Top 25 Illinois High School Football Rankings (11/27/2024)

Loyola Academy climbs to No. 2 after knocking off last week's No. 1, Lincoln-Way East

Loyola Academy pulled off the biggest win last week, topping then No. 1 Lincoln-Way East behind 222 yards passing by quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald (15). The Ramblers have moved up to No. 2 this week. / Ricky Slaughter

East St. Louis returns to the No. 1 spot ,and Loyola moves up to No. 2 after knocking off previously top-ranked Lincoln-Way East. Fremd and Oswego return to the rankings.

1. East St. Louis (12-1)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: 6A, Def. Richards 48-0

TaRyan Martin ran nine times for 146 yards and two touchdowns as the Flyers advanced to their 16th state final.

Next game: vs. Geneva, Nov. 30

2. Loyola (10-3)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: 8A, Def. Lincoln-Way East 27-24

Ryan Fitzgerald passed for 222 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 70 yards as the Ramblers moved closer to a third consecutive 8A title.

Next game: vs. York, Nov. 30

3. Mount Carmel (10-3)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: 7A, Def. St. Rita 43-24

Vanderbilt commit Jack Elliott was 9 of 11 passing for 124 yards and five touchdowns as the Caravan moved within a win of a 7A three-peat.

Next game: vs. Batavia, Nov. 30

4. Lincoln-Way East (12-1)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: 8A, Lost to Loyola 27-24

Oregon commit Jonas Williams passed for 279 yards and three touchdowns, but the Griffins had a season-ending loss to Loyola for the fourth straight year.

Next game: Season over

5. York (11-2)

Previous rank: 6 Last week: 8A, Def. Naperville Central 20-15

Bruno Massel ran for two touchdowns before taking an intentional safety on the final play as the Dukes advanced to their first state final.

Next game: vs. Loyola, Nov. 30

6. Nazareth (11-2)

Previous rank: 8 Last week: 5A, Def. St. Francis 

Logan Malachuk was 21 of 28 passing for 310 yards and three TDs as the Roadrunners continued their quest for a third straight 5A title.

Next game: vs. Joliet Catholic, Nov. 30

7. Naperville Central (11-2)

Previous rank: 5 Last week: 8A, Lost to York 20-15

Aiden Clark had a 42-yard touchdown run and Gavin Ellison kicked two field goals.

Next game: Season over

8. Geneva (12-1)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: 6A, Def. Cary-Grove 28-26

Tony Chahino completed 22 of 25 passes for a season-high 388 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Vikings to state for the first time since 2008.

Next game: vs. East St. Louis, Nov. 30

9. Batavia (12-1)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: 7A, Def. Lincoln-Way Central 25-21

Sophomore Michael Vander Luitgaren threw for 232 yards and three touchdowns, all to Isaiah Brown — including the game-winner with 31 seconds left.

Next game: vs. Mount Carmel, Nov. 30

10. Joliet Catholic (10-3)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: 5A, Def. Morris 42-7

The Hilltoppers ran for more than 350 yards as Larry Stringham led the way with 12 carries for 185 yards and three TDs.

Next game: vs. Nazareth, Nov. 30

11. Cary-Grove (12-1)

Previous rank: 7 Last week: 6A, Lost to Geneva 28-26

Holden Boone had 22 carries for 227 yards and two touchdowns.

Next game: Season over

12. St. Francis (10-3)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: 5A, Lost to Nazareth 40-21

Zach Washington returned the second-half kickoff 86 yards for a TD to cut the deficit to 20-14, but the Spartans were ousted by the Roadrunners for the second straight season.

Next game: Season over

13. St. Rita (10-3)

Previous rank: 13 Last week: 7A, Lost to Mount Carmel 43-24

Nick Herman had 14 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown.

Next game: Season over

14. Marist (9-2)

Previous rank: 14

Next game: Season over

15. Lyons (11-1)

Previous rank: 15 

Next game: Season over

16. Downers Grove North (10-2)

Previous rank: 16 

Next game: Season over

17. Maine South (8-4)

Previous rank:18 

Next game: Season over

18. Normal (10-2)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: 

Next game: Season over

19. Fremd (9-2)

Previous rank: Not ranked

Next game: Season over

20. Richards (11-2)

Previous rank: 20 Last week: 6A, Lost to East St. Louis 48-0

The Bulldogs were held to 19 total yards as they were eliminated by the Flyers for the fourth time since 2019.

Next game: Season over

21. Kankakee (10-2)

Previous rank: 21 

Next game: Season over

22. Quincy (11-1)

Previous rank: 23 

Next game: Season over

23. Montini (11-2)

Previous rank: 24 Last week: 3A, Def. Wilmington 42-12

Israel Abrams passed for 177 yards and four touchdowns — two each to Santino Florio and CJ Harkins.

Next game: vs. Monticello, Nov. 29

24. Oswego (10-1)

Previous rank: Not ranked

Next game: Season over

25. Lincoln-Way Central (9-4)

Previous rank: 25 Last week: 7A, Lost to Batavia 25-21

Luke Andresen had six catches for 151 yards and a TD.

Next game: Season over