Chicago is gearing up for an exciting week of high school football as several teams look to bounce back after tough starts to the season. With many teams facing off, there’s plenty at stake as the competition heats up.
On Saturday at 1:30 p.m., one team will be starting the season at 0-2. Loyola struggled last week, falling to East St. Louis with a score of 34-7. They were unable to establish a run game, finishing with only 40 yards on 19 carries. This week, quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald and running back Drew MacPherson are determined to turn things around.
Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers also faced disappointment, losing 35-28 to Batavia. Despite a standout performance from Teyion Oriental, who returned a kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown and scored two rushing touchdowns, they couldn’t clinch the win.
As the rivalry heats up on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Mount Carmel (0-1) has a strong track record against St. Rita (1-0), winning five of their last six meetings. Mount Carmel is coming off a loss to prep school Hun, where Jack Elliott shined with 252 passing yards and two touchdowns. St. Rita, led by Nick Herman, who rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns, is looking to maintain momentum after their opening win.
Warren (1-0) made waves last week with a decisive 55-26 victory over Hersey. Junior Aaron Stewart delivered a stunning performance, amassing 361 rushing yards and five touchdowns. They will aim to keep the pressure on as they face off against Maine South (0-1), who suffered a 49-22 defeat to Lincoln-Way East and is looking to improve their running game.
The ‘Pulaski Road Super Bowl’ on Friday at 7 p.m. will see Marist (1-0) take on Brother Rice (1-0) in what promises to be an electrifying match. Marist has a strong start thanks to transfer quarterback Jake Ritter, who had 216 total yards and four touchdowns in his debut. Brother Rice dominated Phillips with a thorough 50-0 victory, highlighted by Tyler Lofton’s three touchdowns.
Lastly, Naperville Central (1-0) and Naperville North (1-0) will clash at North Central College at 7 p.m. Both teams are fresh off wins, with Naperville Central looking strong after a 24-13 win against Hinsdale Central, while Naperville North overwhelmed New Trier with a 42-14 score, driven by Jacob Bell’s impressive performances.
With exciting matchups ahead, fans are eager to see how the teams respond after their early season games, making for an action-packed week of high school football.
