#10
GENESEO HIGH SCHOOL | GENESEO
Program Record Since 1974: 435-126
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 43
IHSA Playoff Record: 76-39
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 10/4
1976-3A: Geneseo Darnall 20, Metamora 12 13-0
1977-3A: Geneseo Darnall 34, Metamora 0 12-1
1978-3A: Geneseo Darnall 14, Bishop McNamara 7 13-0
1981-4A: Wheaton North 14, Geneseo Darnall 0 11-2
1982-4A: Geneseo Darnall 44, Springfield Griffin 36 12-1
1990-4A: Joliet Catholic 21, Geneseo Darnall 20 12-2
1992-4A: Oswego 14, Geneseo Darnall 6 13-1
1993-4A: Marian Catholic 13, Geneseo Darnall 6 12-1
2009-4A: Metamora 41, Geneseo 7 11-3
2013-4A: Rochester 16, Geneseo 8 12-2
State Final Coaches: Bob Reade (1976, 1977, 1978), Larry Johnsen (1981, 1982), Vic Boblett (1990), Denny Diericx (1992, 1993), Larry Johnsen Jr. (2009, 2013)
Geneseo: The IHSA’s introduction of playoff football came at the perfect time for Geneseo. Known then as Geneseo Darnall – Darnall was dropped in 2005 – the Maple Leafs qualified for the 1974 and 1975 playoffs, but it wasn’t until 1976 that they made their mark. In the Class 3A final that year, Geneseo bested Metamora, 20-12, to cap a 13-0 season. Leading the Leafs was 6-foot-3, 205-pound Wayne Strader, who rushed 33 times for 188 yards and three touchdowns in a downpour. “The conditions weren’t that bad thanks to artificial turf,” Reade told the media after each team had lost five fumbles. Strader’s final touchdown, a 2-yard plunge, came with 65 seconds left to end Metamora’s 30-game winning streak. Strader went on play at Illinois. In a 1977 3A rematch, the Leafs beat Metamora, 34-0, to sew up a 12-1 season. Reade’s wing-T offense won the total yardage battle, 262-78, with all but 59 of the Leafs’ yards coming on the ground. “I’m sure we didn’t surprise them with anything we did,” Reade said. “I don’t think we’ve surprised anybody for the last 16 years. We like to think we can execute.” One writer described Reade’s winged-T as “pure precision dipped in devastating deception.” Geneseo made it a three-peat in 1978, topping Kankakee McNamara for the 3A title, 14-7, to finish 13-0. Providing touchdowns for the Leafs were Bruce Borkgren and Lance Hofer. “We really felt before we came down here that our job was to score once,” Reade said. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in our defense. I’ve felt all year long that our defense was good enough to hold almost any team.” Reade ended his 17-year tenure at Geneseo in 1977 with a 147-19-4 record to become coach at Augustana where he won four NCAA Division III national titles and went 146-23-1 before retiring in 1994. From 1965 to 1971, Reade coached the Leafs to 52 consecutive wins, the second longest streak in state history. Larry Johnsen Jr. became coach in 1979. By 1981, Geneseo was back in a state final, losing the 4A crown to Wheaton North, but setting the stage for another title. The 1982 Leafs captured that crown in 4A, topping Springfield Griffin, 44-36, to finish 12-1. Among those turning the game into a shootout were Geneseo’s Randy Clary and Ron Tracey, who scored two and three touchdowns, respectively. Clary, an all-stater who also intercepted two passes, gained 116 yards and Tracey 133. During a public reception to honor the Leafs, Johnsen said, “I’d like to thank the teams of the past. I think each one had a part in this team’s success.” Geneseo thus closed the first decade of the IHSA playoffs with four titles and a 108-13 record. For years, the Leafs led the state in playoff appearances. Only recently was it passed by Joliet Catholic and East St. Louis, who both have 44 playoff appearances to Geneseo’s 43.
For Whom The Bell Tolls: Geneseo Football Owns Titles & Tradition: Click here to read
#9
LOYOLA ACADEMY | WILMETTE
Program Record Since 1974: 424-169
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 33
IHSA Playoff Record: 79-28
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 10/5
1992-6A: Naperville North 21, Loyola 11 12-2
1993-6A: Loyola 7, Downers Grove South 0 12-2
2011-8A: Bolingbrook 21, Loyola 17 13-1
2013-8A: Naperville Central 13, Loyola 10 12-2
2015-8A: Loyola 41, Marist 0 14-0
2016-8A: Maine South 27, Loyola 17 13-1
2017-8A: Lincoln-Way East 23, Loyola 14 12-2
2018-8A: Loyola 13, Brother Rice 3 11-3
2022-8A: Loyola 13, Lincoln-Way East 3 13-1
2023-8A: Loyola 26, Lincoln-Way East 15 14-0
State Final Coaches: John Hoerster (1992, 1993), John Holecek (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022), Beau Desherow (2023)
Loyola: Loyola made one playoff appearance prior to 1987, a Class 5A effort in 1975, which makes their overall resume especially impressive. Over the past 20 years, the Ramblers have won four titles and gone 211-47. Prior to 2011, Loyola reached two championship games. It lost the 1992 6A title to Naperville North but returned 10 starters a year later to dispatch Downers Grove South in the 6A final, 7-0, to cap a 12-2 season. The Ramblers played without two top rushers due to injuries, but it didn’t matter as they forced five turnovers. “You grow through adversity, or you crumble,” Coach John Hoerster told the media. “These kids just picked it up another notch.” Gregory Taylor’s 4-yard run was the lone touchdown. In 2011, the Ramblers began a string of eight title game appearances over a 13-year period. In only one of those 13 seasons did Loyola win fewer than 11 games and just once did it fail to reach at least the semifinals. Loyola won its second title in 2015. That 41-0 shellacking of Chicago Marist in 8A made the Ramblers 14-0. Coming in, Marist was averaging 37.9 points, but only managed 174 yards of total offense. “We thought bringing pressure was the thing to do,” said Coach John Holecek, whose team recorded five sacks. Dara Laja chipped in 152 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Jake Marwede also scored twice while Emmett Clifford completed 16 of 24 for 195 yards and one touchdown. The Ramblers returned to the 8A throne in 2018 with a 13-3 win over Chicago Brother Rice to finish 11-3. Loyola’s Michael Gavric provided a 4-yard touchdown run while teammate Nate Van Zelst converted 24- and 37-yard field goals. All the Ramblers had to do to reach the 2018 final was snap Frankfort Lincoln-Way East’s 26-game winning streak, 24-16, in the semifinals. “Statistically, this is a win that you just didn’t see coming,” Holecek said. In the 2022 8A final, Loyola and Lincoln-Way East met again with the Ramblers prevailing, 13-3, to finish 13-1. Loyola opened with an 80-yard flea-flicker pass from Jake Stearney to Declan Forde. Holecek felt that unorthodox first play would pay dividends even if it didn’t work. “Worst case,” he said, “it stops the safeties from coming down so fast. I thought it was a great call.” Stearney completed 14 of 19 for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Both scores went to Forde, whose three catches covered 110 yards. A former University of Illinois and NFL linebacker, Holecek ended his 17-year coaching tenure in 2022 with a 185-36 record. New coach Beau Desherow maintained the status quo, guiding the 2023 Ramblers to a 14-0 record. The 8A final was another rematch with Lincoln-Way East, which fell 26-15. Ryan Fitzgerald, the son of former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, led Loyola by passing for two touchdowns and running for another. He completed 17 of 21 for 203 yards while Andrew MacPherson rushed for 117 yards and one score.
Jesuit Values Shape Loyola Football Program: Click here to read
#8
MAINE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL | PARK RIDGE
Program Record Since 1974: 415-139
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 38
IHSA Playoff Record: 74-34
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 10/6
1995-5A: Maine South 31, Chicago Mount Carmel 28 12-2
2000-6A: Maine South 27, Glenbard North 8 13-1
2003-8A: Lockport 48, Maine South 27 13-1
2004-8A: Downers Grove North 33, Maine South 13 13-1
2005-8A: Lincoln-Way East 30, Maine South 24 (2OT) 12-2
2008-8A: Maine South 41, Hinsdale Central 21 14-0
2009-8A: Maine South 41, Marist 17 14-0
2010-8A: Maine South 28, Chicago Mount Carmel 7 12-2
2016-8A: Maine South 27, Loyola 17 11-3
2021-8A: Lockport 24, Maine South 6 12-2
State Final Coaches: Phil Hopkins (1995, 2000), David Inserra (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2021)
Maine South: Maine South earned 31 consecutive playoff berths heading into 2024. Since current coach David Inserra took over in 2001, the Hawks have only lost in the first round twice. His 23-year record of 231-49 ranks 39th for wins in state history. Most notable were his three straight Class 8A state titles in 2008, 2009, and 2010 after an earlier run of three straight runner-up showings in 2003, 2004, and 2005. A loss in the 2010 season opener ended Maine South’s 28-game winning streak, which tied the 20th longest in state history. Only seven schools have more titles than the Hawks’ six. Maine South’s first crown came in the 1995 5A final over Chicago Mount Carmel, 31-28, to cap a 12-2 season. Providing a 37-yard field goal with eight seconds left was Brian Schmitz, who also caught two touchdown passes and prevented a potential score when he had a punt blocked but recovered it in time to get off another punt. Afterwards, Coach Phil Hopkins told the media, “It’s a hard way to make a living, but very gratifying.” Hopkins stepped down in 2000 having gone 149-52 over 19 years. His final win was a 27-8 decision over Glenbard North in the 6A final to end a 13-1 season. “I couldn’t have scripted this any better,” Hopkins said. “This is about the kids, not me.” Leading the way were Kevin Sherlock, who ran for 181 yards, and Chris Fosco, who scored two touchdowns. The Hawks’ third title arrived in 2008 as a 14-0 season ended with a 41-21 win over Hinsdale Central. Vanderbilt-recruit Charlie Goro rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown and completed 9 of 14 passes for 132 yards and a score. “Everyone knew we were a passing team, but we took what they gave us,” said Goro, who finished the season with 3,171 yards passing. In the 2009 final, Maine South’s 28th consecutive victory was a 41-17 decision over Marist. Despite nursing injuries, Matt Perez rushed for an 8A title game record 316 yards and five touchdowns. “There was no doubt I was going to play,” he said. “The adrenaline was pumping, and I felt great.” He ended the year with 2,246 yards rushing and 38 touchdowns. In the 2010 final, Maine South topped Chicago Mount Carmel, 28-7, to finish 12-2. Matt Alviti, who’d go on to play at Northwestern, passed for one touchdown and ran for another while completing 16 of 21 for 224 yards. Paul Preston added 145 rushing yards and two scores. The Hawks scored a 27-17 victory in the 2016 final over No. 1-ranked Wilmette Loyola, ending its 30-game winning streak. When the teams had met in week two, Loyola won, 44-43. Nick Leongas helped avenge that loss by rushing 76 yards for two touchdowns and completing 11 of 20 passes for 124 yards and another score. Among Maine South’s all-time greats is offensive lineman Peter Skoronski, now in his second season with the Tennessee Titans. Another standout was Sean Price, who holds state records for passing yards (4,751) and completions (342 of 525) from 2003.
The Making of Maine South: Click here to read
#7
WHEATON CENTRAL/WHEATON WARRENVILLE SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL | WHEATON
Program Record Since 1974: 375-170
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 29
IHSA Playoff Record: 76-22
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 11/7
1990-5A: Chicago Mount Carmel 24, Wheaton Central 0 12-2
1991-5A: Chicago Mount Carmel 21, Wheaton Central 14 11-3
1992-5A: Wheaton Warrenville South 40, Joliet Catholic 34 (2OT) 14-0
1995-6A: Wheaton Warrenville South 22, Naperville Central 21 12-2
1996-6A: Wheaton Warrenville South 42, Lincoln-Way 27 13-1
1998-6A: Wheaton Warrenville South 42, Barrington 14 14-0
2006-8A: Wheaton Warrenville South 44, Chicago Mount Carmel 21 14-0
2007-7A: Lake Zurich 7, Wheaton Warrenville South 3 13-1
2009-7A: Wheaton Warrenville South 31, Glenbard West 24 (2OT) 13-1
2010-7A: Wheaton Warrenville South 28, Lake Zurich 17 14-0
2011-7A: Rockford Boylan 21, Wheaton Warrenville South 14 10-4
State Final Coaches: John Thorne (1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1998), Ron Muhitch (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011)
Wheaton Warrenville South: Wheaton Warrenville South is among seven programs to have made more than 10 title game appearances. Six of those came in the 1990s, producing four of the school’s seven titles. The alma mater of Red Grange, the Galloping Ghost of 1920s fame, was called Wheaton Central when it lost 5A finals in 1990 and 1991. In 1992, the newly named Wheaton Warrenville South Tigers captured their first crown, besting Joliet Catholic, 40-34, in two overtimes in the 5A final to finish 14-0. It was the first title game to require two overtimes. Doug MacLeod’s 26-yard field goal as time expired forced overtime. Phil Adler won it with a 10-yard touchdown run in the second overtime. He finished with 186 rushing yards and three touchdowns. “We sure hate losing so we feel pretty great,” Coach John Thorne told the media. The 1995 6A final was a DuPage Valley Conference rematch for the Tigers, who had lost their regular season meeting with Naperville Central. The second time around, Tom Schweighardt batted away a two-point conversion pass with 2:13 left to preserve a 22-21 victory and cap a 12-2 season. The Tigers enjoyed a more comfortable 42-27 win over New Lenox Lincoln-Way in the 1996 6A final. “You never get tired of this,” said Thorne, who watched Kelly Crosby run for 126 yards and three touchdowns and catch three passes for 117 yards and another score. In the 1998 final, a 42-14 win over Barrington, the Tigers’ Jon Beutjer completed 29 of 43 passes for a 6A title game record 490 yards and six touchdowns. “This is absolutely the best Wheaton Warrenville South team ever,” said Thorne of his 14-0 squad. “With all the records and everything it may be one of the best in the history of Illinois football.” Beutjer set the still-standing state record for touchdown passes in a season with 60 in 1998. His tight end was Jerome Collins, who’d later play three years in the NFL. Thorne ended his 22-year career in 2001 with a 181-65 record. Ron Muhitch held the coaching reins when the Tigers captured their fifth title with a 44-21 win over Chicago Mount Carmel to end a 14-0 season in 2006. Purdue-recruit Dan Dierking rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns while Michael Highland completed 4 of 9 passes for 151 yards and two scores. Among the highlights was Jim O’Brien’s 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. “This is just unbelievable,” O’Brien said. Title No. 6 came courtesy of a 31-24 double-overtime thriller against Glenbard West in the 2009 7A final to close a 13-1 season. Matt Rogers supplied the deciding touchdown from a yard out. “This was an incredible game,” he said. The Tigers won again in 2010, topping Lake Zurich in 7A, 21-14, to finish 10-4. Rogers ran for two touchdowns and Reilly O’Toole passed for two. Muhitch ended his 19-year tenure in 2020 with a 153-63 record having coached future NFL players in Tony Moeaki, Dan Vitale, and Corey Davis.
