RANKINGS: Top Illinois high school football teams

We are past the midseason mark as high school football in Illinois is four weeks out from the playoffs.

Here are the latest Illinois High School Association rankings (via the Associated Press) following the conclusion of Week 5:

Class rankings across Illinois

Class 8A

No schools in central or southern Illinois in the rankings.

1. Loyola (11)	(5-0)	110	1
2. Naperville Neuqua Valley	(5-0)	97	3
3. Glenbard West	(5-0)	71	5
4. Chicago (Marist)	(5-1)	68	4
5. Gurnee Warren	(4-1)	61	6
6. Naperville Central	(3-2)	57	2
7. Lincoln-Way East	(4-1)	51	8
8. Maine South	(4-1)	44	7
9. South Elgin	(5-0)	14	NR
10. Lockport	(5-0)	12	T10

Class 7A

Not budging from its seven-slot is Normal Community (5-0). Also consistent is their only central and southern Illinois presence on the rankings.

Other regional schools in Central and Southern Illinois receiving votes include Moline 6, Collinsville 3, and Pekin 1.

1. Brother Rice (10)	(4-1)	118	2
2. Batavia (2)	(5-0)	109	3
3. Chicago Mt. Carmel	(4-1)	88	1
4. Wheaton North	(4-1)	82	4
5. Chicago (St. Rita)	(3-2)	72	5
6. Hersey	(5-0)	61	6
7. Normal Community	(5-0)	42	7
8. Hononegah	(5-0)	34	8
9. Prospect	(4-1)	17	NR
10. Wheaton Warrenville South	(3-2)	16	10

Class 6A

In similar fashion, only one downstate school is in the Class 6A rankings: East St. Louis (4-1). Their 129 points increase their rank to top the rankings. ESL was first last week.

Other regional schools receiving votes include Chatham Glenwood 3.

1. East St. Louis (12)	(4-1)	129	1
2. Cary-Grove (1)	(5-0)	117	2
3. Kankakee	(5-0)	93	3
4. Chicago (St. Ignatius)	(5-0)	79	NR
5. Lemont	(5-0)	74	6
6. Crete-Monee	(3-2)	57	4
7. Kenwood	(5-0)	43	T7
8. Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge	(4-1)	33	5
9. Wauconda	(5-0)	29	9
10. Lake Forest	(4-1)	20	T7

Class 5A

Rochester remains on top of the Class 5A rankings with their 4-1 record and 119 votes.

Three regional schools gained spots in the rankings this week. Peoria High (4-1) stays puts at sixth. Metamora (5-0) remains at eighth. Mahomet-Seymour (5-0) also remains at tenth.

Other regional schools receiving votes were Marion 1.

1. Rochester (11)	(4-1)	119	1
2. Oak Park (Fenwick) (1)	(3-2)	97	2
3. Mascoutah	(5-0)	77	4
4. Providence	(3-2)	74	3
(tie) Sycamore	(4-1)	74	5
6. Peoria	(4-1)	63	6
7. Morris	(5-0)	55	7
8. Metamora	(5-0)	46	8
9. Sterling	(4-1)	33	9
10. Mahomet-Seymour	(5-0)	14	10

Class 4A

The Class 4A rankings moved some real estate following their Week 5 games.

Among those not changing their positions are Sacred Heart-Griffin (4-1), who was second last week.

3-2 teams in the rankings at midseason are nonsensical, as Chicago Phillips and Coal City are somehow still in the rankings.

Mt. Zion (4-1) falls to tenth despite their win. This may be no thanks to Quincy Notre Dame (4-1), who fell from fifth to ninth as a result of their loss

Other regional schools receiving votes include Bethalto Civic Memorial 6, and Carterville 4.

1. Joliet Catholic (14)	(5-0)	140	1
2. Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield)	(4-1)	122	2
3. Richmond-Burton	(5-0)	111	3
4. St. Francis	(4-1)	100	4
5. Chicago (Phillips)	(3-2)	66	6
6. Coal City	(3-2)	54	7
7. Genoa-Kingston	(4-1)	40	8
8. Kewanee	(5-0)	38	NR
9. Quincy Notre Dame	(4-1)	36	5
10. Mt. Zion	(4-1)	25	9

Class 3A

Most of the teams in the Class 3A rankings are currently undefeated. This is with the exception of Williamsville and Princeton, both at 4-1.

Only one change is in the top five, and it is likely attributed to opponent difficulty. Monticello swaps places with IC Catholic, both 5-0.

Tolono Unity (5-0) and Williamsville (4-1) remain where they are.

Other regional schools receiving votes are Benton 3, Carlinville 2, and Nashville 1.

1. Wilmington (6)	(5-0)	123	1
2. Monticello	(5-0)	94	3
3. IC Catholic (6)	(5-0)	92	2
4. Tolono Unity	(5-0)	88	4
5. Williamsville	(4-1)	74	5
6. Byron	(5-0)	69	6
7. Princeton	(4-1)	59	2
8. Farmington	(5-0)	40	7
9. Reed-Custer	(5-0)	26	10
(tie) Mt. Carmel	(5-0)	26	8

Class 2A

The world is all right again in Class 2A. No 3-2 teams in the ranking.

The rankings shuffle is no Harlem Shuffle either. It’s an outright shakedown.

IC Catholic was bumped to Class 3A rankings, so everyone’s getting the bump up. That is, unless you’re Sterling Newman, which remains at tenth.

Regional schools receiving points include Athens 6, Vandalia 3, Staunton 2, Tremont 2, Rock Ridge 2, Bishop McNamara 1, and Johnston City 1.

1. St. Teresa (12)	(5-0)	120	1
2. Breese Mater Dei	(5-0)	100	4
3. Downs Tri-Valley	(5-0)	87	5
4. Maroa-Forsyth	(4-1)	86	3
5. Bismarck-Henning	(5-0)	74	6
6. Pana	(5-0)	63	7
7. Rushville-Industry	(5-0)	42	8
7. Knoxville	(5-0)	37	9
9. Clifton Central	(4-1)	17	NR
10. Sterling Newman	(4-1)	8	T10

Class 1A

Even in a decisive road win Nokomis (4-1), the voting sportswriters are living very little credence to the Redskins? A last-minute road game against a struggling Edwards County team wasn’t enough to sway the voters much?

Lena-Winslow remains on top with their 5-0 record.

The rise and fall of some times are quite apparent. Mt. Sterling-Brown County fell to seventh from second. The same is also true for Winchester West Central and Central A&M.

St. Bede and Greenfield Northwestern made their debuts in this poll at sixth and eighth respectively.

Regional schools receiving points include Catlin (Salt Fork) 18, Ottawa Marquette 12, Fulton 12, Aurora Christian 8, Cumberland 6, Tuscola 4, Nokomis 2, and Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 1.

1. Lena-Winslow (12)	(5-0)	120	1
2. Camp Point Central	(4-1)	86	5
(tie) Abingdon	(5-0)	86	8
4. Carrollton	(4-1)	80	6
5. Forreston	(4-1)	66	10
6. St. Bede	(4-1)	39	NR
7. Mt. Sterling (Brown County)	(4-1)	38	2
8. Greenfield-Northwestern	(4-1)	33	NR
9. Winchester West Central	(4-1)	29	4
10. Central A&M	(3-2)	20	3

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