By Bobby Narang
The 14-week Illinois High School Association football season is headed toward the home stretch.
The football season caps off a memorable season with a two-day, eight-class state championship at Illinois State University in Normal this weekend.
Friday’s four lower class state championship games feature just one local team, with Montini battling Monticello (11-2) at 4 p.m. in Class 3A. Montini (11-2) has won nine consecutive games since a 2-2 start to the season. They have a rich state history since 2004, winning six State championships and placing second three times. Montini is seeking its first State championship since 2015 in Class 6A under legendary former coach Chris Andriano.
Montini coach Mike Bukovsky said his players are aiming to win the program’s seventh state title on Friday, led by a 28-player senior class.
“Those are the kids that make up the program, are the meat and potatoes of everything,” he said. “They practice hard and show up everyday…That’s special in a young person nowadays.”
In Class 5A, Nazareth Academy will take on Joliet Catholic Saturday, Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. in what should be another epic battle between the two private school powerhouses. Nazareth (11-2) is aiming to win their third straight state championship, and sixth total under coach Tim Racki, who is seeking his 10th overall state championship in his illustrious coaching career.
Racki said his seniors, many of whom have been two-way starters dating back to their sophomore season when the program had a shortage of players, have been the leaders in the quest for a three-peat.
“You would think, especially with teenagers, there would be a sense of entitlement,” Racki said. “This group is so humble and grounded thanks to their parents. When you have that high character leadership, it makes for a dangerous squad.”
The Joliet Catholic Hilltoppers (10-3) are looking to avenge a 16-13 loss to Nazareth in Week 5. The Hilltoppers have won 15 State championships, most recently in Class 4A in 2021. The Roadrunners knocked off Joliet Catholic, 38-20, in the 5A final last season.
Joliet Catholic coach Jake Jaworski said his program’s tough schedule prepared his team for the playoffs.
“This is probably the toughest schedule that I’ve been around as a coach or when I played here,” Jaworski said. “We have definitely learned from those three losses.”
The Class 6A game will feature Geneva vs. state power East St. Louis at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Geneva Vikings, led by an explosive offense, are back in the State championship game for the first time since placing second in Class 7A in 2008. Senior wide receiver Talyn Taylor, a five-star recruit committed to Georgia, is the headline player with 76 receptions for 1,501 yards and 23 touchdowns. The Vikings have outscored their opponents by a whopping 546-217. East St. Louis (12-1) has won 10 State championships, and has four players with at least eight touchdowns.
Class 7A will pit two teams very familiar with each other, with Batavia and Mt. Carmel back for another playoff rematch, marking the fifth straight postseason the two teams will be meeting. The Batavia Bulldogs (12-1) would love to knock of the Mt. Carmel Caravan, especially after losing all four previous playoff meetings.
“The only team we’ve lost to in the playoffs for four years is Mount Carmel,” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said. “The time was a war. The last three we had things happen in the first quarter and it got out of hand.”
The Class 8A championship game is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday night. York will make its first championship-game appearance in program history, and will take on Loyola. The York Dukes (11-2) are led by a strong offensive line and a powerful running game. The Dukes hope to get some revenge after losing to the Loyola Ramblers in the state semifinals in each of the last two seasons.
“I don’t know if it has fully sunk in yet,” York coach Don Gelsomino said of the historic trip to state for the Dukes. “It was such an incredible moment. You saw it on the sideline, the excitement. When those kids started as freshmen, York hadn’t been in the playoffs in 10 years. They are ending in the state championship.”
Loyola (11-2) is looking for its second straight state championship and sixth overall as a program.