Coaching & Community Led Wheaton Warrenville South To Decades Of Dominance: Click here
#6
ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL | ROCHESTER
Program Record Since 1974: 241-85
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 22
IHSA Playoff Record: 64-13
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 9/9
2010-4A: Rochester 24, Rock Island Alleman 7 14-0
2011-4A: Rochester 42, Richmond-Burton 39 12-2
2012-4A: Rochester 43, Rock Island Alleman 18 13-1
2013-4A: Rochester 16, Geneseo 8 13-1
2014-4A: Rochester 49, Chicago Phillips 28 12-2
2016-4A: Rochester 38, Johnsburg 14 13-1
2017-4A: Rochester 24, Morris 21 14-0
2019-5A: Rochester 42, Chicago St. Rita 28 13-1
2023-4A: Rochester 59, Burbank St. Laurence 38 14-0
State Final Coaches: Derek Leonard (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023)
Rochester: It didn’t seem Rochester had made a coaching hire in 2005 that would change the landscape of Class 4A/5A football. Derek Leonard’s first team went 3-6, but his second made the playoffs, and his fifth reached the semifinals. Then the Rockets really went to work. Leonard’s 2010 squad steamrolled everyone, going 14-0 to win the 4A title, 24-7, over Rock Island Alleman. Since then, Rochester has upped its title collection to nine, a sum only four schools have exceeded. No program has won more finals without a loss than the 9-0 Rockets. Leonard, the son of the winningest coach in state history with 419 victories, Ken Leonard, took a 19-year record of 198-36 into the 2024 season. The younger Leonard has used passing to fuel high-scoring teams. Among the top passers in state history, Rochester’s Nic Baker ranks seventh (3,900 yards in 2017), Wes Lunt 15th (3,651 in 2011), and Clay Bruno 16th (3,638 in 2019). “If your quarterback is a good leader, a lot of people follow them,” explained Leonard. Among the state’s top receivers, the Rockets’ Zach Grant ranks first (2,301 yards in 2011), Hank Beatty fourth (1,949 in 2019), and Cade Eddington ninth (1,594 in 2017). For total offense in a season, Rochester ranks second (7,397 yards in 2019), third (6,786 in 2011), sixth (6,632 in 2017), 11th (6,506 in 2014), and 15th (6,390 in 2016). Bad weather can hinder passing, but 17-mph gusts in the 2010 final couldn’t stop Lunt from hitting on 19 of 36 passes for 213 yards and one touchdown. Colten Glazebrook added 297 total yards and three scores. Lunt was even better in the 42-39 win over Richmond-Burton in the 2011 final, completing 31 of 39 for 506 yards and three touchdowns. Grant had a title game record of 259 receiving yards. The Rockets’ 4,971 passing yards in 2011 rank second in state history. In a rematch with Alleman in the 2012 final, Austin Green passed for 172 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 130 yards and two scores in a 43-18 win. Rochester has never scored less in a final than during its 16-8 win over Geneseo in 2013. “We’re used to high-scoring, fast-paced, get-up-and-go offense, and they didn’t allow that,” Leonard said. “We wanted to show we can win games like this. We just haven’t had to.” The Rockets’ high-scoring ways returned in a 49-28 win over Chicago Phillips in the 2014 final. Daniel Zeigler threw for 302 yards and three scores while Evan Sembell rushed for 177 and two touchdowns. Twins D’Ante and Avante’ Cox each caught 10 passes and scored twice to power Rochester past Johnsburg, 38-14, in the 2016 final. Baker completed 23 of 31 passes for 335 yards and four touchdowns. The Rockets’ second 14-0 campaign came in 2017 and ended with a 24-21 win over Morris. Clay Alewelt made a 24-yard field goal as time expired. Baker threw for 223 yards and two scores. His 4,424 total yards and 54 touchdown passes in 2017 both rank fifth in state history. Rochester made its only 5A final in 2019, topping Chicago St. Rita, 42-28. Bruno completed 18 of 25 for 313 yards and four touchdowns. The Rockets scored 728 points in both 2019 and 2023, tying the fourth most in state history. The 2023 team topped St. Laurence in the final, 59-38, to finish 14-0. Bryan Zulauf connected on 15 of 19 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns while Nolan Mrozowski added 132 rushing yards and two scores.
Leonard Followed In Father's Footsteps In Turning Rochester Into State Power: Click here to read
#5
SACRED HEART-GRIFFIN/GRIFFIN HIGH SCHOOL | SPRINGFIELD
Program Record Since 1974: 479-101
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 43
IHSA Playoff Record: 93-37
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 12/6
1975-4A: Joliet Catholic 34, Springfield Griffin 14 10-3
1982-4A: Geneseo Darnall 44, Springfield Griffin 36 12-1
1995-4A: Providence Catholic 22, Sacred Heart-Griffin 17 12-2
2003-5A: Joliet Catholic 24, Sacred Heart-Griffin 21 13-1
2005-5A: Sacred Heart-Griffin 28, Rock Island Alleman 21 14-0
2006-5A: Sacred Heart-Griffin 35, Marian Central Catholic 14 14-0
2008-6A: Sacred Heart-Griffin 37, Lemont 15 13-1
2013-5A: Sacred Heart-Griffin 38, Montini 28 14-0
2014-5A: Sacred Heart-Griffin 29, Montini 14 14-0
2016-6A: Prairie Ridge 48, Sacred Heart-Griffin 17 13-1
2021-4A: Joliet Catholic 56, Sacred Heart-Griffin 27 12-2
2022-4A: Sacred Heart-Griffin 44, Providence Catholic 20 14-0
State Final Coaches: George Fleischli (1975), Robin Cooper (1982), Ken Leonard (1995, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2021, 2022)
Sacred Heart-Griffin: When one thinks of Sacred Heart-Griffin football, odds are Ken Leonard immediately comes to mind. After all, he won 387 games at SHG en route to an IHSA record 419 wins (he got 32 at Gridley). Leonard retired after 2022 with a 43-year record of 419-81, giving him an average of 1.9 losses per season. Surprisingly, the coach responsible for six state championships was not the school’s first choice when the job came open in 1984. It was initially offered to Chris Andriano, who was building a dynasty at Lombard Montini. It’s safe to say things worked out for both men. Leonard’s legacy includes five 14-0 teams. He missed the playoffs just four times in 39 years at SHG. Especially impressive were the 25 seasons in which he had no more than one regular season loss. Griffin had success before Leonard, reaching the Class 4A finals in both 1975 under George Fleischli and 1982 under Robin Cooper. The Cyclones wouldn’t win their first title until Leonard’s 14-0 team of 2005 topped Rock Island Alleman, 28-21. Setting 5A records for passing yards (351), completions (29), and attempts (40) was Bobby Brenneisen. “Thank God it was a nice day for throwing,” Leonard told the media. SHG ran its winning streak to 28 with a 35-14 win over Woodstock Marian in the 2006 final. Brenneisen completed 18 of 25 passes for 295 yards and one touchdown to go with a rushing touchdown. “I think Downstate, we’ve got to go down as one of the best,” Leonard said. Prior to the 2008 6A final, Leonard told his players, “Enjoy it; take it all in and make memories. But the best way to make memories is to win the state championship.” The Cyclones did just that, 37-15, over Lemont as Gary Wilson rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns. Tom Dondanville completed 12 of 22 for 187 yards and two scores. In August of 2013, SHG began a 39-game winning streak, tying the sixth longest in state history. The Cyclones won their 14th straight contest in the 2013 5A final over Montini, 38-28. Junior Gabe Green ran for 145 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 105 yards. His top target that season was Malik Turner, who finished with 1,378 receiving yards and later played four years in the NFL. Green would go on to rank fourth in state history for career total offense (10,394 yards) and touchdown passes (96), and seventh in career passing yards (8,030). The 2014 final was a rematch in which SHG stopped Montini, 29-14, to end another 14-0 campaign. Green, a Southern Miss recruit, completed 14 of 21 for 207 yards and one touchdown pass to junior Albert Okwuegbunam, who’d go on to play five years in the NFL. Notably, 2013 and 2014 saw Leonard’s son, Derek, coach Rochester to state titles in the same season. A 44-20 victory over New Lenox Providence in the 2022 4A final was the ultimate retirement gift for Ken Leonard. “It feels different because it’s the last one,” he said. “It feels kind of like the first one.” Ty Lott led the way with 214 passing yards and three touchdowns. Bill Sanders added 164 total yards and two scores. Among SHG alumni reaching the NFL was Matt Mitrione, a member of the 1995 state runners-up.
Team-First Approach Built SHG Program Under Ken Leonard: Click here to read
#4
PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | NEW LENOX
Program Record Since 1974: 414-158
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 39
IHSA Playoff Record: 96-29
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 14/10
1987-4A: Providence 14, Roxana 7 14-1
1991-4A: Providence 9, Bloomington 3 14-0
1994-5A: Providence 16, Palatine 6 14-0
1995-4A: Providence 22, Sacred Heart-Griffin 17 14-0
1996-4A: Providence 28, Metamora 21 14-0
1997-4A: Providence 26, Metamora 12 13-1
1998-5A: Chicago Mount Carmel 28, Providence 3 12-2
2000-5A: Chicago Mount Carmel 38, Providence 12 11-3
2001-6A: Providence 41, Oak Lawn Richards 0 14-0
2002-5A: Providence 42, Pontiac 0 14-0
2004-6A: Providence 40, Bloomington 0 13-1
2009-6A: Cary-Grove 34, Providence 17 12-2
2014-7A: Providence 31, Cary-Grove 28 13-1
2022-4A: Sacred Heart-Griffin 44, Providence 20 9-5
State Final Coaches: Matt Senffner (1987, 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004), Mark Coglianese (2009, 2014), Tyler Plantz (2022)
Providence: Early in Matt Senffner’s tenure at Providence there was little indication a powerhouse program was being built. In the six seasons prior to the IHSA playoff era, Providence went 9-36. The Celtics turned a corner in 1975, going 8-2 and qualifying for the playoffs for the first time. Playoff appearances, however, remained sporadic. That changed in 1981 when Providence began a string of 29 consecutive winning seasons. The next milestone arrived in 1987 when the Celtics edged Roxana, 14-7, for the Class 4A title. John Martin rushed 35 times for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Senffner cited Kevin Kickles’ interception as a turning point. “When we made the interception, that was the difference between us getting the momentum and possession or us getting blown out,” he told the media. Providence was part of the lowest scoring 4A final in history in 1991 when it topped Bloomington, 9-3, to cap the first of its six 14-0 seasons. “It wasn’t an outstanding effort offensively on either team’s part,” Senffner said. “But when two great defensive teams like that come head-to-head, this is the kind of game you expect.” The Celtics scored on a 17-yard pass from Chris Orr to his brother, Justin, and on a 24-yard Tony Sambo field goal. Next came the Golden Age of Providence football as the Celtics went 14-0 in 1994, 1995, and 1996 before the 1997 team would have the state’s third longest winning streak end at 50 with a week nine loss to Kankakee McNamara. The 1997 Celtics regrouped to win a state title as well with help from lineman Eric Steinbach, who went on to play nine NFL seasons. Among the thrillers in Providence’s title collection was its 22-17 win over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin in the 1995 4A final. The Celtics scored 15 points in the last 3:35 with the deciding score coming on Louis Medina’s 4-yard run with 46 seconds left. “We didn’t die. We didn’t quit. Unbelievable!” said Senffner, who later oversaw a 32-game winning streak. That run from 2000 to 2003 tied the state’s 10th longest streak and featured 14-0 campaigns in 2001 and 2002. Between 1994 and 2004, Providence went 139-12, won seven titles, and finished second twice. Senffner, who had founded the program in 1968, stepped down in 2005 with a 38-year record of 300-114-1, setting an IHSA record for wins that has since fallen into a tie for seventh in state history. Among those he sent to the NFL was 1990 graduate Pete Bercich. Prior to his 300th win, Senffner said, “I’ve been blessed with so many great things here. Great kids, state championships, and great parents in the program. The victories are just a part of the stack in all that.” Mark Coglianese became head coach in 2006 after 19 years as an assistant. No Providence title came by a smaller margin than its 10th, a 31-28 decision over Cary-Grove in the 2014 7A tilt. Richie Warfield ran for 123 yards and four touchdowns while Justin Hunniford completed 18 of 26 for 184 yards. Among their teammates was wide receiver Miles Boykin, who has played five years in the NFL. “We kind of knew Richie was going to have to carry the load more,” Coglianese said. “They were focusing a lot on Miles.” Coglianese’s 16-year, 106-70 tenure ended in 2021.
