The last week of football’s regular season is here, and the schedule is filled with intriguing games.
Three of the most consequential matchups are in the Public League, which tweaked its qualification system for the state playoffs a bit at the last minute. Six teams from the White Division will face off in Week 9, with the winners qualifying for the state playoffs. The losers, regardless of their overall record, won’t be eligible for the state playoffs.
Two games are Thursday: Rauner (6-2) vs. Schurz (7-1) at Lane and Kennedy (7-1) vs. Lake View (6-2) at Rockne. Dunbar (3-3) and Orr (4-3) play Saturday at Eckersall.
Lake View senior running back Kaleb Lovett is one of the leading players in the city. He has rushed for 1,698 yards and 16 touchdowns, including 296 yards and two touchdowns in the Wildcats’ five-overtime victory against Von Steuben.
Ryan Field debut
Evanston and New Trier will renew their rivalry in the first high school game at Northwestern’s new Ryan Field. More than 15,000 tickets already have been sold for the game Friday, according to Wildkits athletic director Chris Livatino.
Purdue-bound quarterback Jackie Ryder leads the No. 21 Trevians (7-1), and Evanston (5-3) has its own star in junior wide receiver/defensive back Justin Johnson, an Illinois recruit.
CCL showdowns
No. 4 Mount Carmel vs. No. 1 Loyola is the biggest game of the weekend, but several good matchups remain in the Catholic League.
Marist has been outside the headlines and the Super 25 this season, but the RedHawks are a good team and will be hyped up for the annual Battle of Pulaski game Friday at No. 3 Brother Rice.
Keep an eye on three other Catholic League games: St. Francis at No. 17 Montini, No. 16 St. Rita at Nazareth and Carmel at Fenwick. All six teams have the talent to make deep playoff runs, and Week 9 victories could spark their success.
MSL unbeatens
No. 5 Hersey, which has been heavily hyped since the preseason, has been a fixture near the top of the Super 25. Senior Jake Nawrot is one of the top quarterbacks in the country, and junior wide receiver Jaxson Saint Paul has picked up significant recruiting buzz throughout the season.
But the undefeated Huskies haven’t been tested. Buffalo Grove (5-3) is the only team Hersey has played with a winning record. The Huskies travel to Mount Prospect on Friday for a showdown against undefeated No. 13 Prospect, which also has been ranked all season.
The Knights, led by Eastern Illinois-bound quarterback Jackson Cacini, have faced a slightly tougher schedule than Hersey but also need a marquee victory.
The winner will claim the Mid-Suburban League East title and will emerge as a serious contender in the Class 7A playoffs.
More notable games
Two of the best rivalries in the area, Wilmington at Coal City and Fremd at Palatine, were saved for the final week of the regular season.
Wilmington is unbeaten and a favorite to repeat as the Class 2A champion. Coal City isn’t getting much attention, but its only loss came to undefeated No. 22 Morris.
East St. Louis, possibly the best team in the state regardless of class, is at No. 24 Naperville North on Friday. The Huskies have won seven consecutive games and cracked the Super 25 for the first time this season Sunday.
The Public League championship game, Kenwood vs. Morgan Park, is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Lane. The Mustangs, King and even Simeon have received more attention than Kenwood this season, but the Broncos might be the best team in the Public League.
Kenwood lost its season opener to Palatine 20-18, then gave No. 18 Providence a stern test in a 39-24 road loss. The Broncos beat a strong team from Grand Rapids, Michigan, in Week 3 and have dominated all their Public League opponents so far, allowing a combined nine points in five games.