Loyola doesn’t travel to New Lenox for a tie. The young Ramblers went for the victory Friday against Providence and failed on a two-point conversion with 20 seconds left to lose 21-20.
Any Loyola loss is major moment in local high school football, and many took the defeat as proof that the Ramblers are just not good enough to be serious contenders for the Class 8A state title this season.
Loyola certainly would be a heavy underdog against undefeated Mount Carmel and Lincoln-Way East if the playoffs started tomorrow, but they don’t.
The Ramblers finish the season with home games against Carmel and Mount Carmel. Loyola is 4-2 and didn’t play a game in Week 2. Just qualifying for the state playoffs is the first step.
But the sophomore-laden Ramblers will pick up valuable experience in those two games and will be a very tough out in the state playoffs. Remember, this is a program that won the Class 8A championship in 2018 after starting the season 3-3.
One takeaway from what transpired in New Lenox is that Providence is improving steadily behind sophomore quarterback Dominic Vita and junior running back Broden Mackert. The Celtics were impressive in a victory at Carmel in September and have lost to Lincoln-Way Central and St. Francis.
Providence will be one of the best teams in the Class 5A playoff field, which also likely will feature Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge, St. Francis and Kankakee.
Lansu returns with style
Downers Grove North, one of the top preseason contenders for the Class 7A title, disappeared from the spotlight in the last month while quarterback Owen Lansu sat out with an injury.
Lansu, a Minnesota recruit, returned against York in Week 7 and threw for 388 yards and four touchdowns. The Trojans had held their own without him, losing only at Glenbard West.
Downers Grove North is at Lyons and will host Proviso East to end the regular season.
The Class 7A field is deep and exciting. Brother Rice, Glenbard West, Normal, Carmel, St. Charles North, Lincoln-Way Central, Batavia and Lincoln-Way West have been among the best teams in the state this season.
Another Owen
Lansu wasn’t the only Owen who starred in Week 7. Wheaton-Warrenville South upset St. Charles North 33-7 behind 285 yards and five touchdowns from running back Owen Yorke.
Yorke had 40 carries in the victory, which has the Tigers in play for their first DuKane title. Wheaton-Warrenville South, Batavia and St. Charles North are 4-1 with two conference games remaining.
Mid-Suburban League showdown
Prospect picked up a nice victory against Rolling Meadows in Week 7 but didn’t crack the Super 25. The Knights are the best team in the area that hasn’t been ranked this season.
Rolling Meadows is only the second team with a winning record Prospect has beaten, with Stevenson being the other. The Knights’ only loss was at Palatine in Week 2.
Prospect is at Hersey in Week 8. The Huskies were ranked in the preseason, then lost to Warren and Barrington before knocking off five below-.500 teams since then.
This game will go a long way toward deciding the Mid-Suburban League East title and will provide a chance for the winner to jump into the Super 25.