Only because I have a little time and I am sick of you posting I will use your logic to put you in your place.
Your top teams have been LWE, HF, MC and Warren. You are determined to exclude ESL so I will for this discussion. Now according to you, ESL had no good wins therefore they can't be in the discussion. They only beat NV by 2 therefore they weren't good. Got it. Here we go.
HF only quality win was against "the Brook". The only other team they beat with a winning record during the regular season was Andrew at 7-3. Andrew lost first round of the 7A playoffs. Add the fact that "the Brook" lost to Andrew, we can conclude by your methodology that the Brook, who lost to Andrew and HF, who's top victory of the season was over the "Brook" ended the year with Zero quality wins. Unfortunately we can't count NV simply because that will now bring ESL back into the picture. No Dice.
Now let's move on to LWE using your logic. We have established that "the Brook" lost to Andrew, who lost in the first round of 7A is not a quality opponent. This in turn eliminate HF as a quality opponent considering their only good win was against the Brook. That being the case, LWE didn't have any good wins simply because "the Brook" and HF were their only opponents with a winning record. Unfortunately there is no way LWE can be a top team based on your logic.
MC only beat 7-4 Marmion Academy who lost in the first round of 6A by 6 points. If ESL beating 8-1 second round 8A NV by 2 eliminates them from top teams, surely this 6-0 win crushed MC hopes of ever being the top team.
Thinking about it, there was NO top team in the state this year because non of the top teams had a quality win this year. Back to the scheduling drawing board for next year. Hopefully the AD's can get some quality opponents on the schedule.
Back to prove how little you know about IL football I see.
Right off the bat you are incorrect, which isn't a surprise. You've shown an inability to comprehend what you allegedly read. NV is a good team and your best win, but they were not on the level of H-F or the teams on H-F's level and above. Had NV made a run you would have an argument. Too bad, so sad.
H-F also has a win over NV which was much more convincing than ESL's. H-F also holds a one point win over BB. Due to the Andrew loss the BB win didn't look as good until the HC blowout and win over Oswego. So you're wrong here again.
LWE holds two convincing wins over H-F (who proved to be much better than ESL via NV). A win over Warren. A win over Marist (beat LA 2x). Nothing really needs to be said here.
MC had a lot of close games which definitely weighs against them. But they do have a win over LA, Marist, Naz, etc. Nothing really needs to be said here. Plus they beat the brakes off of ESL the past two years.
There actually was a path for ESL to be confirmed. A lot of ways actually. Batavia could have gone 8-1 in dominating fashion in the regular season and won 7A by demolishing either Naz or MC the way MC did Naz. That would have proven ESL.
Edwardsville could have won 8A or even taken the 8A champs to it's closest or toughest game. As it stands they got manhandled by Minooka who got handled by Rice who got handled by Warren... You get the idea. Pretty sure you guys predicted a run for Edwardsville.
NV could have won 8A and that would have given you the edge. Instead they got handled by H-F in much more convincing fashion. You guys predicted a run for NV too.
NC could have won 8A. Instead they didn't make the playoffs.
Huntley could have won 8A afterall they were somehow able to beat the PR you want to claim was as good as MC. As it stands 2nd round exit.
Any of those options could have validated ESL as a #1 option. Not only did they not happen, it wasn't even close. If coach Sunkett wants to really be seen as #1 have him put his big boy pants on and stop running from the top class.