Olszta Family Is One Of Many Who Helped Build Providence Football Family: Click here to read
#3
EAST ST. LOUIS SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL | EAST ST. LOUIS
Program Record Since 1974: 453-128
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 44
IHSA Playoff Record: 109-32
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 15/10
1974-5A: Glenbrook North 19, East St. Louis 13 (OT) 12-1
1979-5A: East St. Louis 20, St. Laurence 14 12-0
1983-6A: East St. Louis 13, Addison Trail 0 13-0
1984-6A: East St. Louis 38, Downers Grove South 6 13-0
1985-6A: East St. Louis 46, Brother Rice 0 14-0
1987-6A: Hersey 26, East St. Louis 6 13-1
1988-6A: Chicago Mount Carmel 21, East St. Louis 7 13-1
1989-6A: East St. Louis 55, Thornton 8 14-0
1991-6A: East St. Louis 48, Glenbard North 6 13-1
2008-7A: East St. Louis 33, Geneva 14 13-1
2016-7A: East St. Louis 26, Plainfield North 13 14-0
2019-6A: East St. Louis 43, Prairie Ridge 21 14-0
2021-6A: Cary-Grove 37, East St. Louis 36 11-3
2022-6A: East St. Louis 57, Prairie Ridge 7 12-2
2023-6A: Cary-Grove 23, East St. Louis 20 11-3
State Final Coaches: Cornelius Perry (1974), Robert Shannon (1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991), Darren Sunkett (2008, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)
East St. Louis Senior: The winningest program in state history with 761 victories since 1925, East St. Louis might never have become a power if Robert Shannon had followed his initial career plan. The coach who would guide the Flyers to six of their 10 state titles told school officials he was going to graduate school. Retiring coach Cornelius Perry, whose 12-1 state runner-up squad of 1974 included future NFL star Kellen Winslow, convinced Shannon to become head coach in 1976. Shannon then built a disciplined program that would send six players to the NFL. Two of those, Kerry Glenn and Victor Scott, helped win the 1979 Class 5A title, 20-14, over Burbank St. Laurence as Alvin Jones completed 14 of 21 passes for 204 yards. “Everybody talks about our speed, and I’ve said we have perhaps the fastest team in Illinois, but you can’t put 11 track men on the field,” Shannon told the media. “You have to have someone blocking and tackling.” Despite that title, the Flyers didn’t really take off until 1983. That was the first of three unbeaten campaigns feeding into a 44-game winning streak, the fifth longest in state history. In that string were two title game shutouts, a 13-0 win over Addison Trail in 1983 and a 46-0 triumph over Chicago Brother Rice in 1985. In the latter, Arthur Sargent had two interceptions, one of which he returned 70 yards for a touchdown. For the season, he scored a state record four times on interceptions. Kerwin Price threw for 175 yards and four scores. Anchoring the defense was Bryan Cox, who went on to play 12 years in the NFL. Offering a glimpse into his philosophy, Shannon said, “Football is a chorus line, and you don’t want anyone in there that is out of step with the others.” East St. Louis notched another 14-0 season in 1989. That campaign ended with a 55-8 romp over Harvey Thornton in which sophomore Chris Moore had three touchdowns. Also on the roster was future NFL linebacker Dana Howard, who Shannon called the best player he ever coached. “He really knows the game,” said Shannon, whose last title came in 1991. That 48-6 win over Glenbard North saw future NFL player Dennis Stallings open the scoring with a reception. “People asked me what we’d do if anybody ever made us throw the ball, and I said we’d throw the ball,” said Shannon, who watched Moore run for 148 yards and four touchdowns to finish with state records for career touchdowns (86) and yards (5,174). The former mark has slipped into a tie for eighth in state history while the latter has fallen out of the top 20. Shannon left in 1995 with a 20-year record of 193-32. He coached at two other schools before retiring in 2007 at 260-93 to rank 23rd for wins in state history. Title winning resumed in 2008 during Darren Sunkett’s eighth year as coach. That squad picked up the program’s seventh title, 33-14 over Geneva, despite setting state final records with 19 penalties for 166 yards. “We came out a little rocky,” said Sunkett in an understatement. Detchauz Wray negated those miscues by completing 10 of 20 for 198 yards and four touchdowns. Sunkett’s teams added titles in 2016, 2019, and 2022. The 14-0 squad of 2019 included current NFL defensive back Antonio Johnson. Sunkett took a 23-year record of 211-63 into the 2024 season. Notably during most of the past decade the Flyers have chosen to play up in classification for the challenge.
#2
JOLIET CATHOLIC/JOLIET CATHOLIC ACADEMY | JOLIET
Program Record Since 1974: 491-119
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 44
IHSA Playoff Record: 126-29
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 20/15
1975-4A: Joliet Catholic 34, Springfield Griffin 14 13-0
1976-4A: Joliet Catholic 16, Danville 8 12-1
1977-4A: Joliet Catholic 30, LaSalle-Peru 6 13-0
1978-4A: Joliet Catholic 25, LaSalle-Peru 0 13-0
1981-5A: Joliet Catholic 8, Deerfield 7 13-0
1987-5A: Joliet Catholic 14, Peoria Richwoods 13 12-2
1990-4A: Joliet Catholic 21, Geneseo Darnall 20 14-0
1992-5A: Wheaton Warrenville South 40, Joliet Catholic 34 (2OT) 12-2
1996-5A: Chicago Mount Carmel 17, Joliet Catholic 6 10-4
1999-4A: Joliet Catholic 48, Metamora 13 14-0
2000-4A: Joliet Catholic 27, Metamora 14 14-0
2001-5A: Joliet Catholic 27, Morris 20 13-1
2003-5A: Joliet Catholic 24, Sacred Heart-Griffin 21 13-1
2004-5A:Joliet Catholic 17, Morris 0 14-0
2007-6A: Joliet Catholic 49, Lemont 7 13-1
2009-5A: Montini 29, Joliet Catholic 28 11-3
2011-5A: Montini 70, Joliet Catholic 45 11-3
2018-5A: Joliet Catholic 35, Montini 27 10-4
2021-4A: Joliet Catholic 56, Sacred Heart-Griffin 27 14-0
2023-5A: Nazareth 38, Joliet Catholic 20 10-4
State Final Coaches: Gordon Gillespie (1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1981), Jim Boyter (1987), Bob Stone (1990, 1992, 1996), Dan Sharp (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2011), Jake Jaworski (2018, 2021, 2023)
Joliet Catholic Academy: Joliet Catholic reached the second round of the inaugural IHSA Playoffs in 1974, and then promptly set the tone for the program's all-time status by winning four consecutive state titles with a combined record of 51-1 under legendary coach Gordon Gillespie. His first Class 4A crown came in 1975 over Springfield Griffin, 34-14, to cap a 13-0 season, the first of the program’s nine unbeaten campaigns during the playoff era. Griffin took an early lead, but the Hilltoppers were relentless. Rick Thayer led the charge with three touchdowns. “All you’ve got to do is stay cool and get about your business,” Gillespie told the media. Thayer’s brother, Tom, helped JCA go 13-0 in both 1977 and 1978 as an offensive lineman before playing nine years in the NFL. Gillespie rated Tom Thayer among the five best he ever coached and No. 1 among linemen. The 1978 Hilltoppers blanked LaSalle-Peru, 25-0, as Scott Kinsella rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns to help JCA win the total yardage battle, 309-30. “This was as good as we’ve played,” Gillespie said. “We can’t be perfect, but we gave four shutouts in the playoffs against four champion teams.” The Hilltoppers’ 1976-78 winning streak reached 32 games, tying the 10th longest in state history. JCA won titles by a single point in 1981, 1987, and 1990. Gillespie’s final championship arrived in 1981 with an 8-7 win over Deerfield to finish a 13-0 season. Andy Bebar scored on a 7-yard run with 6:27 left before Tom Seneker’s conversion run ended the scoring. “We have the best team in the state,” said Gillespie, who left the program in 1985 with a 27-year record of 222-54-6. The titles, however, kept coming, first under Jim Boyter in 1987, then under Bob Stone in 1990. Boyter’s crown came on a 14-13 upset of top-ranked Peoria Richwoods. With 2:09 left, Jonathan Voss threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Tyronne Isaac and Kelvin Greenwood provided the conversion kick. “Jonathan made a nice read, threw the ball well and Tyronne made a nice catch,” Boyter said. The 14-0 season of 1990 featured fullback Mike Alstott, who’d go on to play 12 years in the NFL. In the 21-20 win over Geneseo in the 4A final, JCA safety Mike Prete stopped Ryan Verbeck’s conversion run six inches short with 31 seconds left. The Hilltoppers’ final eight points came on Alstott’s 4-yard touchdown run and conversion pass with 3:00 left. “As a fan, it was a tremendous game,” Stone said. “As a coach, I have nothing left of my stomach lining.” Dan Sharp took the coaching reins in 1997. Although his first team missed the playoffs, he proceeded to win six titles over the next nine seasons with the 1999, 2000, and 2004 teams finishing 14-0. The 2003 5A final was a 24-21 squeaker over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin that made JCA the first 11-time champion. Among the key plays was Bill McKeon’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown on a fake field goal. The 2005 quarterfinals marked the end of the Hilltoppers’ 30-game winning streak, which tied the 10th longest in state history. Sharp’s 6-4 playoff team of 2006 included tight end Coby Fleener, who’d play six years in the NFL. The 13-1 champions of 2007 rushed for a state record 6,609 yards with help from Tyler Hudetz (1,618), Brandon Geiss (1,360), and Connor Krisch (1,179). Sharp’s 11-3 state runner-up squad of 2009 featured running back Josh Ferguson, who’d play four years in the NFL. Sharp’s 20-year tenure ended in 2016 with his record at 199-51. Jake Jaworski took over in 2017 and fielded championship teams in 2018 and 2021 to run JCA’s title count to 15, tying Chicago Mount Carmel for the most in state history. JCA’s 126 playoff wins and 491 playoff-era victories both rank second to Mount Carmel’s totals of 132 and 508, respectively.
