Top 25 Illinois high school football rankings (11/21/2023)

Illinois football championships on tap this weekend

We've made it to the final week of the Illinois high school football season and have a great slate of state championship games this weekend in Normal.   

Here is a look at the updated SBLive Illinois Power 25 high school football rankings with 16 teams still playing and competing for eight state championship trophies.

SBLive Illinois Power 25 high school football rankings

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See: Updated Illinois high school football playoffs brackets

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Illinois high school football rankings

November 21, 2023

1. Lincoln-Way East (13-0)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. Barrington 49-6

Lincoln-Way East rolled in a dominant 49-6 victory over Barrington on Saturday to earn a spot in the Class 8A title game. Senior quarterback Braden Tischer led the way with two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns. Although the defense allowed a score after four straight shutouts, it was still an impressive effort.

Next game: vs. No. 2 Loyola Academy (13-0), Nov. 25

2. Loyola Academy (13-0)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Def. York 23-14

The Ramblers grinded their way to a 23-14 victory over York to advance to the 8A championship game. Junior quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald led the charge with 182 yards and a touchdown through the air and 67 yards and two TDs on the ground.

Next game: vs. No. 1 Lincoln-Way East (13-0), Nov. 25

3. Mount Carmel (12-1)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Def. Batavia 64-26

Mount Carmel’s offense was off to the races during its 64-26 victory over Batavia on Saturday. Senior running back and Wisconsin commit Darrion Dupree accounted for four touchdowns to the Caravan clinch a spot in the 7A championship game.

Next game: vs. No. 5 Downers Grove North (11-2), Nov. 25

4. East St. Louis (10-2)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Def. Washington 34-18

East St. Louis used a quick start and excellent quarterback play to get past Washington 34-18 and earn another spot in the state title game. Jaion Jackson returned the opening kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown and senior quarterback Robert Battle accounted for four TDs to help the Flyers advance to the 6A title game.

Next game: vs. No. 13 Cary-Grove (11-2), Nov. 25

5. Downers Grove North (11-2)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. Normal Community 42-0

The Trojans made a statement with their dominant 42-0 victory over previously-undefeated Normal Community. Noah Battle had a rushing touchdown and a kickoff return for a scored and sophomore quarterback Owen Lansu tossed three touchdown passes to help Downers Grove North advance.

Next game: vs. No. 3 Mount Carmel (12-1), Nov. 25

6. York (11-2)

Previous rank: 7 Last week: Lost to Loyola Academy 23-14 

The Dukes produced a valiant effort but could not overcome a talented Loyola Academy team in a 23-14 semifinal loss on Saturday. York took a 14-3 lead in the second quarter, but could not find a way to hold off the Ramblers. 

Next game: Season over

7. Batavia (11-2)

Previous rank: 5 Last week: Lost to Mount Carmel 64-26

Batavia could not solve Mount Carmel's high-powered offense as the Bulldogs lost 64-26 on Saturday. Senior quarterback Ryan Boe ended his storied high school career with a bang as he threw for 307 yards and four touchdowns.

Next game: Season over

8. Rochester (13-0)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Def. Murphysboro 42-14

The Rockets could not be stopped on their way to a 42-14 semifinal victory over Murphysboro on Saturday that clinched a spot in the 4A title game. Rochester used a balanced offensive attack as Bryan Zulauf threw three touchdown passes and Nolan Mrozowski scored three rushing TDs.

Next game: vs. No. 16 St. Laurence (10-3), Nov. 24

9. Barrington (12-1)

Previous rank: 6 

Next game: Season over

10. Joliet Catholic (10-3)

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Def. Providence Catholic 31-21

The Hilltoppers were able to come away with a 31-21 victory over Providence Catholic to advance to their 20th state championship game in program history. Senior quarterback Andres Munoz led the way as he completed six of his eight passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He also added another score on the ground.

Next game: vs. Nazareth Academy (8-5), Nov. 25

Vote: Who should be SBLive's Illinois High School Athlete of the Week (11/20/2023)?

