By Bobby Narang
The real season is finally here.
The IHSA football regular season included some strange and memorable moments.
Naturally, Mount Carmel, Brother Rice, and Loyola were among the top teams, all competing in the Chicago Catholic League Blue.
Still, Lincoln-Way East managed to put itself in the mix as the best team in Chicagoland. Loyola enters this weekend’s playoffs with momentum after wins over St. Rita, St. Ignatius, IC Catholic, and Brother Rice.
Always a team contending for a state title, the Caravan built some momentum with an impressive 38-21 win over Loyola in the final week of the regular season. The IHSA added a new twist this season by expanding the field and adding another row. Now, the playoffs include 48 more teams per class, with the top 16 seeds receiving a bye. The eight-class playoff system is unchanged, but the extra week brings several new schools in the playoff picture for the first time in decades, along with an added excitement for several programs at the chance for an upset or advancement to the next round.
The 384-team playoff has a few key notes to watch, including York which defeated Downers Grove North, Glenbard West, and Lyons to close out the regular season to be among the teams to watch in Class 8A.
Barrington overcame an 0-4 start against tough competition to win its last five games and capture the Mid-Suburban League West title. Stevenson at Lockport is one of the top games to watch in the opening round in Class 8A. In Class 7A, East St. Louis is the team to watch along with Brother Rice.
The 6A field features a potent Geneva team, which averaged 43.3 points per game and defending champion Fenwick. In 5A, Providence is among the top area teams after falling to St. Francis in the 5A championship game last season.
Montini is among the top teams in 4A, while IC Catholic is an elite team in 3A. The Knights showed their worth in close games against 8A powerhouses Loyola and St. Ignatius.