Tom Thayer's Coming of Age at Joliet Catholic Helped Him Fulfill Super Bowl Dreams: Click here to read
#1
MOUNT CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL | CHICAGO
Program Record Since 1974: 508-122
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 38
IHSA Playoff Record: 132-23
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 20/15
1980-5A: Chicago Mount Carmel 15, Hinsdale South 10 13-1
1986-5A: Wheaton North 34, Chicago Mount Carmel 14 13-1
1988-6A: Chicago Mount Carmel 21, East St. Louis 7 14-0
1989-5A: Chicago Mount Carmel 32, Niles Notre Dame 0 13-1
1990-5A: Chicago Mount Carmel 24, Wheaton Central 0 14-0
1991-5A: Chicago Mount Carmel 21, Wheaton Central 14 12-2
1995-5A: Maine South 31, Chicago Mount Carmel 28 12-2
1996-5A: Chicago Mount Carmel 17, Joliet Catholic 6 14-0
1998-5A: Chicago Mount Carmel 28, Providence Catholic 3 14-0
1999-5A: Chicago Mount Carmel 31, Marian Catholic 7 13-1
2000-5A: Chicago Mount Carmel 38, Providence Catholic 12 13-1
2002-6A: Chicago Mount Carmel 31, Bloomington 0 13-1
2005-7A: Prospect 20, Chicago Mount Carmel 14 13-1
2006-8A: Wheaton Warrenville South 44, Chicago Mount Carmel 21 12-2
2010-8A: Maine South 28, Chicago Mount Carmel 7 11-3
2012-8A: Chicago Mount Carmel 28, Glenbard North 14 13-1
2013-7A: Chicago Mount Carmel 30, Lake Zurich 0 13-1
2019-7A: Chicago Mount Carmel 37, Nazareth 13 14-0
2022-7A: Chicago Mount Carmel 44, Batavia 20 14-0
2023-7A: Chicago Mount Carmel 35, Downers Grove North 10 13-1
State Final Coaches: Bill Barz (1980), Frank Lenti (1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2012, 2013), Jordan Lynch (2019, 2022, 2023)
Mount Carmel: Many of the top-50 all-time programs didn’t make an immediate impact on the state playoffs including Mount Carmel High School in Chicago. The Caravan, however, made quite a first impression during its playoff debut in 1980 by winning the Class 5A title under Coach Bill Barz. That 15-10 triumph over Hinsdale South to cap a 13-1 season saw Andre Carter rush for 151 yards and two touchdowns. “I always feel I can play a lot better,” Carter told the media. Teammate Tony Furjanic recovered a fumble and later spent three years in the NFL. Among Mount Carmel’s state-record tying collection of 15 titles, none came by a smaller margin than its first. Despite that 1980 championship, consistent playoff appearances didn’t arrive until 1986, the third season under legendary Coach Frank Lenti, a Mount Carmel alum who never played football because he was too small. His teams would miss the playoffs just once over the next 32 seasons. Every year between 1986 and 2002, the Caravan won at least 10 games. That 17-season stretch featured nine state championships, 11 title game appearances, and a cumulative record of 209-22. Mount Carmel later grabbed titles in 2012 and 2013 and reached three more finals before Lenti’s 34-year tenure ended in 2017 at 374-77, setting a state record for wins that has since been surpassed by Ken Leonard’s 419. Lenti’s first title came in the 1988 6A final, 21-7, over East St. Louis to end a 14-0 campaign, the first of the Caravan’s six unbeaten seasons in the playoff era. Nairobi Allen led the way with 193 yards and two touchdowns. “In the four years I’ve been coaching Nairobi,” Lenti said, “I’ve never seen anyone catch him from behind.” Lenti coached 11 future NFL players including quarterback Donovan McNabb, who was a sophomore backup when Mount Carmel won its fourth straight title in 1991. McNabb started for 12-1 and 11-2 teams in 1992 and 1993, respectively, before going on to a 13-year pro career. “There were games I took him out in the first quarter because we didn’t want to run up the score,” remembered Lenti, whose other future pros were Frank Cornish (1985), Chris Calloway (1986), Nate Turner (1987), Simeon Rice (1992), Matt Cushing (1993), Steve Edwards (1996), Darrell Hill (1997), Glenn Foster (2008), Jordan Lynch (2009), and Steve Wirtel (2016). Rice tied the state record for fumble return touchdowns with two in 1991 before playing 12 NFL seasons. Lenti’s last title came in 2013 after a 30-0 win over Lake Zurich to finish a 13-1 season. Mount Carmel scored 23 points off three Lake Zurich turnovers and a safety. “The turnovers set the tempo for the entire game,” Lenti said. That contest was among four title game shutouts won by the Caravan. Another was the 31-0 win over Bloomington in the 2002 6A final. “For most of the playoffs, our offense had to carry us, but today the defense stepped up big for us,” said Lenti. Among Mount Carmel’s starters was Lenti’s son, Frank Lenti Jr., who finished the season with a school-record 18 touchdown catches. Known as a hard worker, Frank Lenti Sr. was also a master motivator. His sister, former DePaul athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto, said, “My impression, being at a Division I school, is that Frank runs his program the way a college program is run in the detail and organization and everything that goes into it.” In 2018, Lenti was succeeded by Mount Carmel alum Jordan Lynch, a 2013 Heisman Trophy finalist at Northern Illinois. Lynch has added three state titles to the school’s haul of 15, tying Joliet Catholic for the most in state history. Lynch-led teams have gone 20-2 in the playoffs. His 14-0 team of 2019 set a 7A title game scoring record in a 37-13 win over LaGrange Park Nazareth when Lynch’s brother, Justin, scored five touchdowns. Jordan Lynch took a six-year record of 64-9 into the 2024 season. No school has more playoff wins than the Caravan’s 132 nor more overall victories since 1974 than its 508.
#19
BISHOP McNAMARA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | KANKAKEE
Program Record Since 1974: 385-164
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 37
IHSA Playoff Record: 69-32
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 9/5
1978-3A: Geneseo Darnall, 14, Bishop McNamara 7 12-2
1981-3A: Mount Carmel 22, Bishop McNamara 8 11-2
1982-3A: Bishop McNamara 17, Alton Marquette 6 12-1
1985-3A: Bishop McNamara 34, Olympia 7 14-0
1986-3A: Bishop McNamara 30, DuQuoin 12 11-3
1987-3A: Bishop McNamara 45, Rockridge 14 12-2
1998-4A: Glenwood 28, Bishop McNamara 21 13-1
2015-3A: Bishop McNamara 50, Tolono Unity 7 13-1
2018-4A: IC Catholic 31, Bishop McNamara 21 12-2
State Final Coaches: Rich Zinanni (1978, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1998, 2015, 2018)
Bishop McNamara: McNamara is among the few programs to have basically had one coach the entire playoff era. Hired in 1975, Rich Zinanni ended his 47-year career in 2021 with a 371-151 record that places him third for wins in state history. Only 11 programs have earned more playoff berths than Zinanni’s 37. In his fourth season, he took the Fightin’ Irish to a 3A state final where they lost to Geneseo, 14-7, to end a 12-2 season. McNamara’s 11-2 3A runner-up squad of 1981 laid the foundation for a breakthrough in 1982. That 12-1 campaign ended with a 17-6 win over Alton Marquette in the 3A final. The Irish turned Marquette’s four fourth-quarter fumbles into 11 points. “This takes the monkey off our back,” Zinanni told the media. “It’s our third time down here and we finally won. Also, it’s the first state championship for the City of Kankakee.” Mike O’Connor’s 32-yard field goal with 5:47 left gave McNamara a 9-6 lead. Mike VanMill’s 1-yard keeper later ended the scoring. The Irish grabbed their second title in 1985, topping Olympia in the 3A final, 34-7, to cap their only 14-0 season. McNamara rolled to a title game record 525 total yards (231 passing and 294 rushing). Brian Hassett supplied the passing yards on 11-of-21 accuracy while Eddie Thomas rushed for 124 yards and Eugene Edmond 116. “Our success is a mix of discipline on offense and aggressiveness on defense,” Zinanni said. “There are a lot of tears in our dressing room. We’re done playing and they don’t want to quit.” The Irish completed a rare three-peat of state titles by downing DuQuoin in the 1986 3A final, 30-12, and Rockridge, 45-14, in the 1987 3A final. Mike Zucullo rushed for 127 yards and Edmond 105 in the 1986 final to cap an 11-3 season. That title had a special place in Zinanni’s heart. “This first one (in 1982), I was in shock,” he said. “Last year, we dominated, went 14-0 and were never in a close game. This year, people didn’t think we could do it.” The Irish did it again to cap a 12-2 season in the 1987 final as Thomas gained 147 yards and scored three touchdowns while Edwin Darr added 134 yards and two scores. Joe Pollisard chipped in a record-tying three fumble recoveries. The Irish remained a postseason fixture including the 7-3 team of 1991 that had future NFL lineman Thomas Guynes. McNamara took second in 4A in 1998 with a roster that included Tyjuan Hagler, who’d later win a 2006 Super Bowl ring with Indianapolis. The Irish went 13-1 in 2015 to land their fifth crown. That 50-7 win in 3A over Tolono Unity saw Jonathan Ward run for 189 yards and two touchdowns while Ariez Andrew added three scores. Ward finished with 2,354 yards for the season and 5,689 for his career, the latter ranking 14th in state history.
#18
MORRIS HIGH SCHOOL | MORRIS
Program Record Since 1974: 426-138
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 37
IHSA Playoff Record: 80-34
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 11/3
1979-3A: Mascoutah 7, Morris 6 12-1
1980-3A: Morris 40, Harrisburg 0 12-1
1984-4A: Morris 31, Benet Academy 14 13-0
1989-4A: Oak Lawn Richards 12, Morris 6 (OT) 13-1
1994-4A: Belvidere 28, Morris 0 12-2
2001-5A: Joliet Catholic 27, Morris 20 13-1
2004-5A: Joliet Catholic 17, Morris 0 13-1
2005-6A: Morris 14, Normal Community 9 14-0
2007-5A: Metamora 17, Morris 14 11-3
2012-5A: Montini 19, Morris 6 12-2
2017-4A: Rochester 24, Morris 21 11-3
State Final Coaches: Dan Darlington (1979, 1980, 1984, 1989, 1994, 2001, 2004), George Dergo (2005, 2007), Alan Thorson (2012, 2017)
Morris: Considering Morris has amassed 37 playoff berths, it’s hard to believe it missed the first five playoff fields. A string of four straight losing seasons snapped in 1977 when the first of Dan Darlington’s 28 years as coach ended at 6-3. By his third season, Morris was the Class 3A runner-up with a 12-1 record. The Redskins, as they were known then (the school board voted to change the nickname in 2022, but a new one has yet to be chosen), ascended 3A’s summit in 1980. That 12-1 squad blanked Harrisburg in the final, 40-0, the largest shutout point spread in playoff history to that point. Bill Button led the way, passing for 106 yards and three touchdowns. Among his teammates was linebacker Ed Brady, who’d go on to play 11 years in the NFL and reach the 1989 Super Bowl with Cincinnati. “These guys are winners,” Darlington told the media. “They only lost two games while they were in high school and one of those was a state championship game.” Four years later, Morris rolled through a 13-0 campaign to capture a 4A crown. That 31-14 victory saw Lisle Benet hampered by three interceptions, two lost fumbles, and a blocked punt. “We took advantage of the mistakes they made,” said Darlington, who watched Jim Feeney fire a pair of touchdown passes. Darlington wouldn’t win another title, but did reach four more finals. Beginning in 1997, Morris would earn playoff berths in 17 of Darlington’s last 18 seasons, collecting double digit victories in 11 of them. He stepped down in 2004 with a 265-55 record at Morris and an overall record of 278-65 to rank 13th for wins in state history. He accounted for seven of the school’s state record eight runner-up finishes. George Dergo had the unenviable task of following Darlington, but he also had the benefit of his son, John Dergo. George Dergo led Morris to the 2005 6A state title with a 14-9 win over Normal Community to finish 14-0, but that wasn’t the game that team is remembered for. Instead, a 28-21 victory over Joliet Catholic in the quarterfinals featuring John Dergo’s 366 rushing yards will always have a more prominent place in the program’s lore. In the 2005 final, John Dergo carried 34 times for 206 yards and one touchdown. His 3-yard run on fourth-and-two with two minutes left prevented Normal Community from getting another possession. “I don’t care how you play football,” George Dergo said. “This is how we play it.” The younger Dergo, a two-time state wrestling champion, scored a still-standing state record 376 points in 2005 and rushed for 3,010 yards. His 52 touchdowns that season and 110 in his career rank third and sixth, respectively, in state history. Morris appeared in three more title games after 2005, giving them 11 all-time state championship game appearances. Only five schools have more.
#17
NAZARETH ACADEMY | LaGRANGE PARK
Program Record Since 1974: 270-182
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 22
IHSA Playoff Record: 44-17
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 7/5
2014-6A: Nazareth 26, Lemont 7 14-0
2015-5A: Nazareth 42, Lincoln-Way West 21 12-2
2017-6A: Prairie Ridge 28, Nazareth 21 12-2
2018-7A: Nazareth 31, St. Charles North 10 13-1
2019-7A: Chi. Mount Carmel 37, Nazareth 13 13-1
2022-5A: Nazareth 45, Peoria 44 10-4
2023-5A: Nazareth 38, Joliet Catholic 20 9-5
State Final Coaches: Tim Racki (2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023)
Nazareth: An argument could be made that Nazareth’s inclusion this high on the all-time top-50 list is due to recency bias. It is just that the recent vintage of Nazareth football has been played at such a high level. The Roadrunners didn’t make the playoffs until 1989 and didn’t win their first playoff game until 2007. That 8-4 season came in Tim Racki’s third year as coach. As it turned out, Racki was building a foundation of excellence. The ultimate breakthrough came as the 2014 team went 14-0 and won the Class 6A title. Racki, who won four titles with Addison Driscoll (2001-04) before it closed in 2009, became the first coach in state history to win crowns at different schools. After topping Lemont in the final, 26-7, Racki told the media, “It’s a blessing. Some coaches don’t do it once in their career. The first time you go through anything like that is special. It’s the first time for Nazareth. You see the school and its spirit. It’s gratifying.” Nolan Dean starred in the 2014 final, rushing a 6A record 39 times for 199 yards and two touchdowns. Also scoring was Julian Love, currently in his fifth year in the NFL. Nazareth won again in 2015, topping New Lenox Lincoln-Way West in the 5A final, 42-21, to finish 12-2. Ivory Kelly-Martin ran for 170 yards and four touchdowns while Carson Bartels completed 13 of 18 passes for 222 yards and two scores. “We were confident we were going to score points,” Racki said. In 2018, the Roadrunners went 13-1 to secure their third title. In the 7A final, sophomore J.J. McCarthy completed 15 of 24 passes for 201 yards and one touchdown as Nazareth stopped St. Charles North, 31-10. The Roadrunners set a 7A title game record with 443 total yards. “I love these kids,” Racki said. “Like any football team, they went through adversity more than once. They overcame that and stayed focused.” Currently a rookie with the Minnesota Vikings, McCarthy passed for 3,289 yards in 2018. He played for Michigan’s 2023 national championship team along with former Nazareth teammate Tyler Morris. Nazareth won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, both in Class 5A. Zach Hayes’ interception in the final two minutes clinched a 45-44 thriller over Peoria in the 2022 final to cap a 10-4 season that saw Nazareth open 2-4. “This team was incredibly resilient,” Racki said. “The most resilient team I’ve ever had.” The 2023 Roadrunners were even more resilient, qualifying for the playoffs at 4-5 and finishing 9-5 to become the first IHSA champion with five losses. Logan Malachuk completed 23 of 34 passes for 414 yards and four touchdowns in the 38-20 win over Joliet Catholic in the 2023 final. “It’s really a special journey to be on,” said Racki, who took a 226-80 record into the 2024 season to rank 42nd for wins in state history. His nine state titles as a coach tie Rochester’s Derek Leonard for second in state history behind the 11 won by Chicago Mount Carmel’s Frank Lenti.
