A wild Week 8 led to more upheaval in the Super 25 rankings. I don’t remember having to make so many big decisions late in the regular season.
Lincoln-Way East, which lost 14-6 at Naperville North, remains No. 2. The Griffins played without quarterback Jonas Williams against the Huskies. The USC recruit and IHSA record holder for career passing touchdowns has an ankle injury.
Brother Rice, the top contender to move up to No. 2, doesn’t have a win against a team in the rankings now that Loyola has dropped out. The Crusaders are obviously one of the best teams in the state, but they only have two wins against teams over .500 this season.
Lincoln-Way East has beaten two currently ranked teams: Maine South and Kankakee. The combined score in those two games was 81-0. And the Griffins have three wins against teams over .500.
The CCL/ESCC White continues to ascend. Fenwick gave Mount Carmel a major challenge on the road, elevating the perception of the entire conference.
Montini jumps to six, Fenwick to seven and Carmel leaps to 12 after thrashing Loyola 42-14 on the road.
The Ramblers drop out. Many readers believed that should have happened last week. Losing to Carmel might not have been enough to do it this week, but the massive score made it a simple decision.
Bradley-Bourbonnais, Hersey and St. Francis join the rankings. Those three teams that have been on the radar for a long time. The Boilermakers knocked off Lincoln-Way West on the road, and Hersey beat Prospect. St. Francis has been in and out of the Super 25 all season. Kenwood’s win over Morgan Park was a nice bump to St. Francis’ resume.
Lincoln-Way West and Glenbrook South fall out after picking up losses.
Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 9
With record and last week’s ranking
1. Mount Carmel (8-0) 1
Friday at Loyola
2. Lincoln-Way East (7-1) 2
Thursday vs. Sandburg
3. Brother Rice (7-1) 3
Friday vs. St. Ignatius
4. Maine South (7-1) 6
Friday at Deerfield
5. Nazareth (7-1) 5
Friday vs. No. 25 St. Francis
6. Montini (8-0) 8
Friday at St. Laurence
7. Fenwick (6-2) 9
Friday at No. 12 Carmel
8. Glenbard West (7-1) 4
Friday vs. Proviso West
9. Fremd (7-1) 13
Friday vs. Schaumburg
10. Batavia (6-2) 10
Friday at Wheaton-Warrenville South
11. Providence (6-2) 11
Friday at Joliet Catholic
12. Carmel (6-2) 25
Friday vs. No. 7 Fenwick
13. Downers Grove North (6-2) 7
Friday vs. Proviso East
14. Warren (7-1) 14
Friday vs. Libertyville
15. Barrington (7-1) 15
Friday at Hoffman Estates
16. St. Charles North (7-1) 16
Friday at Lake Park
17. Lyons (6-2) 19
Friday vs. No. 20 York
18. Prairie Ridge (8-0) 18
Friday vs. Crystal Lake South
19. Lincoln-Way Central (7-1) 21
Friday at Rich
20. York (6-2) 22
Friday at No. 17 Lyons
21. Hersey (6-2) NR
Friday at Rolling Meadows
22. Morris (8-0) 23
Friday vs. Byron Center, Mich.
23. Kankakee (6-2) 24
Friday vs. Crete-Monee
24. Bradley-Bourbonnais (7-1) NR
Friday at Andrew
25. St. Francis (6-2) NR
Friday at No. 5 Nazareth