This has a chance to be the most exciting high school football season in decades.
Loyola and Lincoln-Way East, the area’s Class 8A superpowers, are loaded with the most talented teams in school history. The Ramblers, Mount Carmel and Nazareth are all attempting state-championship three-peats.
And to top all that off, the area’s current group of quarterbacks is special. There is more talent at the position than ever before.
There are experienced winners in Loyola’s Ryan Fitzgerald (Iowa), Mount Carmel’s Jack Elliott (Vanderbilt), Barrington’s Nick Piepert (St. Thomas), Nazareth’s Logan Malachuk and Downers Grove North’s Owen Lansu (Minnesota).
Lincoln-Way East’s Jonas Williams (Oregon) and Carmel sophomore Trae Taylor are two of the most highly recruited quarterbacks in state history.
And that’s just scratching the surface. It could be a nightmare season for defenses.
As far as preseason rankings, throw the history out the window. Loyola has had Lincoln-Way East’s number recently, but that doesn’t mean anything this season. Consider the Ramblers and the Griffins nearly joint No. 1 teams.
Loyola has a significantly tougher schedule, which is a major benefit. The Ramblers face a ranked opponent nearly every week. That’s the best way for a team to improve.
“If everyone is firing on all cylinders, we will be pretty good,” Fitzgerald said. “I don’t know if we will be better than last year, but I like where we are heading.”
1. Loyola
The Ramblers are loaded with future college players, including Washington recruit Donovan Robinson who can play all over the field and made a major impact as a punt returner last season. Read more on Loyola.
2. Lincoln-Way East
Only one of the elite teams enters the season with a massive chip on its shoulder. The Griffins seniors haven’t experienced a state title at the school. Linebacker Caden O’Rourke (Northwestern) may be the area’s best defensive player and Williams is a bona fide star at quarterback. Read more on Lincoln-Way East.
3. Mount Carmel
Elliott will have a lot on his shoulders early as the Caravan reloads with talented but inexperienced players. But that’s the case with all of the Class 7A powers, so Mount Carmel’s chances at a three-peat are excellent. Read more on Mount Carmel.
4. Nazareth
Lincoln-Way East and Loyola are loaded with future college players but the Roadrunners may have even more. Nearly everyone returns for the back-to-back Class 5A champs. Malachuk finds a way to win when it matters and linebacker Gabe Kaminski (Stanford) is a disruptive force. Read more on Nazareth.
5. Maine South
The Hawks don’t have the future college stars of the other top five teams but this is a classic Dave Inserra team, full of program players with experience and smarts. Quarterback Constantine Coines is an under-the-radar Player of the Year candidate. Read more on Maine South.
6. Downers Grove North
The Trojans surprised everyone last season and Lansu enters this year much more experienced. Keep an eye on receiver Charlie Cruse and linebacker/tight end Joe Edwards. Read more on Downers Grove North.
7. Warren
If any Class 8A team is capable of containing the high-powered offenses of Loyola, Lincoln-Way East and Maine South it would be the Blue Devils. Scoring points is traditionally Warren’s weak spot but that may not be the case this season with returning quarterback Jack Wolf and speedster running back Aaron Stewart. Read more on Warren.
8. Cary-Grove
Fullback Logan Abrams is a wrecking ball with speed. The defending Class 6A champs know how to win and no opponent is too talented to beat, just ask East St. Louis. Read more on Cary-Grove.
9. Hersey
There are so many talented quarterbacks in the area that a UCLA recruit, Colton Gumino, didn’t get mentioned in the first batch. The Huskies have improved their schedule and should be ready for a long playoff run. Senior Grant Kalata missed last season with an injury and will make an impact at wide receiver and defensive back. Read more on Hersey.
10. Joliet Catholic
Cam Juricich is one of four returning starters, along with Jake Jakovich, Michael Lynch and Elijah Watt, on the offensive line. That unit will be the foundation of the team, which has high hopes for junior quarterback Lucas Simulick. Read more on Joliet Catholic.