#16
NEWMAN CENTRAL CATHOLIC | STERLING
Program Record Since 1974: 409-134
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 34
IHSA Playoff Record: 71-28
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 8/6
1990-1A: Newman 6, Bloomington Central Catholic 3 (OT) 12-2
1993-1A: Calhoun 49, Newman 9 13-1
1994-1A: Newman 27, Lexington 0 14-0
1998-1A: Carthage 30, Newman 26 12-2
2004-2A: Newman 21, Carthage 7 13-1
2010-2A: Newman 48, Maroa-Forsyth 7 14-0
2013-2A: Newman 40, Staunton 13 13-1
2019-2A: Newman 35, Nashville 14 13-1
State Final Coaches: Mike Papoccia (1990, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2004, 2010, 2013), Brandon Kreczmer (2019)
Newman Central Catholic: Coach Mike Papoccia made Sterling Newman a postseason fixture, stringing together 25 playoff berths his last 26 seasons. His 38-year career ended in 2018 at 340-99 to rank fourth for wins in state history. Of the Comets’ 34 postseason appearances, they’ve only lost in the first round three times. Only seven schools have more titles than Newman’s six. The Comets’ first crown came in 1990 after taking a 6-3 overtime thriller from Bloomington Central Catholic in Class 1A to cap a 12-2 campaign. Neither team scored in regulation before Jay Krick’s 1-yard run on fourth down trumped Todd Kurz’ 26-yard field goal in overtime. “I figured if we could hold them from scoring a touchdown, we could be in good shape,” Papoccia told the media. A 49-9 loss to Hardin Calhoun in the 1993 1A final motivated the 1994 Comets. Newman dominated the 1A final that year, 27-0, over Lexington to finish 14-0. “It was a driving force to get back and play up to our ability,” Papoccia said. The Comets opened the scoring with a 50-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Velasque to Cory Eshleman. David Miller added 133 rushing yards and one touchdown. Six years after losing the 1998 1A final to Carthage, Newman avenged that setback in the 2004 2A final, 21-7. “I don’t want to say that it is revenge,” Papoccia clarified, “because that seems like a mean word. I love (Carthage coach) Jim Unruh and they’re a class act.” Nate Driessens rushed for two touchdowns while the defense stymied a Carthage offense that had averaged 43 points a game. In 2010, Newman was ranked No. 1 all season en route to its second 14-0 campaign. “This is a fantastic feeling to live up to that ranking,” Papoccia said. In the 2010 2A final, the Comets dominated Maroa-Forsyth, 48-7. Scoring three touchdowns each were Tim Wilson and Joe Blessman, who rushed for 179 and 114 yards, respectively. Papoccia’s fifth title came in 2013 when a 13-1 campaign ended with a 40-13 romp over Staunton. He admitted winning never gets old. “I do (get old), but this feels pretty good,” he said. “I feel pretty young right now.” The Comets scored on their first five possessions. Scoring two touchdowns each were Jack Snow and Dillan Heffelf, who ran for 172 and 155 yards, respectively. Newman finished with a 2A title game record 426 yards on the ground. Papoccia’s last team went 10-2 in 2018 and bowed out in the quarterfinals. His successor, Brandon Kreczmer, kept the “Blue Machine” rolling as it won the 2019 2A final over Nashville, 35-14, to cap a 13-1 season. Five turnovers hampered Nashville while Newman’s Connor McBridge scored three touchdowns, two receiving and one rushing. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of these players,” Kreczmer said, “especially the way they’ve wanted to carry on the tradition of Newman football and what we’ve been able to achieve at the state level these last 10 years.”
#15
STILLMAN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | STILLMAN VALLEY
Program Record Since 1974: 360-156
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 30
IHSA Playoff Record: 54-25
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 6/5
1999-2A: Stillman Valley 28, Macon Meridian 0 12-2
2000-2A: Stillman Valley 35, Tolono Unity 14 14-0
2003-3A: Stillman Valley 21, Wilmington 7 13-1
2009-3A: Stillman Valley 52, Tolono Unity 22 14-0
2010-3A: Carthage Illini West 22, Stillman Valley 20 13-1
2013-3A: Stillman Valley 43, St. Joseph-Ogden 41 (OT) 12-2
State Final Coaches: Mike Lalor (1999, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2013)
Stillman Valley: Stillman Valley’s consistency in the 1990s and 2000s was something to behold. The Cardinals began an especially successful run in 1997, going 11-2 under Joe Blume. Mike Lalor took over in 1998 and raised the program to another level, reaching the Class 3A semifinals with an 11-2 squad. The best, however, was yet to come as the Cardinals won back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2000. In the 1999 2A final, Stillman Valley dominated Macon Meridian, 28-0, to finish 12-2. The Cardinals ran the ball 43 straight times before attempting the first of their two passes. Stillman Valley finished with 260 yards on 63 carries with Brandt Bennett contributing 79 yards and one touchdown while A.J. Briarton added 72 yards. Tom Remsen ran for 66 yards and two scores. Among those blocking was 6-foot-4, 300-pound Pat Babcock, who went on the play at Illinois. “What these kids have done for our town and community over the last three years has been outstanding,” Lalor told the media. “How many coaches coach a lifetime just to get this chance?” Lalor’s second chance came 12 months later when Stillman Valley won the 2000 2A final over Tolono Unity, 35-14, to cap a 14-0 season. Brian Busser led the Cardinals with 184 rushing yards and three touchdowns. That result kept alive a 24-game winning streak that ended against Byron in the 2001 season opener. In 2003, Stillman Valley won another title, topping Wilmington in the 3A final, 21-7, to end a 13-1 campaign. “I was pinching myself afterwards,” Lalor said. “(Wilmington) was a tremendous team.” The Cardinals lost the total yardage battle, 219-158, but it didn’t matter as Keith Saunders ran for 48 yards and two touchdowns while Kyle Wills added 35 yards and one score. The contest was played in 28-degree temperatures and driving snow. Lalor mentored another 14-0 squad in 2009, besting Tolono Unity, 52-22, with a then-record 3A title game point total. Adam Cox rushed for 119 yards and three touchdowns. Tolono pulled within 24-14 in the second half, but Stillman Valley answered with a 21-play scoring drive that included three fourth-down conversions. “That was a key point in the game,” Lalor said. “They scored quickly and that drive gave us the momentum back.” The Cardinals’ fifth title arrived in 2013 when they won a 43-41 3A thriller against St. Joseph-Ogden in overtime to end a 12-2 season. Stillman Valley’s Zac Hare opened the scoring in overtime with a 2-yard touchdown run before adding the two-point conversion. St. Joseph-Ogden’s Connor Janes countered with a 5-yard score, but Trevor Gerig and Eddie Torrance sacked Dalton Walsh to nix the ensuing conversion pass, giving the Cardinals the win. Hare finished with 174 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Stillman Valley had lost its last two regular-season games in 2013 but regrouped in the playoffs. “What stood out the most … is the kids never quit,” said Lalor, after finishing a 16-year stretch from 1998 to 2013 with five titles, one runner-up finish, and three other semifinal trips. Lalor took a 26-year record of 214-78 into the 2024 season.
#14
MONTINI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | LOMBARD
Program Record Since 1974: 365-179
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 33
IHSA Playoff Record: 71-27
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 9/6
2004-4A: Montini 44, Coal City 7 13-1
2009-5A: Montini 29, Joliet Catholic 28 10-4
2010-5A: Montini 34, Glenwood 21 12-2
2011-5A: Montini 70, Joliet Catholic 45 12-2
2012-5A: Montini 19, Morris 6 12-2
2013-5A: Sacred Heart-Griffin 38, Montini 28 13-1
2014-5A: Sacred Heart-Griffin 29, Montini 14 10-4
2015-6A: Montini 38, Crete-Monee 15 14-0
2018-5A: Joliet Catholic 35, Montini 27 12-2
State Final Coaches: Chris Andriano (2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015), Mike Bukovsky (2018)
Montini: Montini made just five postseason appearances the first two decades of the playoff era. In 1993, the Broncos went 11-2 and reached the state semifinals to begin a string of 27 consecutive playoff berths. Chris Andriano was coach for 24 of those postseasons. In his 26th year, Montini won the 2004 Class 4A title over Coal City, 44-7, to cap a 13-1 season. Mike Mucha rushed for 133 yards and two touchdowns while Bobby Dobry threw two scoring passes. “The kids were on a mission and tonight they finally got it done,” Andriano told the media. Five years later, it became difficult to imagine state championship weekend without Montini. In the 2009 4A final, the Broncos edged Joliet Catholic, 29-28. The final two points came on Christian Westerkamp’s catch of Brandon Pechloff’s conversion pass with 32 seconds left. Andriano initially sent out his kicker but changed his mind. “We were going for two, we were going for the win all the way,” he said. That result made the 10-4 Broncos the second four-loss champion to that point in state history. In the 2010 final, the Broncos dispatched Glenwood, 34-21, to finish 12-2. Montini’s Matt Westerkamp threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns while his cousin, Jordan Westerkamp, caught seven passes for 146 yards and three scores. “They were on fire,” Andriano said. That was doubly true for Jordan Westerkamp during a 70-45 win over Joliet Catholic in the 2011 5A final to end a 12-2 season. He caught 11 passes from John Rhode and set title game receiving records for yards (331) and touchdowns (five). Rhode set 5A final passing records for yards (587) and touchdowns (seven). “Who would have thought there would be that number of points scored?” Andriano said. Jordan Westerkamp, who later played at Nebraska, finished with a state career record of 4,548 receiving yards. His father, Bob, totaled 2,960 receiving yards for Montini from 1979 to 1983 to rank 20th in state history. Another member of the 2011 Broncos was Jaleel Johnson, who has played eight years in the NFL. In 2012, Montini became just the fifth school to win four consecutive titles by topping Morris, 19-6, to end a 12-2 season. Dimitri Taylor rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns. “To do four in a row, I’ve got to pinch myself,” Andriano said. “Our persistence has really paid off. We won four games in the final minute this year.” Montini was denied titles in 2013 and 2014 but climbed back atop the podium in 2015 with a 38-15 6A win over Crete-Monee to secure the only 14-0 season in school history. Justin Blake rushed for 192 yards and two touchdowns while Prince Walker added 169 and three scores. “This is the best team we’ve ever had,” said Andriano, who ended his 37-year career in 2016 at 300-128 to tie the eighth most wins in state history. His 2009-15 heyday featured five titles, two runner-up showings, and an 83-15 record.
#13
HANCOCK CENTRAL/CARTHAGE/ILLINI WEST HIGH SCHOOL | CARTHAGE
Program Record Since 1974: 403-134
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 36
IHSA Playoff Record: 64-30
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 11/6
1984-1A: Routt 20, Hancock Central 0 12-1
1988-1A: Arcola 15, Hancock Central 0 13-1
1995-1A: Carthage 45, Arcola 13 14-0
1998-1A: Carthage 30, Sterling Newman 26 14-0
1999-1A: Carthage 14, Galena 12 14-0
2000-1A: Carthage 14, Sciota Northwestern 0 13-1
2002-2A: Aledo 41, Carthage 40 (OT) 13-1
2003-2A: Iroquois West 32, Carthage 14 13-1
2004-2A: Sterling Newman 21, Carthage 7 13-1
2008-3A: Carthage lllini West 21, DuQuoin 14 14-0
2010-3A: Carthage Illini West 22, Stillman Valley 20 14-0
State Final Coaches: Kenneth Miller (1984), Jim Unruh (1988, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2010)
Carthage/Illini West: It took some time for Carthage Hancock Central to move from playoff fixture to postseason dynamo. Playoff appearances were sporadic until Kenneth Miller guided the school to its first Class 1A final in 1984. Positive momentum continued in 1986 when Jim Unruh began a 25-year stint as coach. By 1988, he had the Blueboys as they were known then, back in the 1A final. In 1992, the school reduced its name to Carthage, but win totals kept growing. Unruh’s 1995 squad finished 14-0 after topping Arcola in the 1A final, 45-13. Kenton Patrick supplied 239 rushing yards and four touchdowns. “It makes it easy to call offensive plays when you have an offensive line opening holes like we did today,” Unruh told the media. Three years later, the Blueboys went 14-0 for their second title. That 30-26 win over Sterling Newman in the 1998 1A final saw George Toubekis throw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Eric Huston with 50 seconds left. “To win it on a pass play when you’re a running team, who could have picked that kind of Cinderella ending?” asked Unruh. A year later, another fairytale win saw Curtis Bisby’s 5-yard touchdown run end a 91-yard drive with 1:10 left in a 14-12 decision over Galena. “On the winning drive, our strategy was controlled desperation,” Unruh said. That capped a 14-0 season in 1999 and preserved a 28-game winning streak that would end in 2000 at 31, tying the 14th longest in state history. Carthage secured a third consecutive title in 2000, ending a 13-1 campaign with a 14-0 win over fellow West Central Conference member Sciota Northwestern in the 1A final. In a week four meeting with Sciota, located 25 miles from Carthage, the Blueboys lost, 23-22. In the rematch, Wyatt Green rushed for 149 yards and two touchdowns to finish the season with 1,342 yards and 25 touchdowns. A key for the program was its ability to get 50 of the school’s 120 boys out for football. “Our players want to play Carthage football,” Unruh said. Three runner-up finishes in Class 2A followed in 2002, 2003, and 2004. Renamed Illini West after a 1997 consolidation, the Chargers, as they are now known, earned Class 3A titles in 2008 and 2010. Illini West downed DuQuoin, 21-14, to end a 14-0 campaign in 2008. The deciding play was Mike Lafferty’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Jake Schmudlach with 25 seconds left. Zach Burling’s interception ended DuQuoin’s final hope. In the 2008 semifinals, the Chargers rallied from 18 down to beat Oregon. “Unbelievable to win back-to-back games like we did in the fashion we did,” Unruh said. In 2010, Unruh won his sixth title as Illini West edged Stillman Valley, 22-20, to cap his fifth 14-0 season. Preserving the win was Dane Green’s interception with 20 seconds left. That contest closed Unruh’s 25-year career at 256-45, ranking him 20th for wins in state history.
