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Here’s how Chicagoland high school football teams fared in Week 1 of play.

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East St. Louis 42, Mount Carmel 23

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Mount Carmel's Brady Cloherty (13) throws a pass against East St. Louis during a nonconference game at Hancock Stadium in Normal on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Daily Southtown)
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Brady Cloherty ended up getting his shot with his new team Mount Carmel right away in Saturday night’s season opener. He came off the bench to throw a pair of long touchdown passes but also tossed two late interceptions as East St. Louis rallied to top Mount Carmel 42-23 at Illinois State’s Hancock Stadium.

Cloherty completed 13 of 23 passes for 279 yards for the Caravan (0-1), who had a 19-game winning streak snapped. Marshaun Thornton hauled in five catches for 148 yards and two TDs and returned a free kick 78 yards for another score.

Michigan recruit Tavares Harrington forced a fumble and blocked a field goal, while Mason Andrews had an interception and a sack. Read more here.

Providence 28, St. Rita 21

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Providence's Brayden McKay (1) finds a whole in the line on his way to a touchdown against St. Rita in the first quarter during a Catholic League crossover game in Chicago on Friday, August. 21, 2026. (Vincent D. Johnson / for the Daily Southtown)
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Providence’s Brayden McKay is a throwback talent with a single-minded purpose. And the senior running back has a knack for making plays in every conceivable way.

“I’m one of those guys where it’s a tough situation and I want the ball in my hands,” he said. “When they called for me to get the ball, I was ready and I knew I was going to score.”

McKay rushed for two touchdowns Friday night, leading the Celtics to a hard-fought 28-21 victory over host St. Rita in a Catholic League crossover game in Chicago. Read more here.

Marist 44, Simeon 28

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Marist’s QB Jake Fleming (9) keeps the ball gaining yards during the football game against Simeon in Chicago on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026 (James C. Svehla / for Daily Southtown)
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Jake Fleming passed for 259 yards and three touchdowns, leading host Marist  to a 44-28 nonconference victory over Simeon.

Tommy Hosty, a senior all-purpose star, scored two rushing TDs out of the Wildcat formation and set up another TD with an interception for Marist (1-0). Senior running back Conor Hunt chipped in with 136 yards on 28 carries and caught a 33-yard TD pass.

The most significant connection for the young quarterback, meanwhile, was also his most familiar. Sophomore receiver Conor Fleming, Jake’s brother, caught five passes for 74 yards and two TDs.

In the first career start for both players, Jake Fleming threw a dart over the middle in the second quarter that his brother turned into a 30-yard TD catch — the first career score for both players. Read more here.

Lincoln-Way East 22, Brother Rice 21

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Brother Rice's Kameron McGee (5) pressures Lincoln-Way East's Evan Lefevour (10) in the back field during a nonconference game in Frankfort on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (Sean King / for The Daily Southtown)
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Junior Evan LeFevour won Lincoln-Way East’s quarterback competition in the preseason. The prize? Becoming the successor to Jonas Williams, the state’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns who is now playing at USC.

“There’s always expectations, but I was ready to fill my own shoes,” LeFevour said. “Not be anyone else. I just want to be myself. I’m not trying to emulate anyone else.

“I’m just ready to go.”

He sure was on Friday night. LeFevour threw a pair of touchdown passes, including a huge 62-yard strike to Landon Martinez on a trick play, as the host Griffins rallied to stun defending Class 7A champion Brother Rice 22-21 in a season opener in Frankfort. Read more here.

Oswego 44, Neuqua Valley 22

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Oswego High School tight end Ryan Wynn is celebrated by teammates after he scored a touchdown in the second quarter during a game against Neuqua Valley High School, Friday, August 21, 2026, at Oswego High School in Oswego.(Dominic Di Palermo/Aurora Beacon News)
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Checking in at 6-foot-4 1/2 and 225 pounds, senior tight end Ryan Wynn served notice for host Oswego in a 44-22 nonconference win at home over Neuqua Valley that the best is, indeed, yet to come.

Wynn finished with three catches for 108 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter from senior quarterback Drew Kleinhans that accounted for one of four lead changes in a close first half.

“I had six catches last year and I think my season yardage total was 80-something,” Wynn said. “I know it was below a hundred yards. I was more of a blocking tight end because we had Teddy Manikas and Mariano Velasco at wide receiver doing a great job.

“Obviously, one of my goals is to show more this season and prove to South Dakota State that they picked a good guy.” Read more here.

Andrew 21, Oak Forest 18

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Andrew running back Landon Paredes (1) runs for a gain past Oak Forest running back Davian Picon (5) during a Southwest Suburban Conference football game at Victor Andrew High School in Tinley Park on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (Talia Sprague / Daily Southtown)
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Teammates and coaches insist that senior running back Landon Paredes can do it all for Andrew. But Paredes believes that he can’t do a thing without a little help from his friends.

They worked well together Friday night.

Paredes, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound speedster, reached the end zone on a 92-yard kickoff return and came through with 29 yards on three carries during the final scoring drive as the host Thunderbolts notched a come-from-behind 21-18 nonconference victory over Oak Forest in Tinley Park. Read more here.

