The first time Marvin Burks Jr. stepped on the field as a freshman his name was not his own.

He made his debut at safety for the Cardinal Ritter football team against Nazareth Academy in suburban Chicago. The Roadrunners were led by future NFL draft pick and current Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Burks made an interception that game, but his name didn’t ring out over the public address system when he did.

Ritter’s old coaching staff changed up the roster and gave Burks’ name to an ineligible player who ran wild at running back in what was at the time a statement win for the Lions.
“I was so locked in on the game they were saying Marvin Burks and I wasn’t thinking too much of it,” Burks said.

On Wednesday he signed to continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Missouri, where he will enroll in January.

Burks and teammate Fredrick Moore are the first students to graduate Ritter early. In order to do so, both took additional classes online during the recently completed semester while also fulfilling their Christian service-hours requirement.

A few short minutes in St.Rita 7 Kenwood 0

the inevitable "Private vs. Public" arguments that accompany playoff loses.

Semifinal Saturday went fairly in line with what was expected, leaving the 618 with two advancing teams. East St. Louis will represent the southern part of the state in 6A and Mt. Carmel will do so in 3A. We lost Roxana in a shootout against Mt. Carmel and Murphysboro met their demise against powerhouse Rochester.

Class 6A
#4 East St. Louis (11-2) vs #3 Cary Grove (11-2) SATURDAY 1:00 PM
The Flyers reached the state championship by way of an odd 34-18 semifinal against Washington. Senior Jaion Jackson housed the opening kickoff for the Flyers for a 7-0 start but East St. Louis would only take one snap in the first quarter while Washington inched within 7-3. The only other score of the half came when "Pops" Battle tossed a 16 yard score to Rico Bond for a 13-6 edge. Bond caught the game's only third quarter score for his fifth postseason touchdowns and as well to go ahead 20-3. East Side eventually pulled ahead 26-3 before some late scores provided the 34-18 final.
Turning focus towards this week's game, the obvious storyline here is what happened when East Side met Cary Grove in the title game two years ago. Can the Trojans pull off another upset like their 37-36 win in the last meeting? If they do, it won't be because they East Side cannot figure out the offensive scheme, as evidenced by their 57-7 dismantling of Prairie Ridge in last year's final. Speaking of last year's state title, the Flyers will be player for their first repeat titles since their 83, 84 and 85 back-to-back-to-back state championships.
The prediction? "Pops" Battle avenges the lone loss in his career 13-1 playoff record as starting quarterback. This does seem like it should be a pretty close game however. Cary Grove's defense really pops off the page, which leads one to expect a lower scoring game than their last meeting. East Side's defense is impressive too, but its their offense that seems like the difference maker here.

Class 3A
#4 Mt. Carmel (12-1) vs #1 Byron (13-0) FRIDAY 4:00 PM
Mt. Carmel made it to the state championship after racing by Roxana in a 63-48 track meet. In the first half, 10 of the 11 offensive possessions resulted in touchdowns. The Golden Aces recorded the lone stop on Roxana's last drive, kicking them ahead 42-28. Looking back, it feels like that one stop made all the difference. Mt. Carmel was only stopped once all day - when they kneed out the clock on their final drive. Quarterback Blayne Sisson made all of the difference in the world in this one for Mt. Carmel, running for 5TDs and 300+ yards with another score and 100+ yards through the air. Sisson also played as a defensive back most of the day.
Byron has been the 3A favorite all year long and for good reason. Before their 26-20 victory over Montini last week, they had not played a game within 36 points. Through 13 games, their average score has been 58-6.7. Expect the Tigers to win here, but if Mt. Carmel has a chance, they will need to turn this into another shootout with Sisson running wild.

Who had the toughest road to the final?
I truly believe every team in the final deserves to be in the state championship.
That being said in your opinion who do you think had the hardest road?

CPC 7, LW 0

5 min left 2nd Qtr.

We can get back to stupid pointless arguments that will never go anywhere tomorrow, but for today enjoy the time with your families and friends, don't over cook the bird, bet the Lions to beat the Packers, and be thankful for all that you have.

Happy Thanksgiving you jive turkey's!

Congrats to all of you who still have a dog in the fight. As I say every year, if a team is good enough to make it this far, winning one more would not be an upset. Thanks for a fun year. When I started this thread almost 20 years ago, I never thought I'd still be doing all these years later...... But it's fun, and I think most of us enjoy it. Thanks to our guy Edgy, for allowing us to nerd out on high school football each week. I truly believe it's one of the last pure things left in sports. Enjoy the weekend. GO MC!@!!