11. Kankakee (11-1)

Previous rank: 8 

Next game: Season over

12. Byron (13-0)

Previous rank: 17 Last week: Def. Montini Catholic 26-20

Byron remained undefeated and advanced to the 3A state championship after holding off Montini Catholic 26-20 on Saturday. Brayden Knoll handled the scoring effort with a strong performance on the ground as he finished with 144 yards and three touchdowns.

Next game: vs. Mt. Carmel (12-1), Nov. 24 

13. Cary-Grove (11-2)

Previous rank: 20 Last week: Def. Lake Zurich 28-10

Cary-Grove’s run-heavy offense could not be stopped during its 28-10 victory over Lake Zurich in the 6A semifinals. Logan Abrams had a gritty performance from the fullback position as he finished the game with 166 yards on the ground and all four of the Trojans touchdowns.

Next game: vs. No. 4 East St. Louis (10-2), Nov. 25

14. Edwardsville (10-2)

Previous rank: 13 

Next game: Season over

15. St. Laurence (10-3)

Previous rank: 21 Last week: Def. Wheaton Academy 31-30

It took two extra overtime periods, but St. Laurence was able to hold off Wheaton Academy, 31-30, to advance to its first state championship game since 1979. After Wheaton Academy scored a touchdown in the second overtime, Cesar Chaves blocked the ensuing extra point to seal the win for the Vikings.

Next game: vs. No. 8 Rochester (13-0), Nov. 24

16. Nazareth Academy (8-5)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. St. Francis 38-31

The Roadrunners lost to St. Francis in Week 9 but got their revenge on Saturday as they escaped with a 38-31 victory to move on and earn the opportunity to defend their 5A title from last season. Logan Malachuk commanded the offense and had a rushing touchdown in each half.

Next game: vs. No. 10 Joliet Catholic (10-3), Nov. 25

17. St. Francis (10-3)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Lost to Nazareth Academy 38-31

The Spartans defeated the Roadrunners back in Week 9, but St. Francis could not repeat that result on Saturday as the Spartans lost the rematch, 38-31. Senior quarterback Alessio Milivojevic capped off an outstanding season by throwing for 313 yards and four touchdowns.

Next game: Season over

18. Normal Community (12-1)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Lost to Downers Grove North 42-0

The Ironmen couldn’t get anything going on Saturday as they dropped their 7A semifinal matchup with Downers Grove North, 42-0. After Noah Battle returned the opening kickoff of the second half for a touchdown, the momentum shifted to the Trojans and the deficit was too big to overcome.

Next game: Season over

19. Maine South (10-2)

Previous rank: 15 

Next game: Season over

20. Washington (11-1)

Previous rank: 18 Last week: Lost to East St. Louis 34-18

Washington didn’t go down without a fight but lost to East St. Louis 34-18 in the 6A semifinals. Washington put up 15 fourth quarter points behind two rushing touchdowns by Kainon McQueary but the Flyers had already built a lead.

Next game: Season over

21. Lake Zurich (11-1)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Lost to Cary-Grove 28-10

Lake Zurich could not solve Cary-Grove’s aggressive run-heavy option offense during its 28-10 6A semifinal loss on Saturday. Chris Pirrone rushed for a touchdown from 4 yards out with 2:12 left to play, but the Trojans had already built a big lead up to that point.

Next game: Season over

22. Morgan Park (10-2)

Previous rank: 16 

Next game: Season over

23. Mt. Carmel Golden Aces (12-1)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Roxana 63-48

Mt. Carmel’s offense exploded during its 63-48 3A semifinal victory over Roxana on Saturday. Senior running back Blayne Sisson had a remarkable performance as he racked up 315 yards on 37 carries and five touchdowns to lead the Golden Aces.

Next game: vs. No. 12 Byron (13-0), Nov. 24

24. Montini Catholic (9-4)

Previous rank: 23 Last week: Lost to Byron 26-20

Although they held Byron to its lowest point total of the season, the Broncos dropped a 26-20 decision in the 3A semifinals on Saturday. Senior running back and all-state selection Alex Marre led Montini with 144 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

Next game: Season over

25. Hersey (10-1)

Previous rank: 24 

Next game: Season over

Illinois high school football: Top standouts, best performances in Week 13 (11/19/2023)

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