Top 25 Illinois high school football rankings (9/11/2024)

East St. Louis remains at the top; Nazareth enters the top five

Loyola moves up one spot from No. 4 to No. 3 in our latest Illinois high school football Top 25 rankings. / Photo by Tim Vizer, SBLive Sports

The top two teams remain the same in our Illinois high school football Top 25, while Nazareth enters the top five.

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Top 25 Illinois high school football rankings

September 11, 2024

1. East St. Louis (2-0)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. Covington Newton (Ga.) 28-21

Quarterback Kendrick Lyons passed for two touchdowns, giving him six in two games, and the Flyers held on for the home win.

Next game: at Philadelphia Imhotep Charter (Pa.), Sept. 14

2. Lincoln-Way East (2-0)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Forfeit win vs. Specially Fit (Fla.)

A late cancellation left the Griffins without a Week 2 game.

Next game: vs. Stagg, Sept. 13

3. Loyola (1-1)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Def. Glenbard West 42-7

Iowa commit Ryan Fitzgerald was 8 of 8 for 169 yards and two TDs before leaving with an injury. Sophomore backup quarterback Dom Maloney came in and threw for three touchdowns.

Next game: vs. St. Francis, Sept. 13

4. Nazareth (2-0)

Previous rank: 6 Last week: Def. Kenwood 42-15

Logan Malachuk was 9 of 12 for 240 yards and a career-high six touchdowns, all in the first half.

Next game: at Mount Carmel, Sept. 13

5. Mount Carmel (1-1)

Previous rank: 5 Last week: Def. St. Rita 28-0

Vanderbilt commit Jack Elliott had his second 300-yard passing game of the season, finishing with 330 yards and three TDs.

Next game: vs. Nazareth, Sept. 13

6. Maine South (1-1)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Def. 35-18

Constantine Coines passed for 346 yards and two scores for the Hawks, and Michael Dellumo ran for two scores and intercepted two passes.

Next game: at Hersey,, Sept. 13

7. Cary-Grove (2-0)

Previous rank: 7 Last week: Def. Crystal Lake Central 45-14

The Trojans scored on a blocked punt return and an interception return en route to a 28-0 first-quarter lead. Holden Boone ran eight times for 119 yards and a TD.

Next game: at McHenry, Sept. 13

8. Downers Grove North (2-0)

Previous rank: 8 Last week: Def. Downers Grove South 42-0.

Caden Chiarelli ran for four touchdowns in the rivalry win. The Trojans have outscored two opponents 84-0.

Next game: vs. Glenbard West, Sept. 13

9. Batavia (2-0)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Def. South Elgin 42-14

Nathan Whitwell (seven carries, 114  yards, two TDs) and Zay Brown (five catches, 110 yards, two TDs) powered the Bulldogs.

Next game: vs. Lake Park, Sept. 13

10. Warren (1-1)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Lost to Maine South 35-18

Aaron Stewart passed 500 rushing yards for the season, running 32 times for 185 yards in the loss.

Next game: at Lake Forest, Sept. 13

11. Kankakee (1-1)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. Washington (Ill.) 42-7

Keyandre White had two more interception-return touchdowns for the Kays, giving him three in two games.

Next game: vs. Thornridge, Sept. 13

12. Marist (2-0)

Previous rank: 13 Last week: Def. Brother Rice 34-27 (OT)

Cornell commit John McAuliffe ran for two touchdowns, including the winner, and quarterback Jacob Ritter had three total TDs for the RedHawks.

Next game: vs. Montini, Sept. 13

13. Barrington (1-0)

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Def. Hersey 41-32

Calvin Jackson scored five touchdowns and Finn Karam had three interceptions (both career bests) for the Broncos.

Next game: vs. Glenbrook South, Sept. 13

14. Naperville Central (1-0)

Previous rank: 15 Last week: Def. Naperville North 24-21

Sebastian Hayes had two touchdown passes to DeShaun Williams, Aiden Clark ran for 151 yards and a TD, and Gavin Ellison kicked the go-ahead field goal with 1:24 left.

Next game: vs. Andrew, Sept. 13

15. Morgan Park (1-1)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Def. Oak Park-River Forest 26-0

Terrance Gurley ran for 161 yards and two TDs, and Marcus Thaxton passed for 141 yards and two scores for the Mustangs.

Next game: at Westinghouse, Sept. 14

16. Brother Rice (1-1)

Previous rank: 16 Last week: Lost to Marist 34-27 (OT)

Illinois State commit Tyler Lofton ran for three TDs for the second consecutive week for the Crusaders.

Next game: vs. St. Rita, Sept. 13

17. St. Charles North (2-0)

Previous rank: 20 Last week: Def. Crete-Monee 50-26

Linebacker Aidan McClure did a little of everything for the North Stars with 13 tackles, two fumble recoveries, a 45-yard interception-return touchdown, a blocked punt and two tackles for loss.

Next game: vs. Wheaton North, Sept. 13

18. Oswego (2-0)

Previous rank: 21 Last week: Def. Joliet Catholic 17-0

Ayden Villa ran for 110 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown, and the Panthers held the Hilltoppers to 148 yards.

Next week: at Plainfield Central, Sept. 13

19. Lyons (2-0)

Previous rank: 22 Last week: Def. Wheaton-Warrenville South 30-22

Travis Stamm broke the program record for receptions and Dom Pisciotti threw for two TDs for the Lions.

Next game: at Hinsdale Central, Sept. 13

20. York (2-0)

Previous rank: 23 Last week: Def. Plainfield North 35-13

Bruno Massel IV threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the Dukes.

Next game: vs. Downers Grove South, Sept. 13

21. Joliet Catholic (1-1)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Lost to Oswego 17-0

Nate Magrini ran for 67 yards for the Hilltoppers in the loss.

Next game: vs. Fenwick, Sept. 13

22. Normal (2-0)

Previous rank: 24 Last week: Def. Normal West 48-7

Mar'Quan Gary had four catches for 91 yards and two TDs for the Ironmen.

Next game: vs. Urbana, Sept. 14

23. Wheaton North (2-0)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Lockport 22-21

Nick Johnston passed for 284 yards, a touchdown and the winning two-point conversion with 2:22 remaining as the Falcons prevailed.

Next game: at St. Charles North, Sept. 13

24. Hersey (0-2)

Previous rank: 17 Last week: Lost to Barrington 41-32

UCLA commit Colton Gumino passed for 270 yards and three touchdowns and caught a TD pass for the Huskies.

Next game: vs. Maine South, Sept. 13

25. Glenbard West (0-2)

Previous rank: 18 Last week: Lost to Loyola 42-7

JaMarcus Kelly had an 80-yard TD run for the Hilltoppers.

Next game: at Downers Grove North, Sept. 13

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