Not everyone can be near a tv - especially if their family has BFI (Black Friday Itch).

I will be in studio for all 8 games Pregame and halftime make sure to turn in starting tomorrow 10am

Games will be on The UToo (Xfinity channel 230) Friday then on WCIU (Xfinity 183) on Saturday

For shits and giggles and for conversation sake. Who are you taking as your top 10 fantasy football players in the abate of Illinois?

CCL/ESCC ORANGE (5A) AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS
CARMEL (1-2)
ST. FRANCIS (3-4)
ST. LAURENCE (19)
ST. PATRICK (20)

5A Field: Add Danville, Dunlap, Kaneland, Champaign Centennial, Simeon, Lemont, Wauconda, St. Laurence, St. Patrick and drop Joliet Catholic, Nazareth, Providence, Evergreen Park, Highland, Morris, Rochelle, Sacred-Heart Griffin, and Corliss

5A: #1 Payton, #2 Carmel, #3 Prairie Ridge, #4 St. Francis, #5 Antioch, #6 Morgan Park, #7 Morton, #8 Sycamore, #9 Glenbard South, #10 Mahomet Seymour, #11 Peoria, #12 Metamora, #13 Wauconda, #14 Chicago Noble/UIC, #15 Chicago Lindblom, #16 Carbondale, #17 TF North, #18 Kaneland, #19 St. Laurence, #20 St. Patrick, #21 Hillcrest, #22 Decatur MacArthur, #23 Dunlap, #24 Troy Triad, #25 Champaign Centennial, #26 Simeon, #27 Lemont, #28 Danville, #29 Chicago Englewood STEM, #30 Mt. Vernon, #31 Tinley Park, #32 Sterling

1st Round: #1 Payton vs. #32 Sterling, #2 Carmel vs. #31 Tinley Park, #3 Prairie Ridge vs. #30 Mt. Vernon, #4 St. Francis vs. #29 Chicago Englewood STEM, #5 Antioch vs. #28 Danville, #6 Morgan Park, vs. #27 Lemont, #7 Morton vs. #26 Simeon, #8 Sycamore vs. #25 Champaign Centennial, #9 Glenbard South vs. #24 Troy Triad, #10 Mahomet Seymour vs. #23 Dunlap, #11 Peoria vs. #22 Decatur MacArthur, #12 Metamora vs. #21 Hillcrest, #13 Wauconda vs. #20 St. Patrick, #14 Chicago Noble/UIC vs. #19 St. Laurence, #15 Chicago Lindblom vs. #18 Kaneland, #16 Carbondale vs. #17 TF North

2nd Round: #32 Sterling vs. #17 TF North, #2 Carmel vs. #18 Kaneland, #3 Prairie Ridge vs. #19 St. Laurence, #4 St. Francis vs. #13 Wauconda, #5 Antioch vs. #21 Hillcrest, #27 Lemont vs. #11 Peoria, #7 Morton vs. #10 Mahomet Seymour, #8 Sycamore vs. #9 Glenbard South

Quarterfinals: #32 Sterling vs. #8 Sycamore, #2 Carmel vs. #7 Morton, #3 Prairie Ridge vs. #11 Peoria, #4 St. Francis vs. #5 Antioch

Semifinals: #8 Sycamore vs. #4 St. Francis, #2 Carmel vs. #3 Prairie Ridge

Finals: #4 St. Francis vs. #3 Prairie Ridge

CCL/ESCC WHITE (6A) AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS
PROVIDENCE (1-2)
FENWICK (3-4)
BENET (19)
NILES NOTRE DAME (20)

6A Field: Add Rockford Auburn, Wheaton Warrenville South, Willowbrook, Fenwick, Niles Notre Dame, Providence, Benet and drop Danville, Dunlap, Kaneland, Champaign Centennial, Simeon, Lemont, Wauconda

6A: #1 Kankakee, #2 Providence #3 Washington, #4 Fenwick, #5 Lake Zurich, #6 Richards, #7 East St. Louis, #8 Lake View, #9 Cary Grove, #10 Belvidere North, #11 Normal West, #12 Mather, #13 Geneva, #14 Riverside-Brookfield, #15 Willowbrook, #16 Chatham Glenwood, #17 Crete-Monee, #18 Eisenhower, #19 Benet, #20 Niles Notre Dame, #21 Chicago Senn, #22 Highland Park, #23 Grant, #24 Chicago Amundsen, #25 Bloomington, #26 Libertyville, #27 Chicago Hubbard, #28 Wheaton Warrenville South, #29 Lake Forest, #30 Crystal Lake Central, #31 Rockford Auburn, #32 Bremen