11. Glenbard West
One of the state’s elite programs returns 13 starters. Iowa State recruit Mason Ellens is a standout at defensive back and receiver. Running back Teyion Oriental will lead the offense running behind 6-7 Michael O’Connell (Northwestern). Leading tackler Val Jones returns at middle linebacker.
12. Barrington
Peipert threw for 2,905 yards and 35 TDs last season. He’s the key. Expect another high-powered offense. Six starters return on defense including lineman Jack Burzynski.
13. Brother Rice
Linebacker Christian Pierce missed most of last season with an injury. He’s back and will team with lineman Charlie Stec and safety Conner Stack to lead one of the state’s best, most experienced defenses. Running back Tyler Lofton, a transfer from Marian Catholic, should be a major addition to the offense.
14. Batavia
The program is too good to technically have a rebuilding year, but there are new faces all over with only seven returning starters. The defense, led by lineman Malachi Smith and a talented secondary, will be a strength early. Coach Dennis Piron says it is one of his fastest teams. A lot will depend on new quarterback Bodi Anderson, a 5-11 junior.
15. Morgan Park
The top team in the Public League is loaded with college-bound talent and three-year starter Marcus Thaxton returns at quarterback. Defensive backs Jovan Clark (Wyoming), Jahmere Washington (Wisconsin) and Ahmad Grayer lead a talented and experienced defense. Coach Chris James expects a breakout season from receiver Nasir Rankin, a transfer from Young.
16. Kankakee
The Kays went undefeated in two of the last three regular seasons and beat Nazareth the last two years. More than a dozen starters return, including senior linebacker Kennyan Chandler (EIU).
17. Naperville Central
The Redhawks may depend on defense early, with seven returning starters led by lineman Jake Stanish (Buffalo). The key to success will be quarterback Sebastian Hayes, who is very talented but has missed the last two seasons with injuries. Starting running back Aidan Clark returns with three offensive linemen. Wide receiver DeShaun Williams (Indiana State) has transferred in from St. Francis.
18. York
The Dukes advanced to the Class 8A semis the last two seasons, but coach Mike Fitzgerald moved on to Marist. Assistant Don Gelsomino takes over and has two major returning pieces to rely on: lineman Joe Reiff (Notre Dame) and running back/linebacker Jimmy Conners.
19. Carmel
The ceiling is sky-high for the Corsairs. Taylor hasn’t started a game yet but expectations couldn’t be higher. Running back Donovan Dey, tight end Jack Greiber, linebacker Dominic Delorme and wide receiver Kai Owens will be major contributors. Read more on Carmel.
20. St. Francis
Running back TyVonn Ransom was one of the area’s underrated stars last season. Wide receiver Ian Willis also returns and there is major excitement around junior tight end/defensive end Gavin Mueller, who has major college offers but hasn’t played high school football yet.
21. Marist
Fitzgerald is expected to make an immediate impact after resurrecting York’s program. Running back John McAuliffe (Cornell) scored 23 TDs last season. The defensive line is a major strength with Brad Fitzgibbon (Iowa) and Achilles Anderson (Harvard). Sixteen starters return.
22. Palatine
Last season didn’t live up to the hype but the Pirates return 17 starters from a 6-4 team, including defensive end Jaylen Williams (Michigan), wide receiver Ryan Tonnelly (Tennessee State) and offensive lineman Parker Brault (Marshall).
23. Wheaton-Warrenville South
Luca Carbonaro doesn’t have the name recognition of the area’s star quarterbacks, but the three-year starter is tough, smart and effective. His two top targets will be Amari Williams (NIU) and Brady Goken (Illinois State). The defense is inexperienced, but linebacker Axel Boecker returns.
24. St. Ignatius
The big move up to the CCL/ESCC Blue will be a challenge, but 12 starters return, including dynamic quarterback Jack Wanzung and reliable linebacker Emmett Callahan.
25. Sycamore
Iowa recruit Burke Gautcher is a force on both sides of the ball. The quarterback/safety led the Spartans to a 9-2 record last year and has multiple targets back, including speedy Carter York.