A change at the top
The first full week of Illinois high school football delivered a seismic shift in the state's rankings, as defending No. 1 Mount Carmel tumbled from the top spot after a 42-23 loss to East St. Louis on Saturday at Illinois State University's Hancock Stadium.
The Caravan had held the No. 1 ranking in the Chicago Sun-Times' Super 25 for 16 consecutive editions, dating back to last preseason. But according to the Sun-Times, the margin of defeat was too large to justify keeping them there, even against a powerhouse like East St. Louis.
Mount Carmel's defense, which was at full strength, allowed five touchdowns, according to the Sun-Times. The offense struggled after starting quarterback Ryder Startz left with an injury at halftime, though the Sun-Times noted the Caravan had planned to use two quarterbacks, with senior Brady Cloherty sharing time before Startz's injury.
The Caravan now faces a stiff test this weekend on ESPN against St. Joseph Regional of New Jersey, a program that has won 17 state titles since 1979, according to the Sun-Times.
In the Chicago Tribune's rankings, Mount Carmel dropped to No. 3, with Lincoln-Way East taking over the top spot after the Griffins edged Brother Rice 22-21. The Tribune highlighted Central Michigan recruit Charlie Palmer's interception in that game.
Meanwhile, in the Sun-Times' Super 25, Loyola grabbed the No. 1 spot. The Ramblers, coached by John Holecek, shut out Warren 31-0 in Gurnee, with junior running backs Marco Maldonado (135 yards) and Jayden Garrett (104 yards) carrying the offense, per the Sun-Times. Loyola's rise comes after a narrow 21-17 loss to Mount Carmel in last season's Class 8A playoffs, a game the Sun-Times noted still lingers. Loyola next travels to Indianapolis to face Cathedral.
The dueling No. 1 rankings reflect the two outlets' different methodologies: The Tribune focuses on the south suburbs, while the Sun-Times covers the entire Chicago area. East St. Louis is not in the Sun-Times' coverage area, which the Sun-Times noted when explaining its initial inclination to keep Mount Carmel on top.
Week 1's biggest movers
Beyond the top spot, several teams surged in the rankings after impressive wins.
Homewood-Flossmoor vaulted to No. 2 in the Tribune's rankings after a dominant 31-0 shutout of Bolingbrook, which the Tribune called a "stunning demolition." The Sun-Times also highlighted the loss as a shocker, with Bolingbrook dropping out of the Super 25 entirely. The Vikings' dual-threat senior quarterback Rahsaan Coleman was singled out by the Tribune for his performance.
Providence climbed to No. 2 in the Tribune's poll after a 28-21 road win over St. Rita in a Catholic League crossover, despite Dominic Vita missing part of the game with an injury, according to the Tribune. St. Rita dropped to No. 7, with senior quarterback John Fennell showing dual-threat ability in the loss.
Brother Rice, which entered the season ranked in the top five of both polls, fell to No. 5 in the Tribune's rankings after the one-point loss to Lincoln-Way East. Penalties were a factor, according to the Tribune, which also credited freshman quarterback Sam Holcomb with an impressive debut.
Nazareth, another preseason top-five team, lost 35-21 to IC Catholic, according to the Sun-Times. That defeat opened the door for IC Catholic to enter the Super 25 at No. 16. The Sun-Times highlighted junior tight end Grant Bowen's two touchdown catches and sophomore running back Jakobe Baldwin's 202 rushing yards and two scores, including a 65-yard run.
New faces and standout performances
The rankings shake-up also brought new teams into the fold. In the Sun-Times' Super 25, Homewood-Flossmoor entered at No. 14, IC Catholic at No. 16, and St. Charles North at No. 25 after a 28-7 win over Minooka, per the Sun-Times. Bolingbrook, Barrington, and Carmel dropped out.
Sandburg impressed in a 28-6 win over Riverside-Brookfield, with Northern Illinois recruit Lucas Matykiewicz catching two touchdown passes from backup quarterback Max Fahey, according to the Tribune. Fahey was named the Tribune's Offensive Player of the Week after completing 13 of 16 passes for 214 yards and four touchdowns.
Lincoln-Way West also moved up to No. 8 in the Tribune's rankings following a 24-7 win at Belleville East, with Alex DiLorenzo leading the rushing attack. Marist entered the Tribune's top 10 at No. 9 after a 44-28 win over Simeon, powered by Jake Fleming's three touchdown passes. Lockport fell to No. 10 despite a touchdown catch from Jackson Little in a 21-14 loss to Glenbard West.
With a thrilling first week in the books, the state's football landscape has already proven unpredictable. The upcoming weekend features Mount Carmel's national showcase against St. Joseph Regional, a game that could reshape the rankings once again.