Illinois High School Football State Championship Games Preview
Introduction to the Championships
St. Rita coach Martin Hopkins has a good idea of what is happening right now across much of the South Side.
“I’m sure there will be a lot of trash talk this week at Thanksgiving,” Hopkins said.
With the Mustangs and Brother Rice facing off in the Class 7A state championship game and Mount Carmel going for its 17th state title in the Class 8A game, there will be a large contingent of South Siders heading down to Normal on Saturday. Many families on the South Side have connections to all three schools.
Class 8A: Mount Carmel vs. Oswego
Game Overview
Nobody expects Oswego to be able to challenge Mount Carmel, and the high school football state championship games are often blowouts. But no one expected Cary-Grove to knock off mighty East St. Louis is 2021 or 2023. There is always a chance, especially if lousy weather on Saturday limits Mount Carmel’s passing game.
“We are not the flashiest outfit,” Oswego coach Brian Cooney said. “We still believe in running the football. [We had] a lot of dynamic plays on offense [this season], which is not like us. We are more like three yards and a cloud of dust.”
Sophomore running back Ammar Banire’s emergence over the second half of the season has coincided with the Panthers’ offensive improvement. His 63-yard TD run was the key play in Oswego’s semifinal win against Lockport.
Mount Carmel has punished defensive backfields all season. The Caravan’s trio of star receivers (junior Quentin Burrell, senior Jamari Brown and sophomore Marshaun Thornton) hasn’t been slowed down by any opponent, and running back Nathan Samuels is an excellent pass catcher as well.
Mount Carmel quarterback Emmett Dowling has thrown for 3,588 yards and 44 TDs. The Caravan is averaging nine yards per completion and five yards per carry.
Burrell, Thornton, Samuels, Roman Igwebuike (LB), Claude Mpouma (LT), Tavares Harrington (CB), Joey Quinn (DE), Braeden Jones (DE) and Caleb Tucker (DT) are all big-time college recruits, but a “regular” high school player is the heart and soul of the team. Senior Stephen Winkler is the only regular two-way player, starting at tight end and linebacker.
“The kid will play with a dislocated finger and not tape it,” Caravan coach Jordan Lynch said. “One of the toughest, hard-nosed kids I have ever been around. He’s our No. 1 captain for a reason.”
Could Mount Carmel just stick to the trenches and run the ball and beat Oswego? Yes, most likely. The Caravan’s lines are bigger and stronger than Oswego’s. But the Panthers earned their way to Normal with upsets of Maine South and Lockport. It’s always possible they have one more surprise in them.
“Mount Carmel does a terrific job of putting you in conflict,” Cooney said. “We are going to have to be technical in what we are doing. They have talent, both sides of the ball, everywhere. It will be a challenge. Our kids love challenges. It will be fun.”
Class 7A: St. Rita vs. Brother Rice
Game Overview
The Crusaders are hungry for a state title and tired of playing third fiddle to Mount Carmel and St. Rita on the South Side. Brother Rice’s last state title was in 1981. The Crusaders lost championship games in 1985 and 2018.
Brother Rice has been the second-best team in the area all season, and won 28-10 at St. Rita on Sept. 12. Throw that result out the window. The Mustangs were without quarterback Steven Armbruster and receiver Walter Jones in that game.
St. Rita is on a seven-game winning streak and is averaging 45 points over that stretch. But Brother Rice is a step up in class from all those opponents. The Mustangs’ best chance at pulling off the upset on Saturday is to force turnovers. The Crusaders have thrown eight interceptions and lost two fumbles this season, so that will be a tall task.
Brother Rice quarterback CJ Gray, an Army recruit, has thrown for 1,697 yards and 22 TDs this season. He’s also rushed for 422 yards and 12 TDs. Jameson Davis has rushed for 822 yards and Jaylin Green leads with 927 rushing yards.
Keep a close eye on Brother Rice defensive end Kameron McGee. He’s one of the best players in the country. So far this season, he has 42 tackles, 7.5 sacks and
