Six Chicagoland prep football programs, including two from the city, claimed Illinois High School Association state championships over Thanksgiving weekend in Normal.
The state football championship games were held Friday and Saturday in each of the IHSA’s eight classes at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University.
Chicago Mt. Carmel won its third straight state title in Class 7A for its state-record 16th IHSA football championship overall, while DePaul College Prep of Chicago claimed its first state title in Class 4A.
In Class 8A, which is comprised of the state’s largest schools, Loyola Academy of Wilmette topped York Community High School of Elmhurst to complete its own state championship three-peat.
Also from Chicagoland, Nazareth Academy of La Grange Park won the state title in Class 5A, Montini Catholic of Lombard claimed the state title in Class 3A and Chicago Christian of Palos Heights came home with the state championship in Class 2A.
In addition to York in Class 8A, Chicagoland teams earning state runner-up finishes were Batavia in Class 7A, Geneva in Class 6A and Joliet Catholic Academy in Class 5A.
Here are some highlights from the IHSA state football championship games:
Class 8A: Loyola Academy (Wilmette) 35, York Community High School (Elmhurst) 14 (box score)
The Ramblers broke a 14-14 tie with three unanswered TDs to win their third consecutive Class 8A state championship and their sixth IHSA state title overall. They ended the season 12-2. Drew MacPherson rushed 19 times for 152 yards and two TDs and also caught a TD pass for Loyola, Ryan Fitzgerald passed for 160 yards and three TDs, Gavin Vradenburg and Will Carlson each had a TD catch, and Charlie Daly recorded 12 tackles. Bruno Massel rushed 17 times for 141 yards and a TD to lead York, which was seeking its first IHSA state title but finished 11-3.
Class 7A: Chicago Mt. Carmel 55, Batavia 34 (box score)
There was plenty of offense in this one, with Mt. Carmel racking up 508 total yards and Batavia gaining 406. The Caravan separated with 21 second-quarter points to win their third consecutive Class 7A state title and their 16th IHSA state title overall. They finished the season 11-3. Mt. Carmel QB Jack Elliott threw for 301 yards and set an IHSA state title-game record with six passing TDs, while Le’Javier Payne had an INT on defense. Batavia QB Michael Vander nearly matched Elliott, passing for 390 yards and three TDs. All of those were caught by Brett Berggren, who finished with eight catches for 191 yards, setting a Class 7A title-game record. The Bulldogs, who’ve lost to Mt. Carmel in the playoffs four seasons in a row, finished 12-2.
Class 6A: East St. Louis 48, Geneva 28 (box score)
The Vikings came up just short in their bid for their first IHSA state title, but they finished with a 12-2 record and earned their third runner-up finish. Geneva QB Anthony Chahino had a big game, passing for 323 yards and three TDs. Talyn Taylor caught eight passes for 116 yards and a TD, Finnegan Weppner had six receptions for 111 yards and a TD, and Joseph Pettit and Dylan Reyes each had an INT on defense.
Class 5A: Nazareth Academy (La Grange Park) 29, Joliet Catholic Academy 27 (box score)
In the closest game of the weekend, Joliet Catholic rallied with 13 fourth-quarter points after trailing 29-14, but Nazareth Academy stopped a game-tying 2-point try with 20 seconds left then recovered the ensuing onside kick to hang on for its third straight Class 5A championship and sixth IHSA state title overall. Nazareth Academy, which finished 12-2, got 336 yards passing and four TDs from QB Logan Malachuk. Trenton Walker caught four passes for 122 yards and two TDs, Garrett Reese made 16 tackles, and Dylan Wellner had an INT. For Joliet Catholic, which finished 10-4, Larry Stringham rushed for 147 yards, Nate Magrini ran for 125 yards and a TD, and Ian Campbell had three tackles-for-loss, including a sack. The Hilltoppers remain at 15 IHSA state championships, now one behind Chicago Mt. Carmel for most in state history.
Class 4A: DePaul College Prep (Chicago) 40, Mt. Zion 6 (box score)
The Rams won their first IHSA state title after qualifying for the playoffs for just the second time in program history, finishing with an 11-3 record. Nick Martinez ran for 100 yards and three TDs, Nicholas Hathcoat ran for 91 yards and a TD and added an INT on defense, and DePaul College Prep’s defense held Mt. Zion to 146 total yards.
Class 3A: Montini Catholic (Lombard) 49, Monticello 8 (box score)
The Broncos dominated, building a 35-0 halftime lead on their way to a 12-2 finish and the seventh IHSA state title in program history. Jeremiah Peterson rushed for 134 yards and a TD, Santino Florio added 91 rushing yards and a TD, Israel Abrams passed for 225 yards and three TDs, and CJ Harkins caught two passes for 123 yards and two TDs, scoring on catch-and-run plays of 53 yards in the first quarter and 70 yards in the second quarter.
Class 2A: Chicago Christian (Palos Heights) 47, Maroa-Forsyth 0 (box score)
The Knights cruised to claim the first IHSA state title in program history and finish the season 13-1. Kenny Jager rushed for 223 yards and a TD, Christian Flutman passed for 132 yards and two TDs, and Brock Sperling recorded 2.5 tackles-for-loss, a sack, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery to key the shutout on defense.
Class 1A: Althoff Catholic (Belleville) 57, Lena-Winslow 14 (box score)
Althoff Catholic’s Dierre Hill Jr. rushed for 438 yards and six TDs, the second-most rushing yards ever in an IHSA state title game, behind only Ty Isaac’s 515 for Joliet Catholic in the 2011 Class 5A title game. Hill’s six rushing TDs also tied Isaac for most ever in an IHSA state championship game. Hill had TD runs of 78, 65 and 59 yards. He also had an 80-yard TD reception.
Conclusion:
Six Chicagoland prep football programs claimed IHSA state championships over the weekend, with two from the city, Chicago Mt. Carmel and DePaul College Prep, taking home titles in Class 7A and Class 4A, respectively. The championships mark the 16th state title for Mt. Carmel and the first for DePaul College Prep.
FAQs:
- Which teams from Chicagoland won IHSA state championships?
- Chicago Mt. Carmel (Class 7A), DePaul College Prep (Class 4A), Loyola Academy (Class 8A), Nazareth Academy (Class 5A), Montini Catholic (Class 3A), Chicago Christian (Class 2A), and Althoff Catholic (Class 1A)
- How many state championships did Chicago Mt. Carmel win?
- 16
- How many state championships did DePaul College Prep win?
- 1
- What was the outcome of the Class 8A state championship game?
- Loyola Academy won 35-14 over York Community High School