#12
DRISCOLL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | ADDISON
Program Record Since 1974: 253-132
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 18
IHSA Playoff Record: 56-10
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 8/8
1991-3A: Driscoll 42, Robinson 20 14-0
2001-4A: Driscoll 42, Mount Carmel 41 (2OT) 12-2
2002-4A: Driscoll 42, Mount Carmel 0 13-1
2003-4A: Driscoll 37, Prairie Central 21 14-0
2004-3A: Driscoll 37, Bureau Valley 14 12-2
2005-4A: Driscoll 42, Newton 7 14-0
2006-4A: Driscoll 35, Breese Mater Dei 0 13-1
2007-4A: Driscoll 48, Bloomington Central Catholic 24 14-0
State Final Coaches: Gene Nudo (1991), Tim Racki (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004), Mike Burzawa (2005, 2006, 2007)
Driscoll: There are so many incredible things about Driscoll, pinpointing the highlight is difficult. Is it the state-record seven consecutive championships? Is it the 37 consecutive playoff wins? Or is it the dominance displayed during a relatively short span? Founded in 1966, the school closed in 2009. In the Highlanders’ final 10 full seasons, they went 121-13. Driscoll made the most of its 18 playoff berths, going 56-10 in the postseason. The Highlanders nearly had as many seasons end with titles (eight) as they did a playoff loss (10). Driscoll won all eight state finals it reached. Only five schools have won more and only Rochester at 9-0 can top Driscoll’s 8-0 record in finals. In a glimpse of things to come, the Highlanders won their first title in 1991 over Robinson, 42-20, in 3A to cap a 14-0 season. Leading the way was Mike Burzawa with 152 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Mike Kamienski added 194 yards and two scores. “We don’t care which one of them runs the ball,” Coach Gene Nudo told the media. Six years and three coaching changes later, Tim Racki was hired. His 12-2 team of 2001 won the 4A final over Mount Carmel, 42-41, in two overtimes. Vic Arlis’ third touchdown of the day gave Driscoll a 42-35 lead in the second overtime. Mount Carmel scored on its possession, but its conversion pass failed. “It could have gone either way,” Racki said. That was not true in a 2002 4A final rematch as the Highlanders blanked Mount Carmel, 42-0, behind Matt Mahaney’s four touchdown passes. Driscoll’s third title, a 37-21 win over Prairie Central in the 2003 4A final, capped a 14-0 season. Greg Turner scored once receiving, twice rushing, and once on an interception. “Just when you think you’ve seen it all, he’ll have another big play,” Racki said. In the 2004 3A final, Ryan Meyer rushed for two touchdowns as the Highlanders sank Bureau Valley, 37-14, to finish 12-2. Racki stepped down after the 2004 season with a seven-year record of 76-13 to coach at Nazareth. His replacement, former Driscoll star Mike Burzawa, helped the 2005 Highlanders go 14-0 to become the first program to win five consecutive titles. Driscoll won the 4A final over Newton, 42-7. “There was a lot of pressure on us not to end the streak,” said Mike Redpath, who had a touchdown and an interception. John Tranchitella added three touchdowns. Despite losing 19 starters to graduation, the Highlanders returned to win the 2006 4A final over Mater Dei, 35-0. Phil Pedi provided three touchdown passes as part of his fourth championship season. “You want to keep bringing it in and passing the tradition down,” he said. Picking up the baton in the 2007 4A final was Tim Franken, who scored five touchdowns in a 48-24 win over Bloomington Central Catholic. Dave Schwabe rushed for 238 yards and scored on a 94-yard run and a 45-yard interception return. “You could call it a dynasty, I guess,” said Schwabe, “and we are the ruling family.”
#11
LINCOLN-WAY EAST HIGH SCHOOL | FRANKFORT
Program Record Since 1974: 232-44
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 22
IHSA Playoff Record: 53-19
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 6/3
2005-8A: Lincoln-Way East 30, Maine South 24 (2OT) 14-0
2012-7A: Glenbard West 10, Lincoln-Way East 8 13-1
2017-8A: Lincoln-Way East 23, Loyola 14 14-0
2019-8A: Lincoln-Way East 12, Warren 0 14-0
2022-8A: Loyola 13, Lincoln-Way East 3 13-1
2023-8A: Loyola 26, Lincoln-Way East 15 13-1
State Final Coaches: Rob Zvonar (2005, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2023)
Lincoln-Way East: In August of 2001, newly opened Lincoln-Way East played the first football game in program history, winning 21-20 over Kankakee Bishop McNamara. Apparently, that set a tone. The 6-4 Griffins made the playoffs that season and have qualified every year since. That inaugural 6-4 season is one of just two campaigns in school history in which Lincoln-Way East has lost more than three games. The other came when the Griffins finished 8-5 in 2004, but still reached the state semifinals. The Class 8A school has three 14-0 championship seasons on its ledger from 2005, 2017, and 2019. There have been six other seasons where the only loss came in the playoffs including runner-up showings in 2012, 2022, and 2023. Rob Zvonar has coached every game in Lincoln-Way East history. The Monticello High School and Illinois Wesleyan University graduate reached the 200-win plateau faster than any coach in state history. Entering the 2024 season, Zvonar’s 23-year record of 232-44 ranked 38th for wins in IHSA history. He is the active leader in winning percentage in state annals at .841. His first title came via a 30-24 double overtime heartstopper against Maine South in 2005. The second overtime ended on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Anthony Kropp, who couldn’t tell if he’d made it. “For the longest time, I couldn’t even see the ref’s signal,” he told the media. “But once I saw my teammates jumping around like crazy, I knew everything was okay.” It didn’t hurt that Kropp had passed for 230 yards and one touchdown. His blockers included 6-foot-4, 250-pound Adam Gettis, who’d later play eight years in the NFL. In the 2017 8A final, sophomore AJ Henning scored on runs of 62 and 42 yards en route to 157 yards on 17 carries in a 23-14 win over Wilmette Loyola. His second touchdown with 3:44 left proved to be a game clincher. “We use AJ whenever we can,” Zvonar said. “He’s a special talent.” The current beneficiary of that talent is Northwestern University where Henning is a graduate student and wide receiver. In the 2019 8A final, Henning rushed 29 times for 125 yards and scored on a 56-yard run in a 12-0 win over Gurnee Warren. Also scoring was Dominic Dzioban, who converted 46- and 45-yard field goals when not averaging 38.3 yards on six punts. Henning finished with 29 touchdowns in 2019 and was later named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois. Coming into the 2019 final, Warren had only allowed 40 points total and never more than seven in a game. “You don’t see a high school defense like Warren’s very often,” Zvonar said. “Maybe the best I’ve ever seen. Our guys wanted to prove maybe they were up there in the conversation too.” Of Lincoln-Way East’s three runner-up finishes, the closest came in 2012 in 7A when Glenbard West prevailed, 10-8. The victors notched five sacks, recovered a fumble, and stopped two fourth-quarter drives. The Griffins’ starting center was 6-4, 280-pound junior Nick Allegretti, who went on to play at Illinois before becoming a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs.
#29
GLENBARD WEST HIGH SCHOOL | GLEN ELLYN
Program Record Since 1974: 368-159
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 33
IHSA Playoff Record: 52-30
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 5/3
1976-5A: St. Laurence 22, Glenbard West 21 (OT) 11-2
1983-5A: Glenbard West 21, Limestone 7 13-0
2009-7A: Wheaton Warrenville South 31, Glenbard West 24 (2OT) 13-1
2012-7A: Glenbard West 10, Lincoln-Way East 8 14-0
2015-7A: Glenbard West 34, Libertyville 28 14-0
State Final Coaches: Bill Duchon (1976), Jim Covert (1983), Chad Hetlet (2009, 2012, 2015)
Glenbard West: Glenbard West had considerable success just before the playoff era, so it’s no surprise its coach at the time, the legendary Bill Duchon, was among those instrumental in getting a playoff system implemented. Duchon’s team got a bite of that playoff apple before he left the program in 1976, qualifying in all three of his remaining seasons. His final season featured a run to the 1976 5A final where the Hilltoppers fell to St. Laurence, 22-21, in overtime, only the third state final up to that point that required extra time. Jim Covert guided Glenbard West to a 13-0 Class 5A crown in 1983 as the program continued to crank out solid seasons through much of the 1980s and 1990s. Covert’s 1983 squad topped Bartonville Limestone in the final, 21-7, as Jim Konopka rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns. “I’d rather run over people than go out of bounds,” Konopka told the media. Konopka’s first score, a 1-yard plunge, was set up by Sean Kelly’s interception. The Hilltoppers held Limestone to minus 2 yards rushing, which remains the Class 5A record for fewest yards allowed. Chad Hetlet arrived in 2007 and quickly took Glenbard West to another level. In his second season, the Hilltoppers went 12-1 to reach the Class 7A semifinals. In the 2009 Class 7A final, Glenbard West fell to Wheaton Warrenville South in a double overtime thriller, 31-24. In 2012 and 2015, Hetlet’s Hilltoppers turned in a pair of 14-0 campaigns to earn 7A titles. In the 2012 final, Glenbard West recorded five sacks, recovered a fumble, and stopped two fourth-quarter drives to down Lincoln-Way East, 10-8. The Hilltoppers limited Northern Illinois recruit Tom Fuessel to 3-of-14 passing accuracy and 51 yards. “Our defense played outstanding against probably the best player in the state of Illinois,” Hetlet said. In the 2015 final, Glenbard West edged Libertyville, 34-28, as Sam Brodner carried 28 times for 7A record 264 yards and four touchdowns. “I was obviously tired, but you’ve got to push through that in the state championship game,” said Brodner, whose team had to come from behind twice. Bordner finished 2015 with 284 points, the 14th most in state history. His 47 touchdowns that year tied the 10th most in state annals. The Hilltoppers’ 767 total yards in the 2015 final remain the 7A record. Brodner also owns 7A playoff records for most carries in a game (50 for 292 yards vs. Cary-Grove in 2015) and longest kickoff return (92 vs. Rockford Auburn in 2015). The 10-3 season of 2016 saw Logan Ryan convert 56 consecutive point-after kicks, the 11th most in state history. Hetlet took a 17-year record of 156-31 into the 2024 season. Hilltoppers reaching the NFL include wide receiver Alex Green (1982), defensive back Matt Bowen (1995), offensive lineman Chris Watt (2009), and wide receiver Alec Pierce (2018). Rob Boras, a 1988 grad, is a Buffalo Bills assistant coach.
#28
MAROA-FORSYTH HIGH SCHOOL | MAROA
Program Record Since 1974: 382-161
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 28
IHSA Playoff Record: 70-26
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 10/2
1981-1A: Freeport Aquin 6, Maroa-Forsyth 0 12-1
1983-1A: Monmouth Yorkwood 12, Maroa-Forsyth 6 (OT) 11-2
2006-2A: Maroa-Forsyth 43, Westville 22 14-0
2009-2A: Morrison 36, Maroa-Forsyth 14 11-3
2010-2A: Sterling Newman Central Catholic 48, Maroa-Forsyth 7 11-3
2012-1A: Maroa-Forsyth 48, Stockton 24 13-1
2014-2A: Pearl City 41, Maroa-Forsyth 12 10-4
2016-2A: Deer Creek-Mackinaw 35, Maroa-Forsyth 7 12-2
2017-2A: Gibson City-Melvin Sibley 38, Maroa-Forsyth 32 12-2
2018-2A: Gibson City-Melvin Sibley 35, Maroa-Forsyth 16 13-1
State Final Coaches: Fred Thompson (1981, 1983), Josh Jostes (2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Maroa-Forsyth: Maroa-Forsyth has been solid over the entirety of the playoff era, but it's the recent vintage of the Trojans that has stood out. After current coach Josh Jostes failed to notch a winning season his first four years at the school, something clicked in 2004 as Maroa-Forysth reached the 2A semifinals. Two years later, the Trojans won the school’s first state title by upending Westville, 43-22. Four months after that, Maroa-Forsyth won the Class A basketball title. Among six players on both squads, Robert Kreps grabbed a 2A record nine receptions for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Also scoring twice each were Shane Conaway and Justin Barnes. The Trojans turned two interceptions and a fumble recovery into points. “We put the throttle down and go for the jugular and we had a couple nice plays after turnovers,” Jostes told the media. Three years later, the Trojans made back-to-back finals, losing both but setting the stage for another state title in 2012, this time in Class 1A. That 48-24 triumph over Stockton saw sophomore quarterback Jack Hockaday rush for four touchdowns and pass for another. He ran for 129 yards and threw for 175. Watching from the sidelines was Hockaday’s brother, Luke, who had quarterbacked Maroa-Forsyth’s 2006 champions. With the wind gusting up to 50 mph, Stockton erased a 20-0 deficit to go up, 24-20. “Playing them in the wind was like getting hit by a train,” Jostes said. When the Trojans got the wind at their backs in the fourth quarter, they scored 28 unanswered points. “We had stopped doing the things that had gotten us the lead,” Jostes said. “I just challenged them. I told them they had 12 minutes to make memories for the rest of their lives.” Maroa-Forsyth made four more finals the next six seasons but fell short each time. Nevertheless, few have matched the Trojans’ feat of reaching eight finals in 12 years. Maroa-Forsyth recorded double digit win totals in 10 consecutive seasons and 13 of 14 campaigns stretching from 2004 to 2018. History suggests foes meeting the Trojans early in the playoffs face long odds. Maroa-Forsyth is 22-0 in the first round under Jostes, whose teams have only missed the quarterfinals four times. Jostes took a 224-63 record over 24 years into the 2024 season to rank 44th for wins in state history. Second in school history to Jostes’ 19 playoff berths is Fred Thompson, who fielded five playoff teams while going 90-51 between 1972 and 1995. Thompson’s 1981 and 1983 teams were Class 1A runners-up and both included future Major League Baseball player Kevin Koslofski. The 11-1 Trojans of 1984 included future Green Bay Packer Jeff Query, who still holds the 2A playoff record of five touchdown receptions in a game.
