelle (7-2), Oct. 27

16. Prairie Ridge (9-0)

Previous rank: 18 Last week: Def. McHenry 55-0

Prairie Ridge scored early and often in its dominant 55-0 win over McHenry. The Wolves exploded for 48 points in the first quarter and got the clock running the rest of the way to finish off a perfect regular season.

Next game: vs. Nazareth Academy (4-5), Oct. 27

17. IC Catholic Prep (7-2)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Def. Fenwick 42-9

IC Catholic Prep had a dominant performance in its 42-9 win over Fenwick to finish the regular season. The Knights used a balanced offensive attack as Dennis Mandala was a perfect 7-for-7 passing for 267 yards and two touchdowns and Joey Gliatta ran for 184 yards and two TDs.

Next game: vs. Geneseo (6-3), Oct. 28

18. Maine South (8-1)

Previous rank: 20 Last week: Def. Evanston 35-11

Maine South finished off its regular season by clinching the outright Central Suburban South title with a 35-11 win over Evanston. Junior running back Michael Dellumo led the way and rushed for 105 yards and three touchdowns.

Next game: vs. Lockport (5-4), Oct. 27

19. Morris (9-0)

Previous rank: 22 Last week: Def. Sycamore 22-14

The Redskins came out on top of a battle of previously unbeaten squads with a 22-14 victory over Sycamore. Senior running back Jacob Swartz was a workhorse for Morris and racked up 227 yards on 36 carries and a touchdown and the defense forced 3 key turnovers.

Next game: vs. Tinley Park (5-4), Oct. 27

20. Althoff (8-1)

Previous rank: 21 Last week: Def. Durand/Pecatonica 41-18

Althoff finished the regular season with a 41-18 win over Pecatonica at Illinois Wesleyan on Friday. After Pecatonica returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, the Crusaders settled in and put up 35 first half points.

Next game: vs. Tuscola (5-4), Oct. 28

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21. Sycamore (8-1)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Lost to Morris 22-14

Sycamore dropped a hard fought battle with Morris on Friday. The Spartans could not overcome three costly turnovers and Morris gained 417 total yards in the Interstate 8 White Conference matchup.

Next game: vs. Evergreen Park (6-3), Oct. 27

22. Glenbard West (7-2)

Previous rank: 23 Last week: Def. Oak Park-River Forest 48-8

The Hilltoppers closed out their regular season with a 48-8 West Suburban Silver Conference victory over Oak Park-River Forest. Glenbard West got off to a fast start and rattled off 42 unanswered points in the first half to get the clock running the rest of the way.

Next game: vs. Naperville North (6-3), Oct. 28

23. Joliet Catholic (6-3)

Previous rank: 13 Last week: Lost to St. Ignatius 23-10

After taking a 10-0 lead after one quarter, it looked as though Joliet Catholic would run away with a victory. St. Ignatius had other plans as its defense shut out the Hilltoppers the rest of the way.

Next game: at Peoria (7-2), Oct. 27

24. Downers Grove North (7-2)

Previous rank: 25 Last week: Def. Hinsdale Central 35-12

Downers Grove North capped off its regular season with a dominant effort in a 35-12 victory over West Suburban Silver Conference rival Hinsdale Central.

Next game: vs. Kenwood (6-3), Oct. 27

25. Warren Township (7-2)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def Zion-Benton 42-0

With its dominant 42-0 victory in a regular season finale matchup with Zion-Benton, Warren Township clinched an outright North Suburban Conference title. After an 0-2 start, the Warriors have rattled off seven straight victories.

Next game: vs. Oswego (6-3), Oct. 27

Illinois high school football computer rankings (10/26/2023)

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- Mike Carpinelli | latsch@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveIL