What if …
If St. Rita had not mounted a late scoring drive at Providence last week, and if Mount Carmel beats Loyola Friday at Gately Stadium, and if St. Rita can beat Brother Rice at home in Week 8 … we could have had every team in the Catholic Blue finish 2-2 and every team being 2-0 at home and 0-2 on the road
Just curious, who would have won the tiebreaker?
PICK FOUR: For ranking the four CCL Blue teams this week in the Super 15, I thought about drawing names out of a hat. Instead, I went with the latest results between the teams
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Three games Friday night will all match 6-0 teams in conference showdowns — Maine South and Glenbrook South, Lincoln-Way East at Bolingbrook and Antioch at Vernon Hills
FOUR YEARS AND COUNTING: That is the current losing streak for Maine East, which last won a football game in Oct., 2004 against Niles North 22-0 in Week 6 that made them 3-3. Since then, there have been 36 losses in a row for the Blue Demons. The team’s other wins in’04 were in Weeks 1 and 2 against Schurz and Round Lake.
A LITTLE OFF THE SUBJECT: The Illinois High School Association’s random drug testing starts with this week’s boys and girls golf regionals. Girls golf ????
When they start the first state bass fishing tournament, are they going to test the kids? or the fish?
Just wondering.
(with last week’s ranking)
1 Maine South (6-0) 1
at No. 10 Glenbrook South on Friday
This week figures to determine the Central Suburban South title. Maine South QB Charlies Goro should get to play four quarters in this one. Glenbrook South has talent all over with a heady QB in Ryan Hopkins and some outstanding receivers and linemen.
2 Naperville North (6-0) 3
hosts West Aurora on Friday
Huskies have to start fine tuning for a showdown with Wheaton Warrenville South in Week 9 and the state playoffs. Overcome a 13-0 deficit against Naperville Central Friday at North Central College.
3 Wheaton Warrenville South (6-0) 4
hosts Wheaton North on Friday
The battle of Wheaton won’t be what it could have before injuries to North’s junior QB Taylor Graham and RB Mike Trumpy, who sat out last week.
4 Lincoln-Way East (6-0) 5
at No. 5 Bolingbrook on Friday
Griffins toughest test and it’s on the road. The key will be stopping Bolingbrook’s athletic play makers
5 Bolingbrook (6-0) 6
hosts No. 4 Lincoln-Way E. on Friday
The Raiders have been playing a game of “Leave it to Geever” as their junior QB and a stellar defense took care of Lincoln-Way Central 14-3.
6 Glenbard West (6-0) 10
hosts Downers North on Saturday
This team is a lot more than star lineman Chris Watt. Bryant Venson, Robert Cook and David McCaffrey made big plays against York.
7 Geneva (6-0) 7
at Rochelle on Friday
Hard to find fault with a team that is running away with the Western Sun. Michael Ratay has put himself in the running for Player of the Year.
8 Thornton (6-0) 9
hosts T.F. South on Saturday
Wildcats were winning games early, including one in four OTs. Now Bill Bosel’s bunch is dominating. remember, this team was 3-6 a year ago. Now, it is who they’ll host when the playoffs start.
9 Bartlett (6-0) 11
at Neuqua Valley on Friday
Hawks continue to rule in the Upstate Eight and exploded for 49 points against Elgin on Friday. This team looks like it can make some people uneasy come playoff time.
10 Glenbrook South(6-0) 13
hosts No. 1 Maine South on Friday
WIll this be the year that someone stops Maine South’s domination in the conference? Glenbrook South is looking to avenge two losses for a year ago to the Hawks — 28-21 in the regular season and 29-12 in the Class 8A playoffs.
11 Hinsdale Central (5-1) 12
hosts York on Saturday
The Red Devils remain on a collision course with Glenbard West for a Week 9 showdown in the West Suburban Silver after smashing Downers Grove North 34-6 on Friday
12 Loyola (5-1) 16
No. 14 Mount Carmel Friday at Gately
Only loss was in the mud at Brother Rice. The Ramblers dominated St. Rita and can clinch a share of the Catholic Blue title with a win over Mount Carmel Friday at Gately. But road teams in the Blue are 1-7 so far this year.
13 St. Rita (5-1) 2
vs. Fenwick on Saturday at Morton
Coach Todd Kuska called his team’s 24-0 loss at Loyola “a bump in the road.” The Mustangs need to avoid a pothole against a 5-1 Fenwick team that upset St. Rita in 2006 at Morton West.
14 Mount Carmel (4-2) 14
vs. No. 12 Loyola on Fri. at Gately
The Caravan, which bounced back with back-to-back wins against Brother Rice and De La Salle, will have its hands full with an improving Loyola. Coach Frank Lenti’s teams seem to get better when the leaves start changing colors and this year is no exception
15 Brother Rice (5-1) 15
hosts Guerin on Friday
Crusaders are a big favorite and a week from its big conference showdown at St. Rita. Brother Rice showed good balance against Providence in a 27-10 win, the most lopsided loss of the season for the Celtics.
16 Carmel (5-1)17
at St. Joseph on Saturday
Survived a scare against Notre Dame to stay alive in the East Suburban Catholic
17 Cary-Grove (6-0) 18
hosts Crystal Lake South on Friday
The toughest test so far for the Trojans. South’s only was was to unbeaten Bartlett
18 Barrington (5-1) 8
hosts Schaumburg on Friday
The Broncos are 1-1 in the Mid-Suburban West, but have to shore up a defense that has given up 68 points against two teams that are 5-7
19 Fremd (5-1) 19
at Palatine on Friday
Conant gave the Vikings a scare, falling 13-7. Palatine, which just knocked off previously unbeaten Barrington 41-35 is next.
20 Joliet Catholic(4-2) 21
at Benet on Saturday
Joliet Catholic’s victory over Marist wasn’t a surprise. That JCA came out throwing, with QB Matt Ginnetti 13-for-16 after throwing just 24 passes the first five weeks was,
21 Glenbard North (3-3) NR
hosts Glenbard East on Friday
The record doesn’t take into account that the three losses are to teams that are now a combined 18-0. To duplicate last year’s run to the Class 8A title game, the Panthers have to find a big-play receiver like Matt Ng
22 Lemont(6-0) 22
hosts Hillcrest on Friday
Another showdown looms against Oak Forest for the conference title. Last year, the teams faced off in a 6A semifinal. Could Providence be a first-round opponent in the playoffs?
23 Warren (5-1)25
hosts Libertyville on Friday
The North Suburban Lake leader, which gave Maine South its only test in Week 2, can’t overlook the Wildcats, fresh off an upset win over Stevenson.
24 Oak Forest (6-0)24
at Tinley Park on Friday
Bengals can’t afford to look ahead to a Week 8 showdown at home against Lemont. Oak Forest will face a team that has won every other week and is coming off a loss to Lemont.
25 Hubbard (6-0)NR
vs. Morgan Park Saturday at Gately
The Greyhounds face a Morgan Park team that will be looking to rebound from a 45-43 upset loss against Simeon. Hubbard has played only one team, Hope, that is over .500, but it did knock off Simeon 35-24.
On the bubble: Nazareth, Montini, Sandburg, Antioch, Vernon Hills, Rich East, Huntley, Naperville C., Palatine, Driscoll, Fenwick, Downers South.