1st Round: #1 Kankakee vs. #32 Bremen, #2 Providence vs. #31 Rockford Auburn, #3 Washington vs. #30 Crystal Lake Central, #4 Fenwick vs. #29 Lake Forest, #5 Lake Zurich vs. #28 Wheaton Warrenville South, #6 Richards vs. #27 Chicago Hubbard, #7 East St. Louis vs. #26 Libertyville, #8 Chicago Lake View vs. #25 Bloomington, #9 Cary Grove vs. #24 Chicago Amundsen, #10 Belvidere North vs. #23 Grant, #11 Normal West vs. #22 Highland Park, #12 Chicago Mather vs. #21 Chicago Senn, #13 Geneva vs. #20 Niles Notre Dame, #14 Riverside-Brookfield vs. #19 Benet, #15 Willowbrook vs. #18 Eisenhower, #16 Chatham Glenwood vs. #17 Crete-Monee

2nd Round: #1 Kankakee vs. #17 Crete Monee, #2 Providence vs. #15 Willowbrook, #3 Washington vs. #14 Riverside-Brookfield, #4 Fenwick vs. #13 Geneva, #5 Lake Zurich vs. #12 Chicago Mather, #6 Richards vs. #11 Normal West, #7 East St. Louis vs. #10 Belvidere North, #25 Bloomington vs. #9 Cary Grove

Quarterfinals: #1 Kankakee vs. #9 Cary Grove, #2 Providence vs. #7 East St. Louis, #3 Washington vs. #6 Richards, #13 Geneva vs. #5 Lake Zurich

Semifinals: #9 Cary Grove vs. #5 Lake Zurich, #7 East St. Louis vs. #3 Washington

Finals #9 Cary Grove vs. #7 East St. Louis

Athens vs. Wilmington - Some predicted the Cats to be here (if not win it), some did not. Time to see if they capitalize on their 4th trip to the state finals. I think Wilmo has every opportunity to win this game as long as they don't self implode. Athens lost by a score the Maroa in week 9, but as we know teams evolve over the playoffs and hit their stride. Wilmington has had their ground game rolling and I don't anticipate it slowing down. I don't think Wilmo dominates like some are calling for, but I do think it's a comfy win. Wilmo 35 Athens 20

CCL/ESCC GREEN (7A) AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS
BROTHER RICE (1-2)
ST. RITA (3-4)
NAZARETH (17-18)
JOLIET CATHOLIC (19-20)

7A Field: Add Edwardsville, Glenbard West, Nazareth and Joliet Catholic and drop Mt. Carmel, Rockford Auburn, Wheaton Warrenville South, Willowbrook

7A; #1 Normal, #2 Brother Rice, #3 Hononegah, #4 St. Rita, #5 Quincy #6 Hersey, #7 Maine West, #8 Batavia, #9 Edwardsville, #10 Lincoln Park, #11 Glenbard East, #12 Lincoln-Way Central, #13 Prospect, #14 Lincoln-Way West, #15 Downers Grove North, #16 Glenbard West, #17 Whitney Young, #18 Bradley-Bourbonnais, #19 Joliet Catholic, #20 Nazareth, #21 St. Charles North, #22 Yorkville, #23 Wheaton North, #24 Kenwood, #25 Hoffman Estates, #26 Buffalo Grove, #27 Jacobs, #28 Harlem, #29 Addison Trail, #30 Collinsville, #31 West Chicago, #32 Argo

1st Round #1 Normal vs. #32 Argo, #2 Brother Rice vs. #31 West Chicago, #3 Hononegah vs. #30 Collinsville, #4 St. Rita vs. #29 Addison Trail, #5 Quincy vs. #28 Harlem, #6 Hersey vs. #27 Jacobs, #7 Maine West vs. #26 Buffalo Grove, #8 Batavia vs. #25 Hoffman Estates, #9 Edwardsville vs. #24 Kenwood, #10 Lincoln Park vs. #23 Wheaton North, #11 Glenbard East vs. #22 Yorkville, #12 Lincoln-Way Central vs. #21 St. Charles North, #13 Prospect vs. #20 Nazareth, #14 Lincoln-Way West vs. #19 Joliet Catholic, #15 Downers Grove North vs. #18 Bradley-Bourbonnais, #16 Glenbard West vs. #17 Whitney Young

