Who is the No. 1 team in the Southland? Here are our Top 10 rankings before the high school football season kicks off.
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No. 10: Lincoln-Way West
Lincoln-Way West senior Jacob Howard is remarkably comfortable stepping into a new role he has never experienced. The converted wide receiver has never taken a varsity snap at quarterback.
Still, Howard knows all about the high-profile position with nowhere to hide.
And that’s the ace up his sleeve.
That Howard-led passing game will be a big boost for Lincoln-Way West (10-2), which checks in at No. 10 in the Daily Southtown preseason rankings. Read more here.
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No. 9: Lockport
Matt Kies was the embodiment of clutch last season for Lockport, making big plays time and again as the Porters went on a magical ride to the Class 8A semifinals.
Kies’ most impactful moment came when he batted down Homewood-Flossmoor’s potential game-winning 2-point conversion pass, enabling Lockport to hold on for a 21-20 second-round win. Now a senior defensive back, he’s using those memories to fuel that belief in his ability to come through when it matters the most. But he’s also taking nothing for granted.
“It’s a confidence booster, for sure, but the biggest thing for me is to stay levelheaded and stay even-keel,” Kies said. “You don’t want to get too high. When life looks like easy street, danger comes knocking on your door.”
Kies, twin brother Josh and Jake Manzo are all senior returning starters in the secondary who will look to keep Lockport out of danger. Read more here.
No. 8: Richards
Richards senior Josh Valenzuela wasn’t always sure where he belonged on the football field.
After experimenting with several positions, Valenzuela eventually found a perfect place at left tackle for the Bulldogs and developed a shrewd sense of how much depended on that.
“I started out originally at right tackle and playing defensive lineman,” he said. “But I knew how important the quarterback is and what we do offensively. We are the line itself. Protecting my teammates and my quarterback really makes possible everything we do.”
A three-year varsity starter, Valenzuela will make everything go up front on the offensive side of the ball for Richards, which checks in at No. 8 in the Daily Southtown preseason rankings. Read more here.
No. 7: Homewood-Flossmoor
If Hollywood decided to make a movie based on what Homewood-Flossmoor’s Zen Cambric experienced last Nov. 8, it could be called “Singing and the Rain.”
His day opened at 5 a.m. and continued with him singing a handful of songs with the school’s chorus — including one in Latin — in the morning and afternoon in a state contest at Elmhurst.
It ended hours later at night on the football field, with Cambric playing under heavy rain for the Vikings in a heartbreaking 21-20 loss to Lockport in the second round of the Class 8A playoffs.
“That was a crazy day,” he said. “It was one of the craziest days that I’ve ever had.”
It has definitely been a wild ride for Cambric. The junior safety returns, hoping to lead the way on a strong defense for H-F, which checks in at No. 7 in the Daily Southtown preseason rankings. Read more here.
No. 6: Sandburg
Lucas Matykiewicz didn’t play football before starting high school at Sandburg. His mother wanted to protect him from injuries when he was younger.
But it hasn’t taken Matykiewicz long to blossom on the football field — and carve out a future in the sport. The senior receiver/tight end committed over the summer to Northern Illinois.
He figures to play a big role in a veteran-led offense for the Eagles, who come in at No. 6 in the Daily Southtown preseason rankings. Read more here.
No. 5: St. Rita
As a junior, St. Rita’s Vinny Stubitsch had the rare honor of playing a prominent role in two state championship games. And the experiences were polar opposite.
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In December, Stubitsch caught just one pass at receiver as the Mustangs couldn’t get their offense going in a 16-0 loss to Brother Rice in the Class 7A final at Northern Illinois’ Huskie Stadium. But in June, the second baseman homered and hit the winning sacrifice fly in a wild 12-11, eight-inning victory over Troy Triad to win the 3A state title — the baseball program’s first championship.
As a senior, Stubitsch’s next mission is to help the football team enjoy that good feeling as St. Rita sits at No. 5 in the Daily Southtown preseason rankings. Read more here.
No. 4: Providence
Senior offensive tackle Anthony Santori III takes special pleasure in making the players around him look and play better for Providence. He creates ideal conditions for the Celtics’ playmakers to showcase their talents.
The three-year starter commands the right side and opens up holes for senior running back Broden Mackert or gives junior quarterback Dominic Vita the time he needs.
Providence, which finished 10-4 last season, returns 11 starters from a team that lost 39-35 to Wheaton St. Francis in the Class 5A state championship game. The Celtics are No. 4 in the Daily Southtown’s preseason rankings. Read more here.
No. 3: Lincoln-Way East
One way or another, senior linebacker Colton Zvonar knows this season for Lincoln-Way will mark the end of an era for him and his family.
It may be the final fall season for his father, Rob, the only head coach in the football program’s history. It will certainly be Rob’s last one coaching his sons for the Griffins.
“It’s been three years but really my whole life in the making,” said Colton, the youngest of the three Zvonar brothers who have played for their dad. “I’ve always known I’ll be the last one going out and he could possibly go out with me. It’s just surreal this year is here now.”
Colton, a three-year starter, is expected to be a key leader for the Griffins, who come in at No. 3 in the Daily Southtown preseason rankings. Read more here.
No. 2: Brother Rice
So many signs were pointing to Brother Rice’s Brayden Parks ending up at Notre Dame.
His godfather is Chris Zorich, the former NFL star for the Chicago Bears who played defensive tackle for Notre Dame. Parks’ cousin is Tony Jones Jr., another former standout for the Irish. But with more than 40 offers to juggle, it wasn’t cut and dry for Parks.
In July, Parks made his decision final.
“We all came to an agreement and my parents’ words were what truly mattered to me,” Brayden said. “That’s why they are great parents in my eyes. They loved the school.”
Parks would also love to lead the defense and help the Crusaders — who check in at No. 2 in the Daily Southtown preseason rankings — win their second straight Class 7A state championship. Read more here.
No. 1: Mount Carmel
After considering more than 50 scholarship offers, Mount Carmel’s Roman Igwebuike wrapped up his recruiting process in July when he committed to Notre Dame.
But the senior linebacker isn’t thinking too much about the future. It’s all about now as the Caravan embark on a quest for a fifth straight state championship.
“I’m definitely fired up to get down to South Bend and play some ball, but my biggest priority is where I’m at now,” Igwebuike said. “I want to make sure we get this fifth state title and make more history.
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“It was a big deal being able to end my recruiting process by giving my commitment to a team that I love, and now I can give all my focus and all my energy toward being the best player and best teammate I can be for Mount Carmel.”
Igwebuike is part of a stacked roster for the Caravan, which comes in at No. 1 in the baiduhai and Daily Southtown preseason rankings. Read more here.