High School

Top 25 Illinois high school football rankings (11/15/2023)

Several big matchups on tap in the Illinois football semifinals

Mike Carpinelli

Here is a look at the updated SBLive Illinois Power 25 high school football rankings going into semifinals week across the Lincoln State.

SBLive Illinois Power 25 high school football rankings

For live updates and complete statewide results, bookmark our Illinois high school football scoreboard: STATEWIDE ILLINOIS FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

Illinois high school football rankings

November 15, 2023

1. Lincoln-Way East (12-0)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. Warren Township 24-0

Lincoln-Way East’s defense continued its dominant stretch as with its fourth straight shutout victory in a 24-0 decision over Warren Township. Senior running back Nuri Muhammad paced the offense with 123 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Next game: vs. No. 6 Barrington (12-0), Nov. 18

2. Loyola Academy (12-0)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Def. St. Ignatius 41-7

Loyola got ahead from the start and never looked back in a convincing 41-7 victory over St. Ignatius. Nicholas Arogundade had an 80 yard catch-and-run for a score on the first play from scrimmage to set the tone.

Next game: vs. No. 7 York (11-1), Nov. 18

3. Mount Carmel (11-1)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Def. Quincy 61-14

The Caravan cruised to a 61-14 victory over previously-undefeated Quincy to advance to the 7A semifinals. Junior quarterback Jack Elliott had an impressive performance with five touchdown passes in the first half to help start the running clock.

Next game: vs. No. 5 Batavia (11-1), Nov. 18 

4. East St. Louis (9-2)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Def. Kankakee 39-13

The Flyers made a statement by handling previously-undefeated Kankakee 39-13 to advance to the 6A semifinals. Senior quarterback Robert Battle showed off his dual-threat ability with 196 passing yards and two TDs along with 103 yards and another score on the ground.

Next game: at No. 18 Washington (11-1), Nov. 18

5. Batavia (11-1)

Previous rank: 6 Last week: Def. Hononegah 55-14

Batavia won its 10th straight game with a 55-14 victory over Hononegah on Saturday. Senior quarterback Ryan Boe had another electrifying performance with 309 passing yards and five touchdowns to provide the spark for the Bulldogs.

Next game: at No. 3 Mount Carmel (11-1), Nov. 18

6. Barrington (12-0)

Previous rank: 7 Last week: Def. Maine South 42-40

Barrington won a 42-40 thriller against a tough Maine South team to remain undefeated and advance to the 8A semifinals. Junior quarterback Nick Peipert lit up the stat sheet with 482 yards passing and five TDs.

Next game: at No. 1 Lincoln-Way East (12-0), Nov. 18

7. York (11-1)

Previous rank: 8 Last week: Def. Edwardsville 36-29

York won a close one against a previously Top-10 ranked Edwardsville squad 36-29 on Saturday. Luke Mailander was the playmaker for the Dukes as he finished the game with 204 yards and two TDs on 10 catches.

Next game: at No. 2 Loyola Academy (12-0), Nov. 18

8. Kankakee (11-1)

Previous rank: 5 Last week: Lost to No. 4 East St. Louis 39-13

The Kays' impressive 10-game win streak came to an end with a quarterfinal loss to visiting East St. Louis.

Next game: Season over

9. St. Francis (10-2)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Def. Morgan Park 37-14

Senior quarterback Alessio Milivojevic was on point yet again in the Spartans' 37-14 victory over Morgan Park. The Ball State commit accounted for four touchdowns to help St. Francis advance to the 5A semifinals.

Next game: at Nazareth Academy (7-5), Nov. 18

10. Rochester (12-0)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Def. Breese Central 49-13

Rochester remained undefeated and advanced to the 4A semifinals after a dominant 49-13 victory over Breese Central on Saturday. Junior quarterback Bryan Zulauf had a huge game for the Rockets as he rushed for four TDs and threw for another to pace the offense.

Next game: at Murphysboro (11-1), Nov. 18

11. Normal Community (12-0)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. No. Glenbard East 45-28

After facing a 28-14 halftime deficit on Saturday, Normal came out firing in the second half with 31 unanswered points and advanced with an impressive 45-28 victory. Senior running back Tommy Davis led the Ironmen with 164 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Next game: at No. 12 Downers Grove North (10-2), Nov. 18 

12. Downers Grove North (10-2)

Previous rank: 15 Last week: Def. Lincoln-Way West 34-6

The Trojans advanced to the 7A semifinals in convincing fashion with a 34-6 victory over Lincoln-Way West on Saturday. Sophomore quarterback Owen Lansu stole the show and threw for 259 yards and four touchdowns.

