Brother Rice, Lincoln-Way East, Oak Lawn, Mount Carmel and Kenwood are the picks to click for Week 9.
Marist (5-3, 0-2) at Brother Rice (6-2, 1-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The Crusaders come into the Battle of Pulaski on a four-game winning streak that includes a huge 35-24 victory over Mount Carmel in Week 6.
Brother Rice could share the Catholic League Blue title with a win if Mount Carmel beats Loyola.
Freshman quarterback Sam Holcomb continues to impress for the Crusaders, while senior running back Jameson Davis, an Army commit, leads the ground game.
Marist has lost each of its first two Catholic League Blue games by 30 points but has been successful otherwise. Junior quarterback Jake Fleming and sophomore receiver Conor Fleming, who are brothers, are a productive duo.
X-factor: Kameron McGee, Brother Rice, junior, defensive lineman/receiver.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Brother Rice.
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Lincoln-Way West (5-3, 2-3) at Lincoln-Way East (8-0, 6-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: These district foes meet for just the third time, with Lincoln-Way East having won the previous two games, the last coming in the 2021 pandemic spring season.
The Griffins have already clinched the SouthWest Suburban Conference title and have won all of their six league games by at least 21 points. Senior tight end Lucca Merritt caught a TD pass in a 40-0 win over Lockport, emerging as another option for junior quarterback Evan LeFevour.
Lincoln-Way West will try to make it a successful district doubleheader after edging Lincoln-Way Central 14-10 in Week 8 as senior quarterback Jacob Howard ran for the game-winning 35-yard TD with just under four minutes to go.
X-factor: Jayden Cawthon, Lincoln-Way East, senior, receiver/kick returner.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Lincoln-Way East.
Oak Lawn (7-1) at Lemont (4-4)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Oak Lawn comes into this South Suburban Conference crossover looking to secure a top seed in the playoffs.
The Spartans dominated defensively in a 15-0 win over Eisenhower in Week 8, while their offense has been successful all season behind senior running back Jayden Schlosser and junior quarterback Danny Strelow.
It’s been an up-and-down regular season for Lemont, which has struggled to score in its four losses but has put up big points in its four wins, including Friday’s 53-0 victory over Bremen.
The running back duo of junior Tommy Markun and senior Andrew Ascolani has been productive.
X-factor: Blake Hovanes, Oak Lawn, junior, receiver.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Oak Lawn.
Mount Carmel (6-2, 1-1) at Loyola (8-0, 2-0)
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Defending Class 8A champion Mount Carmel likely needs a win to avoid an opening-round playoff game.
Senior quarterback Brady Cloherty has thrown 12 TD passes over the last two weeks for the Caravan, including five Friday in the first half of a 42-14 win over Joliet Catholic. Junior receiver Marshaun Thornton has been the biggest threat on an offense full of them.
With a victory, the Caravan would share the Catholic League Blue title with the Ramblers — and potentially Brother Rice, if the Crusaders beat Marist.
Loyola is looking to win the league outright and finish a perfect regular season. Junior quarterback Matthew Lee and junior running back Melo Maldonado are tough to stop.
X-factor: Ty Kennedy, Mount Carmel, junior, tight end.
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Steve Millar’s prediction: Mount Carmel.
Morgan Park (7-1) vs. Kenwood (6-2)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday at Lane Stadium.
Matchup breakdown: This is the first edition of Chicago Public Schools’ new Week 9 city championship game, featuring the winners of the Public League’s top two divisions.
Morgan Park, the champion of the Red Star division, meets up with Red Shield division champion Kenwood.
The Mustangs were dominant in conference play, with their lone close call coming last week in a 22-13 win over King. Junior quarterback Ronald Smith Jr. has had a big year, while senior defensive back Antonio Richardson has been a playmaker with three interceptions.
Junior quarterback Malachi Henigan has thrown for 1,695 yards and 20 TDs, with 11 of them going to senior receiver Lawrence Carr, a Power Four recruit.
X-factor: Kenneth Sims, Morgan Park, senior, receiver/kick returner.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Kenwood.