#27
DuQUOIN HIGH SCHOOL | DuQUOIN
Program Record Since 1974: 391-145
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 35
IHSA Playoff Record: 69-33
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 7/2
1986-3A: Bishop McNamara 30, DuQuoin 12 12-2
1988-3A: DuQuoin 25, Herscher 13 14-0
1992-3A: DuQuoin 14, Marengo 10 14-0
1994-3A: Bloomington Central Catholic 22, DuQuoin 12 11-3
1995-3A: Spring Valley Hall 38, DuQuoin 32 13-1
2002-3A: Immaculate Conception 21, DuQuoin 14 12-2
2008-3A: Illini West 21, DuQuoin 14 12-2
State Final Coaches: Bob Karnes (1986), Al Martin (1988, 1992, 1994, 1995, 2002, 2008)
DuQuoin: After making its first playoff appearance in 1984, DuQuoin produced deep postseason runs throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Bob Karnes took the Indians to their first state championship game in 1986 where they fell to Kankakee McNamara, 30-12, in Class 3A. Karnes ended a 20-year career in 1987 at 136-59-4. The Indians went 11-1 his final season, allowing just 661 total yards (239 rushing, 422 passing) through nine games to rank fourth in state history for fewest yards allowed. When Al Martin became coach in 1988, he took the Indians to the top of the Class 3A podium. The Indians capped that 14-0 season with a 25-13 victory over Herscher. DuQuoin’s Scott Baxter scored on a 53-yard run and nixed Herscher’s last threat with an interception. “I’m just thankful to win in my first year at DuQuoin, and thankful I had the group of seniors and the football staff I did,” Martin told the media. Martin would ultimately guide the Indians to six state finals, but the only other title came in 1992 when DuQuoin dropped Marengo, 14-10, in Class 3A to punctuate another 14-0 campaign. Jason Karnes, the son of Bob Karnes, led the Indians with 152 yards on 8-of-15 passing. He hit Jason James with a game-tying 23-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Karnes also intercepted two passes. DuQuoin came from behind again when Robbie Eaton scored on a 41-yard run with 4:30 left. Eaton’s six career punt returns for touchdowns tie the fifth most in state history. In 1992, the Indians were No. 1 in the Associated Press state poll all season. “This year was a great accomplishment for the kids with the amount of pressure on them,” said Martin, who stepped down as coach after 27 years in 2014. His 254-66 record places him 22nd in IHSA history for wins. His first 10 years at DuQuoin saw the Indians go 112-16 and reach four finals. Among the stars Martin developed was future NFL quarterback Nick Hill, who led DuQuoin’s 12-2 Class 3A runner-up team in 2002. Hill passed for 70 yards and one touchdown in a 21-14 loss to Immaculate Conception in the 2002 final. A first-team all-stater, Hill passed for 1,521 yards and 20 touchdowns that season. He was the Indians’ first 4,000-career yard passer since former major league pitcher Don Stanhouse in 1968. Since 2016, Hill has been Southern Illinois University’s head coach. Of DuQuoin’s five Class 3A state runner-up efforts, it lost by seven or fewer points three times. Besides the narrow setback in 2002, the Indians lost to Spring Valley Hall, 38-32, in the 1993 final, and fell to Illini West, 21-14, in the 2008 final. The wild 1993 title game saw Hall survive two blocked punts in the fourth quarter and rally from 10 points down in the final 90 seconds. Despite the outcome, Martin said, “This was the greatest game I’ve ever been involved in.”
#26
ST. TERESA HIGH SCHOOL | DECATUR
Program Record Since 1974: 395-137
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 33
IHSA Playoff Record: 56-29
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 6/4
1974-2A: St. Teresa 15, Alexis 6 11-2
1975-2A: St. Teresa 35, Stockton 0 13-0
1979-2A: St. Teresa 36, Amboy 12 12-1
1986-2A: Woodstock Marian 24, St. Teresa 20 11-3
2016-1A: Forreston 35, St. Teresa 7 12-2
2022-2A: St. Teresa 29, Tri-Valley 22 14-0
State Final Coaches: Ed Boehm (1974, 1975), Ralph McQuiggan (1979), Dale Patton (1986), Mark Ramsey (2016, 2022).
St. Teresa: Perhaps no program was more excited about instituting a state playoff system than St. Teresa. Entering the first year of postseason play, the Bulldogs had just gone undefeated in both 1972 and 1973 and were looking for challenges. Alas, no foe could stop St. Teresa in 1974 and 1975 as it became the first school to win back-to-back titles, going 13-0 each season. The 1974 squad had a 24-year-old rookie coach in Ed Boehm, a 1968 St. Teresa graduate. With only five seniors in the lineup, his Bulldogs dispatched Alexis in the title game, 15-6. “This is a junior ball club,” Boehm told the media. “We’ll be back.” Marty Bushell led the victors with 131 rushing yards including a 58-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs’ winning streak began in the eighth week of the 1971 season and ended 47 games later in the 1976 opener, making it the third longest in state history. The last of those victories was a 35-0 title game decision over Stockton. St. Teresa posted 10 shutouts in 1975 including eight straight to end the season. The Bulldogs outscored their four playoff opponents a combined 159-0. In the final, Jerry Jones led St. Teresa with 250 rushing yards and five touchdowns. It was a season the Bulldogs hated to see end. “I wish I could flunk and come back next year,” quipped guard Chris Schroth. St. Teresa resumed its title-winning ways in 1979, topping previously unbeaten and No. 1-ranked Amboy in the 2A final, 36-12. The Bulldogs’ Keith McRedmond ran for three touchdowns and passed for a fourth. St. Teresa intercepted four passes including two by Joe Moody. The Bulldogs’ lone loss that 12-1 season was to Class 3A Mount Zion. St. Teresa never cracked the top 10 in the Associated Press state poll until the third round of the playoffs. “It’s been sweet. I can’t deny that,” said first-year coach Ralph McQuiggan. “No one thought we could win it except us – the coaches and the players.” In the 2022 2A final, the Bulldogs ended a 43-year championship drought with a 29-22 win over Downs Tri-Valley. “It feels fantastic to be a state champion,” said Coach Mark Ramsey, who had won a 2A crown at Moweaqua Central A&M in 1997. “Tri-Valley put up a heck of a fight and it was back and forth.” Leading the 14-0 victors was Joe Brummer, who completed 5 of 9 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Ramsey ended his 40-year career after the 2022 season with a record of 332-113 to rank fifth for wins in state history. St. Teresa’s 12-2 Class 1A runner-up season in 2016 featured Jacardia Wright, the second leading rusher (8,821 career yards) and touchdown scorer (150) in state history. Only Rockford Lutheran’s James Robinson posted higher totals for yards (9,045) and touchdowns (158). Before going on to play at Kansas State and Missouri State, Wright scored a state record 55 touchdowns in 2018.
#25
ARCOLA HIGH SCHOOL | ARCOLA
Program Record Since 1974: 372-157
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 31
IHSA Playoff Record: 60-27
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 7/4
1977-1A: Genoa-Kingston 18, Arcola 0 11-1
1978-1A: Arcola 42, Hampshire 14 11-1
1985-1A: Arcola 14, Durand 6 14-0
1988-1A: Arcola 15, Hancock Central 0 13-1
1991-1A: Stockton 32, Arcola 6 13-1
1995-1A: Carthage 45, Arcola 13 13-1
2015-1A: Arcola 35, Stark County 17 14-0
State Final Coaches: Steve Thomas (1977, 1978, 1985, 1988, 1991), Joe Marks (1995), Zach Zehr (2015).
Arcola: Arcola had nine undefeated seasons before the playoffs were instituted, but then went 0-9 and 1-8 in 1974 and 1975, respectively. In 1976, veteran coach Steve Thomas found something that clicked and laid the foundation for success that would stretch into the 1990s. After that 9-1 breakthrough in 1976, the Purple Riders went 11-1 to reach the 1977 Class 1A final, losing to Genoa-Kingston, 18-0. Arcola ascended the 1A throne in 1978, topping Hampshire in the final, 42-14, to finish 11-1. “It started out like a track meet,” Arcola coach Steve Thomas told the media. “Finally, our defense settled down and did the job.” Jeff Moore had three of the Purple Riders’ still-standing title game record seven interceptions. Arcola scored on its first five possessions. Marty Thomas and Jeff Fishel led the way with 148 and 137 rushing yards, respectively. A stellar 10-1 campaign in 1984 set the stage for arguably the best team in school history in 1985. Those 14-0 Purple Riders only allowed one first-half touchdown all season. Their 14-6 title game win over Durand saw 5-foot-10, 167-pound Jon Monahan rush for 118 yards and one touchdown, giving him 1,981 yards for the season and 36 touchdowns. “Jon is one outstanding high school player who will have a hard time playing in college,” Thomas said. “Speed wise, he’s a tad slow for a running back and size wise, he’s a little small to play linebacker. But with his determination, he could play anyway.” Another candidate for Arcola’s finest team is the 13-1 state championship unit of 1988, which only allowed eight points in five playoff games. The Purple Riders blanked Hancock Central in the final, 15-0, with help from a defensive line that averaged 241 pounds per man. Of the 12 teams playing in the six title games in 1988, Arcola had the biggest line. They sacked Hancock Central quarterback Mike Adams seven times. “All year long we’ve played great defense,” Thomas said. “For us to have four shutouts in the playoffs, regardless of the weather, is quite an accomplishment.” On offense, Chad Hopkins provided 167 yards on 29 carries and one touchdown. Thomas stepped down as coach in 1993 with a 210-91-2 record to tie for 37th in wins in state history. A 1995 state runner-up showing appeared to signal the end of Arcola’s 1A rule, but its 2015 unit went 14-0 to capture the school’s fourth title. Those Purple Riders scored 714 points, the eighth most in state history. Arcola only had one close game, a 14-13 quarterfinal win over Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley. In the 35-17 win over Toulon Stark County in the final, Clayton Strader had four of Arcola’s five touchdowns and his first cousin, Chase Strader, returned an interception 15 yards for a touchdown and set up another score by recovering a muffed punt. “Our fans are all about tradition,” Clayton Strader said. “It means the world to bring the title back to town.”
#24
ALEDO HIGH SCHOOL (1974-2009)
MERCER COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL (2009-Present) | ALEDO
Program Record Since 1974: 358-171
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 31
IHSA Playoff Record: 56-27
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 7/4
1988-2A: Carlyle 21, Aledo 13 13-1
1998-2A: Aledo 25, Rockridge 16 12-2
2001-2A: Aledo 27, Moweaqua Central A&M 24 13-1
2002-2A: Aledo 41, Carthage 40 (OT) 14-0
2005-2A: Dakota 20, Aledo 15 12-2
2006-1A: Tuscola 35, Aledo 20 13-1
2012-2A: Mercer County 14, Belleville Althoff 7 13-1
State Final Coaches: Brian Applegate (1988), Cullen Welter (1998, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006), Nat Zunkel (2012)
Aledo/Mercer County: In the early years of the playoff era, there was no indication Aledo’s football program would become worthy of top-50 designation. Its first playoff berth came in 1975, but its second didn’t arrive until 1988 when it reached the Class 2A state final where it lost to Carlyle, 21-13, to finish 13-1. It appeared that might be a one-off as the Green Dragons, as they were known at the time, went 0-9 in 1989. After Bill McCarty became coach in 1990, Aledo posted four double-digit win seasons in eight years. In 1998, he passed the coaching reins to Cullen “Cully” Welter. The new regime was a perfect fit as Welter guided the Green Dragons to their first state championship in his first year. The 1998 2A final against fellow Olympic Conference member Taylor Ridge Rockridge paired finalists from the same league for just the second time in playoff history. When the rivals – located 18 miles apart – met on Oct. 16, Aledo lost, 49-0, which made its 25-16 victory in the state final a shocker. “To win any state championship is great, but you look at how they demoralized us earlier and it’s incredible to beat that team,” Welter told the told the media. Aledo’s Richard Bigham caught a pair of touchdown passes and returned a fourth-quarter punt 70 yards for another score to cap a 12-2 season. The Green Dragons proceeded to win titles in 2001 and 2002 before notching runner-up efforts in 2005 and 2006. Five second-half turnovers by Moweaqua Central A&M in the 2001 2A final paved the way for a 27-24 Aledo victory, capping a 13-1 season. Brett Lee’s 25-yard touchdown pass to Troy Blaser provided the winning score in the fourth quarter. “I didn’t know how to stop them so we sold out to stop the run,” said Welter, whose team overcame a 24-14 halftime deficit by allowing just 65 rushing yards after intermission. In the 2002 2A final, Joe Reed threw three touchdown passes and the Green Dragons came back from an 18-point deficit in the second half to best Carthage, 41-40, in overtime. Josh Bigham’s conversion kick provided the winning point after a 1-yard touchdown run by J.J. Dunn. “This was by far the most electrifying comeback,” said Welter, comparing that result to Aledo’s championship game rallies in 1998 and 2001. Welter ended an 11-year stint at the school in 2008 with a 113-22 record. The next year Aledo consolidated with Joy Westmer to form Mercer County. The new partnership – under the Golden Eagles nickname – has qualified for the playoffs every year of its existence. In 2012, Mercer County finished 14-0 after topping Belleville Althoff in the 2A final, 14-7. The Golden Eagles forced six turnovers including a fumble that Devin Morford returned a record 96 yards to break a 7-7 tie. “What a rush,” said Mercer County coach Nat Zunkel. “Fifteen weeks ago, we asked, ‘Why not us?’ We got better and better each week.”
