The Catholic League Blue’s recent dominance over local high school football is undeniable. And once again, the three most talented teams in the area are CCL Blue powers Mount Carmel, Loyola and Brother Rice.
But the regular season is complete, and undefeated Lincoln-Way East is the new No. 1 team. How did that happen?
Lincoln-Way East’s Week 1 win over Brother Rice is the key. The Griffins stunned the Crusaders, then went on to beat Kankakee, Homewood-Flossmoor, and Sandburg. That’s four wins against current Super 25 teams, including a win against the mighty CCL Blue.
Loyola has the second strongest resume of the top four teams. The Ramblers own wins against St. Rita, St. Ignatius, IC Catholic and Brother Rice. But Mount Carmel soundly beat them at home in Week 9.
The Caravan appears to have turned a major corner by dominating Loyola. But the full-season resume includes only one other win against a currently ranked team: the victory over Providence.
Most importantly for the decision on which team checks in at No. 3, Mount Carmel lost to Brother Rice. But that win is the only one the Crusaders have against a currently ranked team, which keeps them below Loyola and Lincoln-Way East, two teams which beat them.
It is a messy business and surprising that none of the super-talented CCL Blue teams managed to separate themselves from each other, or even from Lincoln-Way East, over the course of the season.
Mount Carmel, Loyola and Lincoln-Way East are now focused on the 8A playoffs. Brother Rice will compete for the 7A crown.
Rob Zvonar’s legacy
Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar, the only football coach in school history, is retiring after this season. The school named its football field after him in a ceremony this past week. Zvonar started the program in 2001 and is one of the best coaches in state history. He’s led the Griffins to three state championships and six state title game appearances.
And here he is, in his final season, sitting at No. 1 in the Super 25 after a stunningly successful regular season.
Throw the records out
Three unranked teams with unspectacular records are worth watching closely in the playoffs: Nazareth (4-5), St. Francis (4-5), and Wheaton-Warrenville South (6-3).
St. Francis gave Montini a stern test in Week 9 and can win the 5A state title.
Nazareth and Wheaton Warrenville-South are among the best teams in 6A, a very weak class overall, with Geneva, Fenwick, Joliet Catholic and Wheaton North as the only other serious contenders.
Super 25 updates
Prospect and Providence both tumbled after losses this week but still hold a spot in the rankings. Naperville North is out after a lopsided home loss to East St. Louis.
Morgan Park, which beat Kenwood to win the Public League Red championship, makes its season debut at No. 25. The Mustangs don’t have a high-quality win this season, but their only loss was a competitive 17-12 defeat at Downers Grove North.
Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 10
With record and last week’s ranking
1. Lincoln-Way East (9-0) 2
Won 37-14 vs. Lincoln-Way West.
Next: Bye in 8A playoffs.
2. Loyola (8-1) 1
Lost 38-21 vs. Mount Carmel.
Next: Bye in 8A playoffs.
3. Brother Rice (7-2) 3
Won 49-6 vs. Marist.
Next: Bye in 7A playoffs.
4. Mount Carmel (7-2) 4
Won 38-21 at Loyola.
Next: Bye in 8A playoffs.
5. Hersey (9-0) 5
Won 48-35 at Prospect.
Next: Bye in 7A playoffs.
6. IC Catholic (8-1) 6
Won 6-0 vs. Joliet Catholic.
Next: Bye in 3A playoffs.
7. Bolingbrook (8-1) 7
Won 45-14 at Minooka.
Next: Bye in 8A playoffs.
8. Maine South (8-1) 8
Won 41-34 at Glenbrook South
Next: Bye in 8A playoffs.
9. Oswego (8-1) 9
Won 35-18 at Oswego East.
Next: Bye in 8A playoffs.
10. Geneva (8-1) 10
Won 42-21 at St. Charles East.
Next: Bye in 6A playoffs.
11. Batavia (7-2) 11
Won 27-24 vs. Wheaton-Warrenville South.
Next: Bye in 7A playoffs.
12. Homewood-Flossmoor (7-2) 12
Won 49-7 at Andrew.
Next: Bye in 8A playoffs.
13. St. Ignatius (7-2) 14
Won 53-33 at Providence.
Next: Bye in 8A playoffs.
14. Sandburg (7-2) 15
Won 35-19 at Bradley-Bourbonnais.
Next: Bye in 8A playoffs.
15. St. Rita (6-3) 16
Won 17-14 at Nazareth.
Next: Bye in 7A playoffs.
16. Montini (7-2) 17
Won 28-24 vs. St. Francis.
Next: Bye in 4A playoffs.
17. Downers Grove North (8-1) 19
Won 58-0 at Proviso East.
Next: Bye in 7A playoffs.
18. Kankakee (7-2) 20
Won 45-0 at Thornridge.
Next: Bye in 5A playoffs.
19. New Trier (8-1) 21
Won 42-28 vs. Evanston.
Next: Bye in 8A playoffs.
20. Morris (9-0) 22
Won 46-19 at Cahokia.
Next: Bye in 4A playoffs.
21. Huntley (9-0) 23
Won 51-0 at McHenry.
Next: Bye in 8A playoffs.
22. York (6-3) 25
Won 16-14 vs. Lyons.
Next: 8A playoffs vs. Bloom.
23. Prospect (8-1) 13
Lost 48-35 vs. Hersey.
Next: Bye in 7A playoffs.
24. Providence (6-3) 18
Lost 53-33 vs. St. Ignatius.
Next: 5A playoffs vs. Mt. Vernon.
25. Morgan Park (8-1) NR
Won 24-24 vs. Kenwood.
Next: Bye in 5A playoffs.