Top 10
With records through Sunday and previous rankings in parentheses.
1. Mount Carmel 12-0 (1)
Denny Furlong comes through again and again for Caravan.
2. Lincoln-Way East 12-0 (2)
Sophomore Caden O’Rourke is a defensive menace like his older brother, Devin.
3. Lemont 12-0 (3)
After falling to East St. Louis in last year’s quarterfinals, can Lemont turn the tide Saturday?
4. St. Rita 10-2 (4)
Mustangs lost 35-3 to Mount Carmel in season opener. Expect a closer game in Saturday’s rematch.
5. Providence 8-4 (8)
Third-quarter kings take control after halftime again in upset of Richmond-Burton.
6. Crete-Monee 9-3 (5)
Warriors couldn’t get anything going in East St. Louis.
7. Marist 7-4 (9)
We’re looking forward to watching John Nestor and Jamel Howard in the Big Ten.
8. Morgan Park 10-2 (6)
Mustangs have a lot to be excited about in 2023.
9. Brother Rice 7-5 (7)
Crusaders were no match for Caravan this time around.
10. Joliet Catholic 8-3 (10)
Quarterback TJ Schlageter signed last week with Louisville for baseball.
Offensive Player of the Week
Senior quarterback Blainey Dowling completed 15 of 27 passes for 313 yards and five touchdowns, all in the first half, in Mount Carmel’s 48-12 win over Brother Rice in a Class 7A quarterfinal.
Defensive Player of the Week
Sophomore defensive back Keyandre White had six tackles, blocked a field goal and recovered a fumble in St. Rita’s 28-7 win over St. Charles North in a Class 7A quarterfinal.