It’s a loaded weekend around the area in Week 9. Here are previews of a few of the best games.
No. 1 Mount Carmel at Loyola, 6:30 p.m. Friday, WCIU
The Caravan and the Ramblers are both three-time defending state champs — in Class 7A and 8A respectively — but they have had very different seasons. Mount Carmel (8-0, 2-0 CCL/ESCC Blue) has been tested only in a Week 1 win against Cincinnati Moeller and last week in a 35-28 victory against Fenwick. The Caravan offense has been rolling with senior quarterback Emmett Dowling and receivers Quentin Burrell and Marshaun Thornton. The defense has Power Five talent at every level, including USC-bound lineman Braeden Jones, linebacker Roman Igwebuike and defensive back Tavares Harrington. Loyola (4-3, 1-1) is in danger of missing the IHSA playoffs for the first time since 2002. Sophomores have played key roles for the Ramblers, including receiver Jordan McKinley and running back Melo Maldonado.
No. 7 Fenwick at No. 9 Carmel, 7:30 p.m. Friday
These teams are part of the CCL/ESCC White, one of the state’s top conferences this season. Three of the four teams are ranked in the top 10 (No. 6 Montini is the other), all four are playoff-eligible and the league went 21-4 in nonconference play. Fenwick (6-2, 1-1) has an accurate, productive quarterback in Jamen Williams and two dynamic two-way players who happen to be brothers: Jake and Tommy Thies. Carmel (6-2, 1-1) has four-star quarterback Trae Taylor, a Nebraska commit who is a consensus top-60 junior nationally. Taylor has completed 81% of his passes for 2,530 yards and 31 touchdowns with just two interceptions.
No. 25 St. Francis at No. 5 Nazareth, 7:30 p.m. Friday
This has emerged as one of the top rivalries in the western suburbs. Nazareth (7-1, 2-0 CCL/ESCC Green) and St. Francis (6-2, 1-1) met four times the past two seasons, with St. Francis taking both regular-season meetings and Nazareth winning twice in the IHSA semifinals en route to state titles. Senior quarterback Jackson Failla along with a run game led by Charles Calhoun and Justin Watson have made the Roadrunners a tough matchup for opposing defenses. The Spartans’ impact players include receiver/returner Zach Washington, a Michigan State commit, and receiver Dario Milivojevic (Southern Illinois).
No. 20 York at No. 17 Lyons, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Another top-tier conference is the West Suburban Silver, which has five playoff-eligible teams. York (6-2, 4-1) heads into Week 9 tied with No. 8 Glenbard West for the league lead after edging the Hilltoppers 21-20 last week. Backup quarterback Zack Assaad, filling in for starter Dominic Alfano (broken collarbone), threw two TD passes in that win. Lyons (6-2, 3-2), coming off a 24-20 win over No. 13 Downers Grove North, has a balanced offense led by quarterback Jack Slightom and running back EJ Kuhlman.
Crete-Monee at No. 23 Kankakee, 7 p,m. Friday
The de facto Southland title game matches two teams that haven’t lost since Week 2. Kankakee (6-2, 5-0) has plenty of playmakers, including Cedric Terrell III, who had two touchdown catches, a touchdown pass, a touchdown run and a kickoff return TD last week against Thornton. Quarterback Derrin Couch and receiver Dorian Patterson (New Mexico) have been an elite pass-and-catch duo for Crete (6-2, 5-0).