Illinois High School Football Games of the Week: September 12-14
Week two of Illinois high school football saw Mount Carmel shut out St. Rita in the state’s big top-10 clash of the weekend while Marist won an overtime thriller against Brother Rice.
This week features four ranked matchups while top-ranked East St. Louis heads out of state to play Imhotep Institute (Pa.).
Below are the Illinois high school football games of the week.
The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.
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Top high school football games in Illinois
#18 Nazareth Academy at #4 Chicago Mount Carmel – Friday, Sept. 13
Nazareth is 2-0 on the year following a 42-15 win over Kenwood last weekend. The Roadrunners’ defense is led by Indiana defensive back commit Garrett Reese. Chicago Mount Carmel fell in the rankings despite a shutout 28-0 win over then-No. 9 St. Rita — a nice bounceback from a season-opening loss to Hun School (N.J.). The Caravan is headlined by Vanderbilt quarterback commit Jack Elliot and 2026 4-star EDGE Braeden Jones, a top-200 recruit in the junior cycle. The On3 Massey Ratings project a 44-13 Mount Carmel win.
#11 Wheaton North at #20 St. Charles North – Friday, Sept. 13
Wheaton North is undefeated after two games with wins over Providence Catholic and Lockport Township — the latest by a narrow 22-21 score. St. Charles North is also 2-0 on the year with wins over. Palatine (28-27) and Crete-Monee (50-26). Wheaton North won last year’s edition of this game 35-23, but the On3 Massey Ratings project St. Charles North to take advantage of the home field and win 28-22.
#16 St. Rita at #23 Brother Rice – Friday, Sept. 13
St. Rita fell out of the state top 10 this week after losing 28-0 to No. 4 Chicago Mount Carmel — the team who also knocked the Mustangs out of the playoffs a year ago. Brother Rice is 1-1 after losing 34-27 to Marist last weekend. Crusaders linebacker Christian Pierce is the No. 15 senior in the state, per the On3 Industry Ranking. Brother Rice beat St. Rita 42-21 last season, and the On3 Massey Ratings project a 28-20 Crusaders win again this year.
#22 Fenwick at #25 Joliet Catholic Academy – Friday, Sept. 13
Auburn defensive line commit Nate Marshall is one of the nation’s elite high school football prospects, and he leads a Fenwick defense that ranks No. 26 in the state of Illinois. The Friars are 2-0 after beating St. Ignatius 34-24 last week. The Joliet Catholic Hilltoppers fell in the 5A state title game last season and are looking to get back against a tough schedule. Now 1-1 after getting shut out by Oswego last weekend, this matchup with Fenwick just the latest in what will be tough sledding the rest of the way for the Hilltoppers. The On3 Massey Ratings project a 33-14 Joliet victory.
#1 East St. Louis at Imhotep Institute (Pa.) – Saturday, Sept. 14
East St. Louis hosted Georgia’s Newton and came away with a one-score 28-21 victory last weekend. The Flyers were projected to have the toughest strength of schedule heading into this season, but thus far remain perfect. Missouri four-star safety commit Charles Bass is ranked as a top-10 senior in the state. The Imhotep Institute features Power 4 prospects like Ohio State EDGE commit Zahir Mathis and Penn State running back pledge Jabree Wallace-Coleman. The On3 Massey Ratings project a 41-14 East St. Louis win.