Illinois High School Football Predictions: Sept. 26-27

Illinois high school football is entering its fifth week of the season, and the Land of Lincoln features a trio of games between ranked teams this weekend.

Twenty-three of the top 25 programs in the state are in action this weekend. Below are the On3 Massey Ratings projections for each game.

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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Friday, Sept. 27 Predictions

Homewood-Flossmoor at No. 2 Lincoln-Way East
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.
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 43-14 Lincoln-Way East

Benet Academy at No. 3 Chicago Mount Carmel
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 42-6 Chicago Mount Carmel

No. 4 Batavia at No. 22 Wheaton North
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.
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 37-14 Batavia

Notre Dame College Prep at No. 5 St. Rita
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 35-6 St. Rita

No. 6 Loyola Academy at DePaul College Prep
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 42-6 Loyola Academy

River Forest at No. 7 Downers Grove North
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 43-7 Downers Grove North

Proviso West at No. 9 Lyons
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 42-0 Lyons

Hinsdale Central at No. 10 York Comm
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 39-14 York Comm

No. 12 Cary-Grove at No. 11 Prairie Ridge
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.
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 30-26 Prairie Ridge

No. 13 Marist at Immaculate Conception
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 37-14 Marist

Glenbard North at No. 14 Geneva Community
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 42-7 Geneva Community

No. 15 Naperville Central at Lincoln Way West
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 28-24 Naperville Central

No. 16 Joliet Catholic Academy at No. 17 Nazareth Academy
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.
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 28-27 Nazareth Academy

Wheaton Warrenville South at No. 18 St. Charles North
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 35-21 St. Charles North

Providence Catholic at No. 19 St. Francis
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 28-21 St. Francis

Plainfield North at No. 20 Oswego
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 27-14 Oswego

No. 21 Libertyville at Mundelein Cons
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 40-7 Libertyville

Leo Catholic at No. 24 St. Laurence
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 46-6 St. Laurence

Belleville-West at No. 25 Edwardsville
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 45-6 Edwardsville

Saturday, Sept. 28 Predictions

No. 1 East St. Louis at O’Fallon
On3 Massey Ratings Prediction: 46-7 East St. Louis