Next game: vs. No. 11 Normal Community (12-0), Nov. 18

13. Edwardsville (10-2)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Lost to No. 7 York 36-29

The Tigers had surrendered a total of 40 points in their three previous games before allowing 36 in a loss at York in the quarterfinals. 

Next game: Season over

14. Joliet Catholic (9-3)

Previous rank: 20 Last week: Def. Morris 49-7

Joliet Catholic put on a show against previously-undefeated Morris and advanced to the 5A semifinals with a 49-7 victory. Keegan Farnaus paced the Hilltoppers' offense. He scored on the first play from scrimmage with a 76-yard touchdown reception and then added three more touchdowns on the ground.

Next game: vs. Providence Catholic (8-4), Nov. 18

15. Maine South (10-2)

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Lost to No. 6 Barrington 42-40

The Hawks led 26-14 at halftime but couldn't hold off the Broncos' comeback in the second half. Barrington junior QB Nick Peipert had a huge day with 482 yards and five TDs passing.

Next game: Season over

Illinois high school football all-state: 2023 IHSFCA all-state teams

16. Morgan Park (10-2)

Previous rank: 13 Last week: Lost to No. 9 St. Francis 37-14 

Senior wide receiver Chris Durr had six catches for 90 yards and a touchdown in the quarterfinal loss to St. Francis and finished his impressive season with 68 receptions for 1,130 yards and 13 TDs. 

Next game: Season over

17. Byron (12-0)

Previous rank: 22 Last week: Def. Durand/Pecatonica 63-15

Byron was off to the races early in its 63-15 victory over Durand/Pecatonica to advance to the 3A semifinals. After taking a 42-7 lead into the half, the high-powered Tigers cruised the rest of the way.

Next game: at No. 23 Montini Catholic (9-3), Nov. 18

18. Washington (11-1)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Glenwood 59-16

Washington ran away with a 59-16 victory on the road at Glenwood to advance to the 6A semifinals on Saturday. All-State running back Kainon McQueary was the workhorse for the Panthers and finished with 229 yards and two TDs on 31 carries.

Next game: vs. No. 4 East St. Louis (9-2)

19. Lake Zurich (11-1)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Belvidere North 14-10

Lake Zurich came out on top of a 14-10 defensive battle with Belvidere North to advance to the 6A semifinals. Senior running back Chris Pirrone led the Bears with 31 carries for 139 yards and two touchdowns – including the game-winner with 6:49 left.

Next game: vs. No. 20 Cary-Grove (10-2), Nov. 18

20. Cary-Grove (10-2)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Geneva 41-7

Cary-Grove had a dominant performance in its 41-7 6A quarterfinal win over Geneva on Saturday. The Trojans scored on their first five offensive possessions and added a defensive score to build a 41-0 lead before allowing a late Vikings touchdown.

Next game: at No. 19 Lake Zurich (11-1)

21. St. Laurence (9-3)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. IC Catholic Prep 24-20

St. Laurence stunned defending 3A champion IC Catholic Prep with a 24-20 victory on Saturday. Aaron Ball scored the game-winning touchdown from 2 yards out with 21 seconds left to play to cap off a St. Laurence drive that covered 77 yards in 3 minutes.

Next game: vs. Wheaton Academy (11-1), Nov. 18

22. IC Catholic Prep (9-3)

Previous rank: 16 Last week: Lost to St. Laurence 24-20

IC Catholic led St. Laurence 20-17 after three quarters surrendered a short touchdown run with 21 seconds remaining and lost the 4A quarterfinal showdown.

Next game: Season over

23. Montini Catholic (9-3)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Princeton 27-9

Montini trailed 3-0 after a sloppy first half but snapped out of it in the second half and ran away with a 27-9 victory to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2018. Senior Alex Marre led the second-half charge and finished with 174 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Next game: vs. No. 17 Byron (12-0), Nov. 18

24. Hersey (10-1)

Previous rank: 18

Next game: Season over

25. Warren Township (9-3)

Previous rank: 21 Last week: Lost to No. 1 Lincoln-Way East 24-0

The Blue Devils' nine-game win streak came to an end with a shutout loss against top-ranked Lincoln-Way East in the 8A quarterfinals.

Next game: Season over

Vote: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (11/13/2023)?

Illinois high school football: Top standouts, best performances in Week 12 (11/12/2023)

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

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Mike Carpinelli
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