It is finally the time of year when we start to see some action on the gridiron. With a handful of teams completing undefeated seasons in the state of Illinois last year, excitement for high school football is brimming.
We are still about a month away from seeing the first regular season games, but here’s the games of the first half of the regular season that you won’t want to miss:
Week 1
Brother Rice (10-2) vs. Marist (9-5) at Soldier Field (Sun.)
The first week of play opens with a few interesting matchups out the gate and a pair of games held on Soldier Field’s turf. One of said contests pits two Catholic League contenders against each other as Brother Rice hosts Marist at the venue the Chicago Bears call home.
What else to watch:
Simeon (8-3) at Oak Park-River Forest (9-2)
Week 2
Maine South (8-3) at Loyola Academy (14-0) (Sat.)
The Ramblers begin their reign with the championship gold against a tough Maine South squad. Loyola’s youth will be challenged early on but this type of test could prove a worthy lesson down the road. The Ramblers will need to play stingy defense as its offense may struggle in this matchup. This game may have playoff implications for either team come November.
What else to watch:
Payton (7-3) vs. Lincoln Park (8-3) at Lane Stadium (Sat.)
Week 3
Loyola Academy (14-0) vs. Mt. Carmel (10-3) at Gately Stadium
The third week of action will see the Mt. Carmel Caravan take on the Ramblers of Loyola at home. Both of these programs boast historically dominant football teams. Each team was near the top of the Catholic League standings last year, although the Ramblers would ultimately capture the 8A state title. The defending champs will be in for an early fight against the Caravan.
What else to watch:
Payton (7-3) vs. Whitney Young (9-1) at Lane Stadium
Week 4
Mt. Carmel (10-3) at Mater Dei (9-4)
Depending on the results of Week 3, taking down Mt. Carmel could be a huge turning point for Mater Dei. Although it has strung together a few strong wins in recent seasons, Mater Dei’s program isn’t at the point Carmel has reached. However, a win over the Caravan could help the Knights’ confidence as they look to make a farther run in the playoffs this season.
What else to watch:
Montini (14-0) at Brother Rice (10-2)
Palatine (10-3) at New Trier (10-2)
Week 5
Morgan Park (7-4) vs. Kenwood (9-1) at Gately Stadium (Sat.)
At the midway point through the regular season, we will see one of the most anticipated matchups between top tier city teams. Morgan Park finished with an undefeated conference record last year with five wins, while Kenwood matched the Mustangs’ undefeated conference status with seven wins of its own. This battle on the gridiron looks to be a contest of the South Side’s best.
What else to watch:
Evanston Township (6-4) at New Trier (10-2)
St. Rita (5-7) vs. Mt. Carmel (10-3) at Gately Stadium
