Previewing the high school football state championships

Everything fell into place for football fans and the Illinois High School Association. Saturday’s title game matchups at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb are fantastic.

The Class 8A and Class 7A games feature undefeated powerhouses loaded with star power.

“Two 13-0 large public schools, one from the north and one from the south,” Lincoln-Way East coach Rob Zvonar said. “It is what high school football is all about. It should be a lot of fun.”

Class 6A has East St. Louis, the greatest show on turf, against the Fox Valley conference that has dominated the class in recent years.

Class 5A is also intriguing, with traditional power Rochester moving up a class to deal with St. Rita and emerging star running back Kaleb Brown.

The crowds at Huskie Stadium have been terrific the past few years. The finals rotate between DeKalb and Champaign, a move that has been very successful for the IHSA.

Class 8A: Warren (13-0) vs. Lincoln-Way East (13-0), 7 p.m.

Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

Warren’s defense has yet to meet the offense it can’t stop. The Blue Devils have allowed just 40 points in 13 games this season.

Saturday in DeKalb the Blue Devils meet Sun-Times Player of the Year AJ Henning and Lincoln-Way East. Warren’t hasn’t seen anyone like Henning.

“Some people are different with the way they see the field,” Henning said. “Some people are more elusive than others. When I get space on the outside I just go into my drive phase of the 100-meter dash. Being in the open field is just like running a track race for me.”

The Griffins aren’t just Henning. They have other threats at all the skill positions and a terrific kicker in Dominic Dzioban, who has made 16 of 17 field goal attempts this season. Dzioban’s leg could be an x-factor in the game.

Warren’s offense isn’t as multi-dimensional as Lincoln-Way East’s. The Blue Devils average five pass completions per game and only have two receivers with more than two receptions this season. Running back Derrick McLaughlin (1,616 yards, 21 TDs), an Indiana State recruit, will have to carry Warren’s offense.

That will be a difficult task for McLaughlin. The Griffins’ defense is nearly as stingy as Warren’s. Lincoln-Way East is allowing less than seven points a game this season.

Class 7A: Mount Carmel (13-0) vs. Nazareth (13-0), 4 p.m.

Kirsten Stickney/For the Sun-Times

Nazareth is flash and dazzle. The Caravan has the ability to break big plays but relies on a much slower, steadier game-plan.

Roadrunners junior JJ McCarthy (181 of 290 for 2,704 yards and 33 TDs) is the state’s most-talented quarterback in years and his connection with sophomore Tyler Morris (68 catches for 1,237 yards and 17 TDs) appears nearly unstoppable. Both players have an excellent chance to play on Sunday eventually.

Mount Carmel will counter with quarterback Justin Lynch. The junior doesn’t have the physical gifts that McCarthy possess, but he’s a born football player that makes terrific decisions on the fly.

Senior receiver Tony Livermore, who has 52 catches this season, is Lynch’s safety blanket.

“Whenver the game is on the line we are looking to throw the ball to [Livermore],” Caravan coach Jordan Lynch said. “He’s as reliable as it gets.”

Junior running back Kenenna Odeluga has proven unstoppable so far in the playoffs. Mount Carmel loves to grind up the clock with four and five-yard runs by Odeluga. That could be incredibly useful in keeping the Roadrunners’ high-powered offense off the field.

The Caravan has the edge defensively and the unit has been especially impressive in the their last two games, holding Willowbrook to six points and Phillips to eight.

Class 6A: Prairie Ridge (12-1) vs. East St. Louis (13-0), 1 p.m.

Allen Cunningham/For the Sun-Times

The Flyers are the most athletic football team the state has seen in a long time. They have the size and speed of a college team. The Wolves haven’t seen anything like it this season, simply because there is nothing like it in the state.

East St. Louis is averaging nearly 52 points. Dual-threat quarterback Tyler Macon has thrown for almost 4,000 yards and rushed for 723. The Flyers’ three starting receivers are 6-3, 6-3 and 6-1.

Then there is the ground game, led by Da’Monte Witherspoon (1,649 yards, 33 TDs).

Prairie Ridge may have a chance to pull off the upset, thanks to its triple-option offense that can soak up the clock with long possessions.

The Wolves will be without leading rusher Carter Evans, who broke his ankle in the first round. Kyle Koelblinger has stepped up to replace Evans, averaging more than 12 yards a carry since taking over. He scored five touchdowns against Deerfield in the semifinals.

East St. Louis will have to account for junior Taidhgin Trost, who has touched the ball 68 times and scored 23 touchdowns.

“[Trost] has been almost an instant big play for us throughout the year,” Prairie Ridge coach Chris Schremp said. His progression has really been something to see, how electric he can be at times.

Class 5A: St. Rita (10-3) vs. Rochester (12-1), 10 a.m.

Kevin Tanaka/For the Sun-Times

The Rockets have dominated Class 4A, winning seven state titles since 2010. It will be interesting to see how they handle the step up in class.

Rochester’s high-powered offense hasn’t had an issue so far in the playoffs, averaging 54 points behind quarterback Clay Bruno and running back Jacob DuRocher.

The Mustangs have ripped off nine consecutive wins and haven’t been challenged yet in the playoffs. Sophomore Kaleb Brown has been a revelation this season. He’s scored 35 touchdowns and could be Henning’s heir apparent as the area’s biggest breakout threat.