Illinois High School Football Games of the Week: September 26-28
Chicago Mount Carmel, Batavia, Joliet Catholic Academy and Barrington each won ranked matchups last week while St. Rita won its top-10 clash with St. Francis.
This week features three ranked games while No. 2 Lincoln-Way East hosts unranked Homewood-Flossmoor.
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
Homewood-Flossmoor at #2 Lincoln-Way East — Friday, Sept. 27
Homewood-Flossmoor is 3-1 this season, its only loss coming in week three to Carl Sandburg. The Vikings have wins over Bolingbrook, Marian Catholic and Neuqua Valley. Illinois defensive line commit Cameron Brooks is stout in the trenches and leads a defense that ranks in the top 50 in Illinois. Lincoln-Way East is still undefeated after smacking Naperville North 49-17 last week. Oregon junior quarterback commit Jonas Williams transferred in this year and has been electric for the No. 3 offense in the state. Lincoln-Way East beat Homewood-Flossmoor 32-6 last season. The On3 Massey Ratings project another win for the Griffons at 43-14.
#4 Batavia at #22 Wheaton North — Friday, Sept. 27
Batavia is 4-0 on the year following a 45-21 win last week over No. 18 St. Charles North. The Bulldogs have the No. 5 offense and No. 7 defense in Illinois. Wheaton North is 3-1, its lone loss coming 31-13 to St. Charles North. Last week, the Falcons downed St. Charles East 27-19. Batavia beat Wheaton North 23-17 last season, and this year, the Bulldogs are 23-point favorites.
#12 Cary-Grove at #11 Prairie Ridge — Friday, Sept. 27
Last season’s showdown between Cary-Grove and Prairie Ridge was one for the ages, Prairie Ridge coming away with the 21-20 victory. This year, Prairie Ridge is again the favorite, per the On3 Massey Ratings, projected to win 30-26. Cary-Grove is 4-0 this season with wins over Crystal Lake Central, Harry D. Jacobs, McHenry and Central. Prairie Ridge will also look to stay unbeaten. The Wolves have beaten Harry D. Jacobs, Crystal Lake South, Hampshire and Huntley.
#16 Joliet Catholic Academy at #17 Nazareth Academy — Friday, Sept. 27
Joliet Catholic has bounced back from an early loss to Oswego with consecutive wins against No. 23 Fenwick and No. 13 Marist. The Hilltoppers just narrowly slipped past Marist last week with a 31-30 win. Nazareth retains an early-season loss to Chicago Mount Carmel, but the Roadrunners have beaten Kankakee, Kenwood Academy and Immaculate Conception. Nazareth knocked Joliet out of the postseason last year with a 38-20 win. This year, the On3 Massey Ratings project a 28-27 nailbiter in favor of the Roadrunners.