2nd Round #1 Normal vs. #16 Glenbard West, #2 Brother Rice vs. #15 Downers Grove North, #3 Hononegah vs. #19 Joliet Catholic, # 4 St. Rita vs. #20 Nazareth, #5 Quincy vs. #12 Lincoln-Way Central, #6 Hersey vs. #22 Yorkville, #26 Buffalo Grove vs. #23 Wheaton North, #8 Batavia vs. #9 Edwardsville

Quarterfinals: #16 Glenbard West vs. #8 Batavia, #15 Downers Grove North vs. #19 Joliet Catholic, #20 Nazareth vs. #12 Lincoln-Way Central, #6 Hersey vs. #23 Wheaton North

Semifinals: #8 Batavia vs. #20 Nazareth, #15 Downers Grove North vs. #6 Hersey

Finals #8 Batavia vs. #15 Downers Grove North

It's been 20 years since the 48-0 drubbing they gave my teammates and I personally at memorial stadium to welcome us into the ESCC. Over the past 20 years they have met 15 times they have combined for 9 state championships and have only met one other time in the playoffs back in 2015. I have broken down the history into 3 eras:

Pre Racki 2003 and 2004:

JCA 2 - 0 points scored: 103 Championships: 2
Naz 0 - 2 points scored: 0 Championships: 0


Racki vs Sharp Era 2005 - 2016:

JCA 7 - 4 Points Scored: 368 Championships: 1
Naz 4 - 7 Points Scored: 210 Championships: 2


Racki vs Jaworski Era 2017 - Present:

JCA 0 - 2 Points Scored: 26 Championships: 2
Naz 2 - 0 Points Scored: 77 Championships: 2


None of this means anything except for the fact its a slow week at work and i have too much time on my hands looking forward to another finals appearance.

GO TROJANS !!!!

Well… we might as well start the conversation

Both teams appear to have very high powered offenses

Batavia’s motivation going into this contest might be at an all time high

There isn’t much video available on Batavia on YouTube

Thoughts on the game?

Right in their own state. It’s not like Gerry Fuast jumping from high school to Notre Dame back in 82. WIU is not as big of jump. They would fools not to look into Coach Zvonar at LW East or go young at look at Jordan Lynch at Mt. Carmel. Both would boost recruiting, booth would have great connections to recruiting in the state, and to grab power 5 looking to transfer down back into the state. Any thoughts on those two possibly getting a look at the gig?

June has arrived and so has this poster's preseason top 20 teams.

1. Mount Carmel (The state's best in back-to-back seasons.)
2. Lincoln-Way East (Reasserts itself as 8A's best after just missing last year)
3. East St. Louis (Looking forward to the showdown with Mt. Carmel)
4. Loyola (New coach and new quarterback means a slight drop in the rankings.)
5. Nazareth (A young team has grown up.)
6. Batavia (This program seems to be its best when expectations are not too high.)
7. Marist (Just a very solid 8A program)
8. Cary-Grove (Looking for a huge rebound)
9. Maine South (Controversy makes them tougher) [Bolingbrook sure seemed scared.]
10. Prairie Ridge (This program never falls too far.)
11. Brother Rice (The transition to a new coach wasn't too rocky... at least in year one.)
12. St. Rita (A new coach, but there never seems to be much separation between St. Rita and Brother Rice)
13. York (A top-notch coach equals a top-notch team.)
14. Glenbard West (If not York, then Glenbard West wins the West Suburban Silver.)
15. Lockport (Perhaps ranked too high here)
16. Joliet Catholic (Same thing... perhaps too high here)
17. Wheaton North (The DuKane League is strong.)
18. Prospect (Has excellent prospects)
19. Lake Zurich (Either they or Warren deserve recognition here.)
20. Crete-Monee (Always seems to be hanging around on the fringe of the top twenty)

Rochester, Byron, and Lena-Winslow deserve special mention as the only programs in the state to reach the semifinals in each of the last five playoffs. IC Catholic's three championships in the last five playoffs is exceeded only by Lena-Winslow's four.

Has anyone seen Blayne play this year? He had unbelievable stats in round 3 of the playoffs.

Just wanted your thoughts on him.

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Cool to see Eisenhower and LWW face off for 2024 and 2025.

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I heard they pulled a prank and put a Rochester shirt over the Big Muddy Monster in Murphysboro. Anyone have a photo?

before you have to pay for another month