Batavia 49, Maine South 35

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Batavia’s Michael Vander Luitgaren (8) looks to connect with an open receiver downfield against Maine South during a nonconference game in Batavia on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / for the The Beacon-News)
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Coming into a matchup against another Division I quarterback, Batavia senior Michael Vander Luitgaren could have easily downplayed the situation.

The Wyoming commit could have said his showdown with Indiana recruit Jameson Purcell and Maine South in Friday night’s season opener wasn’t even on his mind.

Vander Luitgaren actually approached it the opposite way. Read more here.

St. Charles East 27, Metea Valley 10

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Metea Valley's Oluwatitomi Ajibola (11) (bottom) takes down St. Charles East's Rowan Slovick (10) in the fourth quarter against St. Charles East during a non conference game in St. Charles on Friday, August 21, 2026. (H. Rick Bamman/for the Naperville Sun)
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Metea Valley senior Tito Ajibola, a tight end/linebacker, made his first career start Friday night and shined on both sides of the ball during the Mustangs’ 27-10 season-opening road loss against St. Charles East.

He was one of the bright spots on defense and also led the team in receiving, finishing with five catches for 102 yards and the Mustangs’ only touchdown. Read more here.

Zion-Benton 61, North Chicago 12

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Zion-Benton’s Alonte Lockett (22), reacting after a tackle, during the game on Friday, August 21, 2026, in North Chicago. (Mark Ukena/for the Lake County News-Sun)
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Having entertained offers from Football Bowl Subdivision programs, Zion-Benton senior running back Jamere French intends to be a dominant force this season.

But French won’t be satisfied with that if the Zee-Bees don’t qualify for the playoffs.

“I don’t plan on losing to anyone the rest of the way, honestly. I’m definitely looking to take my team to the playoffs and beyond.”

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French certainly did his part in the season opener on Friday, rushing for 260 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries as the team routed North Chicago 61-12 on the road. Read more here.

Crown Point 42, Lowell 7

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Crown Point’s Ethan Ziolkowski (1) goes into the end zone in front of cheering fans to score against Lowell during a non-conference football game in Crown Point on August 21, 2026. (John Smierciak/for the Post-Tribune).
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Crown Point senior Ethan Ziolkowski has earned the confidence and belief of coaches and teammates alike.

Ziolkowski, a 6-foot-3, 175-pound wide receiver, showed why during the season opener against visiting Lowell (Ind.) on Friday. Read more here.

Geneva 28, Libertyville 14

The fastest teenager in Illinois high school football put the rest of the state on notice in Week 1.

Bennett Konkey opened the season with a 100-yard kickoff return, followed it up with a 70-yard touchdown catch on his first offensive snap and later took a 49-yard screen pass streaking down the sideline for six more points.

It all happened in the first eight minutes of the game. Read more here.

Hersey 38, Carmel 22

Hersey quarterback Jake Nawrot looks for a receiver Friday night in the Huskies' season opener against Carmel in Arlington Heights. (Mike McGraw / Daily Herald)
Hersey quarterback Jake Nawrot looks for a receiver Friday night in the Huskies' season opener against Carmel in Arlington Heights. (Mike McGraw / Daily Herald)

Here’s the issue with teams trying to deal with Hersey this season.

Late in the first half Friday, Carmel’s defense had the Huskies backed up deep in their own end. Then suddenly, a 44-yard pass to Dom Wentink, followed by 33 yards to Josh Riggs, and Hersey was in control of the game.

Hersey quarterback Jake Nawrot, a Kentucky commit, threw for 273 yards and the Huskies opened the season with a 38-22 nonconference victory over Carmel. Read more here.

Wheaton Warrenville South 27, Naperville Central 7

Wheaton Warrenville South quarterback AJ Rogers
Wheaton Warrenville South quarterback AJ Rogers carries the ball between Naperville Central's Jack Latus, left, and Jax Pytlak on the opening night of the high school football season in Wheaton on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (Joe Lewnard/Daily Herald)

Like Wheaton Warrenville South football coach Sean Norris said before the season opener on Friday, it was like the old DuPage Valley Conference days.

The Tigers’ 27-7 win over Naperville Central at Red Grange Field in Wheaton marked the first time the former conference foes had faced each other since the 2017 season, the last time both were in the DVC. Read more here.

Prospect 31, Stevenson 10

Prospect's Matthew Donnelly runs for a touchdown against Stevenson in the first quarter of a nonconference game in Lincolnshire on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (John Starks / Daily Herald)
Prospect's Matthew Donnelly runs for a touchdown against Stevenson in the first quarter of a nonconference game in Lincolnshire on Friday, Aug. 21, 2026. (John Starks / Daily Herald)

Prospect senior Matthew Donnelly has an offer on the table to compete for Yale after graduation, and he says he’s seriously considering it.

If it happens, the Ivy League school will be getting not only one smart kid, but also a terrific football player.

Friday night in the season opener at Stevenson, Donnelly paced his team to a 31-10 nonconference win. He rushed for 175 yards and scored three touchdowns, with two on runs from scrimmage, including a 62-yard scamper, and also a long kickoff return. Read more here.