High School Sports

Week 8 recap: How Chicagoland high school football teams fared

Here's how Chicagoland high school football teams fared in Week 8 of play.

Batavia's Darin Ashiru (0) avoids the tackle from St. Charles East's Brady Habas (3) during a DuKane Conference game in St. Charles on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. (Mark Black / for the Beacon-News)

Morgan Park’s Ronald Smith Jr. (1) hands the ball off against King during a Public League Red Star game at Lane Stadium in Chicago on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Jeremy Toney / Daily Southtown)

Realizing pressure makes diamonds, Morgan Park’s Ronald Smith Jr. runs past King: ‘Right now, I’m the diamond’

Thornwood's Jayden Lester (3) throws a pass while under pressure by Bloom’s Brian Ellis (45) during a Southland Conference game in Chicago Heights on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (Sean King / Daily Southtown)

Thornwood’s Jayden Lester, a Homewood-Flossmoor transfer, finds his happy place at QB in big win over Bloom

Gavin Gutierrez is Lowell’s new QB, but teammates already follow him: ‘That’s a kid you want to play for’
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By Michael Osipoff

August 20, 2026 at 7:03 a.m.

Lowell senior Gavin Gutierrez moves back to the position he played growing up after quarterback...

A Division I prospect for his blocking, Naperville North tight end Aiden Trasatt aims to be ‘dual threat’

By Matt Le Cren

August 20, 2026 at 6:45 a.m.

High school football fans and college scouts are going to see a lot more of...

Montini quarterback Israel Abrams interacts with teammates and coaches between drills at football practice in Lombard on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. (Joe Lewnard / Daily Herald)

Going deep: Why is the Chicago area producing so many good high school quarterbacks?

By Mike McGraw

August 20, 2026 at 9:35 a.m.

The story of how the Chicago area beat the odds to become a hub of...

Longtime basketball coach Ken Johnson, who took Hinsdale Central and Stevenson downstate, has died at 81. (Johnson family photo)

Ken Johnson, a longtime suburban boys basketball coach, dies at 81

By Mike McGraw

August 20, 2026 at 6:42 p.m.

Ken Johnson could be described as mild-mannered, unassuming, small in stature. At the same time,...

Oswego's Ammar Banire carries the ball against Oswego East during a Southwest Prairie Conference game in Oswego on Oct. 17, 2025. (Sean King / For The Beacon-News)

Countdown to football: Top 10 rankings for Beacon-News/Courier-News

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By Rick Armstrong

August 19, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.

Who is the No. 1 team in the Aurora/Elgin area? Here are our rankings before...

Oswego’s Ryan Wynn (16) gets swarmed by a bunch of fans after scoring a TD against Geneva during a nonconference game in Oswego on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)

Rick Armstrong’s top 10 football teams and 50 players to watch from Aurora-Elgin area for the 2026 season

By Rick Armstrong

August 25, 2026 at 11:52 p.m.

Oswego returns 12 starters from 8A state runner-up, while Batavia, St. Charles North and Geneva...

Mount Carmel's Roman Igwebuike lines up on defense against the Hun School of Princeton from New Jersey during a nonconference game in Chicago on Aug. 29, 2024. (Vincent D. Johnson/ Daily Southtown)

Countdown to football: Top 10 rankings for Daily Southtown

By Steve Millar

August 19, 2026 at 10:15 a.m.

Who is the No. 1 team in the Southland? Here are our Top 10 rankings...

Oswego’s Ammar Banire (34) picks up yards against Mount Carmel during the Class 8A state championship game in DeKalb on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / The Beacon-News)

Countdown to football: With 4 Power Four offers in hand, Ammar Banire sees opening ahead for No. 1 Oswego

By Rick Armstrong

August 19, 2026 at 10:10 p.m.

Ammar Banire appears to be on the verge of big things for Oswego, which is...

Mount Carmel's Quentin Burrell (4) and Marshaun Thornton (3) celebrate a TD against Loyola during a CCL/ESCC Blue game in Wilmette on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025. (Talia Sprague / Daily Southtown)

Steve Millar’s top 10 football teams and 50 players to watch from the Southland for the 2026 season

By Steve Millar

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September 27, 2026 at 10:46 a.m.

Defending state champs Mount Carmel and Brother Rice top list, but Lincoln-Way East, Providence and...

Mount Carmel's Roman Igwebuike (32) reads Lincoln-Way East's offense after the snap during a Class 8A state quarterfinal game in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)

Countdown to football: Notre Dame recruit Roman Igwebuike wants to make even more noise for No. 1 Mount Carmel

By Steve Millar

August 19, 2026 at 9:48 a.m.

Notre Dame commit Roman Igwebuike leads loaded Mount Carmel, which is No. 1 in the...

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