Top 25 Illinois high school football rankings (9/16/2024)

East St. Louis and Lincoln-Way East still lead the way, but there are changes elsewhere in the top five

East St. Louis remains No. 1 in our Illinois high school football rankings. / Photo by Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports

East St. Louis and Lincoln-Way East hold steady at 1-2, but there are changes elsewhere near the top of this week's Illinois high school football Top 25.

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

Top 25 Illinois high school football rankings

September 16, 2024

1. East St. Louis (3-0)

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. Philadelphia Imhotep Charter (Pa.) 35-14

Quarterback Kendrick Lyons threw for 186 yards and two more TDs, giving him eight this season.

Next game: at Belleville East, Sept. 21

2. Lincoln-Way East (3-0)

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Def. Stagg 49-3

The Griffins led 35-0 after one quarter and coasted to the nonconference win.

Next game: at Naperville North, Sept. 20

3. Mount Carmel (2-1)

Previous rank: 5 Last week: Def. Nazareth 56-33

It was a historic night for the Caravan, as Vanderbilt commit Jack Elliott threw for 424 yards and a  program record-tying six TDs. Cooper Lehman set a program record with 255 receiving yards and scored twice.

Next game: vs. Nazareth, Sept. 13

4. Nazareth (2-1)

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Lost to Mount Carmel 56-33

Logan Malachuk passed for 192 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions in the matchup of two-time defending state champions.

Next game: vs. St. Ignatius, Sept. 20

5. Cary-Grove (3-0)

Previous rank: 7 Last week: Def. McHenry 46-7

Logan McHenry scored three first-quarter touchdowns for the Trojans.

Next game: vs. Jacobs, Sept. 20

6. Downers Grove North (2-0)

Previous rank: 8 Last week: Def. Glenbard West 42-7

Playing past halftime for the first time this season, Minnesota commit Owen Lansu was 13 of 16 for 154 yards and three TDs.

Next game: at Proviso West, Sept. 20

7. Batavia (3-0)

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Def. Lake Park 56-6

Nathan Whitwell ran for 204 yards and three touchdowns, and Brett Berggren had five catches for 136 yards and three scores.

Next game: vs. St. Charles North, Sept. 20

8. Kankakee (2-1)

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Def. Thornridge 56-0

Phillip Turner ran for two scores, and Keyandre White recovered a fumble in the end zone for his fourth defensive touchdown of the season.

Next game: vs. Normal, Sept. 20

9. Marist (3-0)

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. Montini 21-6

The RedHawks opened a 21-0 lead and held the Broncos scoreless until the fourth quarter.

Next game: at Joliet Catholic, Sept. 20

10. Barrington (3-0)

Previous rank: 13 Last week: Def. Glenbrook South 51-21

St. Thomas commit Nick Peipert passed for 367 yards and four touchdowns for the Broncos.

Next game: at Maine South, Sept. 20

11. Naperville Central (3-0)

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Def. Andrew 31-14

Aiden Clark ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns for the Redhawks.

Next game: vs. Stagg, Sept. 20

12. St. Francis (3-0)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Loyola 35-21

Brady Palmer was 15 of 22 for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran 15 times for 87 yards and two more scores to pace the Spartans.

Next game: vs. St. Rita, Sept. 20

13. Morgan Park (2-1)

Previous rank: 15 Last week: Def. Westinghouse 54-0

The Mustangs' defense posted its second consecutive shutout.

Next game: at Kenwood, Sept. 14

14. St. Charles North (3-0)

Previous rank: 17 Last week: Def. Wheaton North 31-13

Linebacker Aidan McClure had another big night for the North Stars with 14 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception and a TD.

Next game: at Batavia, Sept. 20

15. Loyola (1-2)

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Lost to St. Francis 35-21

In the first home game under their new lights, the Ramblers suffered their first nonconference loss since 2018. Iowa commit Ryan Fitzgerald, who was hurt in a Week 2 win against Glenbard West, dressed but did not play.

Next game: vs. Brother Rice, Sept. 20

16. Hersey (1-2)

Previous rank: 24 Last week: Def. Maine South 28-23

Brandon Jenkins ran 33 times for 238 yards and two touchdowns, and he had a key interception late for the Hawks.

Next game: at Glenbrook South, Sept. 20

17. Maine South (1-2)

Previous rank: 6 Last week: Lost to Hersey 28-23

Constantine Coines and Jameson Purcell each passed for a TD for the Hawks, and Michael Dellumo had a 98-yard kickoff-return touchdown.

Next game: vs. Barrington, Sept. 20

18. Lake Forest (3-0)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Warren 38-7

Marty Hippel had touchdown runs of 48 and 47 yards for the Scouts.

Next game: at Zion-Benton, Sept. 20

19. Oswego (3-0)

Previous rank: 18 Last week: Def. Plainfield Central 49-6

Quarterback Brett Connolly accounted for 160 total yards and three TDs in less than two quarters of playing time.

Next week: vs. Joliet Central, Sept. 20

20. Lyons (3-0)

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Def. Hinsdale Central 21-16

Danny Carroll ran for 125 yards and a TD for the Lions.

Next game: vs. Glenbard West, Sept. 21

21. York (3-0)

Previous rank: 20 Last week: Def. Downers Grove South 54-21

Bruno Massel threw for 234 yards and had five total touchdowns for the Dukes.

Next game: at Oak Park-River Forest, Sept. 20

22. Warren (1-2)

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Lost to Lake Forest 38-7

The Blue Devils are allowing 33 points per game after giving up 13.7 per game last season.

Next game: at Lake Forest, Sept. 13

23. Joliet Catholic (2-1)

Previous rank: 21 Last week: Def. Fenwick 14-13

Nate Magrini had 25 carries for 152 yards and a TD for the Hilltoppers.

Next game: vs. Marist, Sept. 20

24. Normal (3-0)

Previous rank: 22 Last week: Def. Urbana 56-0

Calen Taylor had two punt-return TDs for the Ironmen, and Kyle Beaty had three touchdown passes.

Next game: at Kankakee, Sept. 20

25. St. Rita (2-1)

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Brother Rice 14-7

Steven Armbruster passed for 203 yards and two touchdowns for the Mustangs.

Next game: at St. Francis, Sept. 20

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