#23
CARY-GROVE HIGH SCHOOL | CARY
Program Record Since 1974: 360-172
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 28
IHSA Playoff Record: 62-24
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 7/4
2004-7A: Libertyville 13, Cary-Grove 3 13-1
2009-6A: Cary-Grove 34, Providence Catholic 17 14-0
2012-6A: Crete-Monee 33, Cary-Grove 26 13-1
2014-7A: Providence Catholic 31, Cary-Grove 28 13-1
2018-6A: Cary-Grove 35, Crete-Monee 13 14-0
2021-6A: Cary-Grove 37, East St. Louis 36 14-0
2023-6A: Cary-Grove 23,, East St. Louis 20 12-2
State Final Coaches: Bruce Kay (2004, 2009), Brad Seaburg (2012, 2014, 2018, 2021, 2023)
Cary-Grove: It took a while for Cary-Grove to find its groove in the playoff era, but things started to change around the turn of the century. Coach Bruce Kay broke through in 2004 when he guided the Trojans into the Class 7A state championship game where a 13-1 season ended with a 13-3 loss to Libertyville. That started a run of six seasons where Cary-Grove went a combined 69-6. The highlight was a 34-17 victory over Providence Catholic in the 2009 6A final to cap a 14-0 season. Cary-Grove’s defense provided three interceptions while Alex Hembrey ran for 189 yards and three touchdowns. Kay dedicated the triumph to the Trojans’ football family. “It’s been 21 years of parents contributing to our golf outings, the different fundraisers, and all the things that they’ve done,” he told the media. “Really, it’s been 21 years of people contributing to the program and us finally getting that big trophy.” Kay ended a 22-year career in 2010 with a 168-68 record. Current coach Brad Seaburg took over in 2011 and lifted the program to new heights. Cary-Grove has missed the playoffs just once in Seaburg’s tenure. After runner-up efforts in 2012 (6A) and 2014 (6A), the Trojans downed Crete-Monee in the 2018 6A final, 35-13. Leading the way was QB Ben McDonald, who ran for two touchdowns and passed for two, including one to current Boston Red Sox pitcher Quinn Priester. Blake Skol added 123 yards rushing and a touchdown. Knowing that Crete-Monee had come from behind to beat three other playoff opponents, Seaburg could never breathe easy. “Against these guys, we are never comfortable,” he said. In the 2021 6A final against East St. Louis, Cary-Grove was the underdog, but emerged with a 37-36 upset that is arguably one of the best state championship games ever played. The outcome was in doubt until Noah Riley intercepted a pass intended for East St. Louis star Luther Burden III with 28 seconds left. “Sometimes the ball bounces your way,” said Seaburg, whose team finished 14-0. “We were just fortunate on that last possession that the ball bounced our way.” Nick Hissong led Cary-Grove’s triple-option offense with 224 rushing yards and two touchdowns while Jameson Sheehan carried for 104 yards and three scores. The two teams locked horns again in the 2023 6A final where the Trojans secured their fourth title, 23-20, to finish 12-2. Cary-Grove overcame a five-point deficit when sophomore fullback Logan Abrams (31 car, 87 yards) scored on a 2-yard run and ran for the two-point conversion with 1:19 left. Patrick Weaver’s interception with 62 seconds remaining clinched the outcome. “It was a great win for our kids, our program, our town – everyone who believed in us,” Seaburg said. The Trojans gained 199 yards on the ground with 87 coming from Abrams, 68 from Andrew Prio, and 45 from Peyton Seaburg, the coach’s son. Among the greats in Cary-Grove history is 2015 graduate Tyler Pennington, who ran for 82 career touchdowns, tying the 12th most in state history before going on to play at Illinois State University.
#22
LENA-WINSLOW HIGH SCHOOL | LENA
Program Record Since 1974: 318-204
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 29
IHSA Playoff Record: 57-23
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 7/6
2010-1A: Lena-Winslow 47, Tuscola 14 13-1
2013-1A: Lena-Winslow 28, Tri-Valley 21 11-3
2017-1A: Lena-Winslow 21, Tuscola 20 14-0
2019-1A: Lena-Winslow 58, Moweaqua Central A&M 20 14-0
2021-1A: Lena-Winslow 38, Carrollton 25 12-2
2022-1A: Lena-Winslow 30, Camp Point Central 8 14-0
2023-1A: Camp Point Central 14, Lena-Winslow 0 13-1
State Final Coaches: Ric Arand (2010, 2013, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)
Lena-Winslow: Although Lena-Winslow has been solid for decades, most of its success has come during a recent era of dominance. Since 2010, the Panthers have gone 151-24. Their six titles tie the eighth most in state history. All those crowns came under Coach Ric Arand, who took a 27-year record of 247-67 into the 2024 season, a win total that ranks 30th in state history. His program also brought a 32-game winning streak into 2024, tying the 10th longest in state history. In the 2010 Class 1A final against Tuscola, Lena-Winslow won, 47-14, and tied the playoff record of seven rushing touchdowns set by East St. Louis in 1989. Of the Panthers’ 385 rushing yards, Quinn Haas had 186 and three touchdowns while Trey Greffin added 157 yards and one score to cap a 13-1 season. “I wasn’t really sure how we were going to play,” Arand told the media. “But offensively, defensively, it was the best game we’ve played all season.” A second title arrived in 2013 when Lena-Winslow topped Tri-Valley, 28-21, to finish 11-3. The Panthers turned three fumble recoveries into 22 points. Tyler Oakley scored on fumble returns of 60 and 65 yards besides intercepting a pass with 23 seconds left. “These guys did today what they did all year, and that’s battle,” Arand said. “We’ve beaten a couple good teams this year, but this one in Tri-Valley is by far the best team we’ve faced.” Lena-Winslow’s third title came via a 21-20 thriller over Tuscola in 2017 to punctuate a 14-0 campaign. Rahveon Valentine ran for 140 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Panthers, who benefitted from a failed two-point conversion. In the 2019 final, Lena-Winslow set a 1A title game scoring record during a 58-20 triumph over Moweaqua Central A&M. Sean Ormiston led the Panthers with 187 rushing yards and six touchdowns, one of which came on an interception return. Ormiston finished with 1,954 rushing yards in 2019 and 4,749 yards for his career. Teammate Luke Benson threw two scoring passes to Kade Chrisman in the title game. Lena-Winslow’s 678 points in 2019 rank 19th in state history. When asked in 2020 by the Rockford Register Star for his title-winning recipe, Arand said, “If we had a secret recipe, I would have started baking it about 13 years before we did in 2010.” After the pandemic nixed the 2020 season, the Panthers resumed championship trophy collecting with a 38-25 win over Carrollton in 2021 to cap a 12-2 campaign. Marey Robey rushed for 241 yards and three touchdowns while teammate Jake Zeal added 127 yards and one score. Lena-Winslow earned its sixth title in 2022 with a 30-8 win over Camp Point Central. Those 14-0 Panthers, who did not attempt a pass, saw Gage Dunker rush 22 times for 120 yards and three touchdowns. Lena-Winslow’s 700 points in 2022 rank 11th in state history. Lena-Winslow’s bid to become just the fourth school to win four consecutive titles was foiled in the 2023 final by Camp Point Central, 14-0.
#21
METAMORA HIGH SCHOOL | METAMORA
Program Record Since 1974: 407-136
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 36
IHSA Playoff Record: 66-33
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 10/3
1975-3A: Metamora 25, Geneva 7 13-0
1976-3A: Geneseo 20, Metamora 12 12-1
1977-3A: Geneseo 34, Metamora 0 12-1
1996-4A: Providence Catholic 28, Metamora 21 13-1
1997-4A: Providence Catholic 26, Metamora 12 13-1
1999-4A: Joliet Catholic 48, Metamora 13 12-2
2000-4A: Joliet Catholic 27, Metamora 14 13-1
2007-5A: Metamora 17, Morris 14 14-0
2008-5A: St. Francis 49, Metamora 35 13-1
2009-4A: Metamora 41, Geneseo 7 13-1
State Final Coaches: John Helmick (1975, 1976, 1977), Pat Ryan (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2008, 2009)
Metamora: Metamora went 7-1-1 in 1974, but did not qualify for the inaugural playoffs. It didn’t take long, however, for the Redbirds to make their presence felt in the postseason. They made the field in the second year and showed the kind of postseason mettle they would display over much of the next half century. Their 1975 breakthrough culminated with a 25-7 victory over Geneva in the Class 3A final to finish 13-0. The Redbirds overcame seven first-half fumbles with help from Larry Sommer, who ran for 159 yards and two touchdowns. “We figured we had to control the football and you can’t do that when you’re fumbling,” Helmick told the media. “Our philosophy is to run Sommer for all he’s worth.” Weather may have contributed to the number of fumbles as temperatures dipped to 29 degrees and winds whipped to 20 mph. Metamora returned to the 3A final in both 1976 and 1977 with the only loss in each 12-1 season coming against Geneseo. Helmick ended his nine-year tenure with the Redbirds in 1982, having gone 86-16-1. Pat Ryan, who took over in 1990, directed Metamora to Class 4A runner-up showings in 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2000. From 2007 to 2009, the Redbirds reached the title game each year, sandwiching wins in 5A in 2007 and 4A in 2009 around a runner-up result in 5A in 2008. The 14-0 season of 2007, the fifth unbeaten campaign in school history, ended with a 17-14 win over Morris. The game’s final three points arrived with 27 seconds left when freshman Brennen VanMieghem converted a 27-yard field goal. “If we didn’t win this one, we would have gone in the record book as losing the most (title games),” Ryan told the media. “It’s kind of nice to see what it’s like to win one.” The only school with more runner-up finishes than Metamora’s seven is Morris with eight. In the 2007 final, Caleb TerBush led the way with 109 yards on the ground while Brock Gray and Adam Duvendack added rushing touchdowns. TerBush finished the season with 1,575 yards passing and 859 rushing before going on to play at Purdue. Metamora’s 6,313 total yards (4,629 rushing and 1,689 passing) in 2007 rank 20th in state history. VanMiegham went on to rank second in state history with 277 career conversion kicks. In the 2009 final, Metamora won, 41-7, over Geneseo to cap a 13-1 season. Michael Fay led the Redbirds with 165 rushing yards and four touchdowns while Aaron Peters added 168 yards and a touchdown. Metamora’s 447 rushing yards were a 4A title game record. “Kudos to them because they controlled the line,” said Geneseo coach Larry Johnsen. The Redbirds’ 4,969 yards rushing in 2009 rank 14th in state history. Ryan ended his 30-year stay at Metamora in 2019 with a record of 268-76 to rank 17th for wins in state history.
#20
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION/IC CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | ELMHURST
Program Record Since 1974: 282-170
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 24
IHSA Playoff Record: 49-18
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 6/6
2002-3A: Immaculate Conception 21, DuQuoin 14 13-1
2008-2A: Immaculate Conception 36, Casey-Westfield 17 10-4
2016-3A: IC Catholic 43, Carlinville 0 14-0
2017-3A: IC Catholic 35, Pleasant Plains 0 13-1
2018-4A: IC Catholic 31, Bishop McNamara 21 14-0
2022-3A: IC Catholic 48, Williamsville 17 13-1
State Final Coaches: Bob Cozzi (2002), Bill Schmidt (2008), Bill Krefft (2016, 2017, 2018, 2022)
IC: Among 13 schools to win at least six titles, IC Catholic’s dominance took a while to develop. The first half of the playoff era found the Knights making infrequent playoff appearances. That may explain why their first title in 2002 seemed to come out of nowhere, especially since it was preceded by nine consecutive losing seasons. IC overcame a 14-0 deficit against DuQuoin to win the 2002 3A final, 21-14 and finish 13-1. The victors went ahead to stay with 5:43 left on Joe Mastrino’s 1-yard touchdown run. After scoring on its first two possessions, DuQuoin only gained 90 yards. “We really didn’t change a lot,” IC coach Bob Cozzi told the media. “Our players just played better.” Over the next five years, IC earned just one playoff berth. The 2008 team, however, showcased the program’s ability to capture lightning in a bottle by earning a second title, this time in 2A with a 36-17 win over Casey-Westfield. Among the highlights was Olivia Vatch becoming the first female to score in a title game with her third-quarter conversion kick. “I was thinking, ‘It better go in’ or I’d be so mad at myself if I missed,” Vatch said. IC dedicated the 2008 season to ex-coach Cozzi, who had died the previous summer from a heart attack at age 57. The Knights’ 10-4 record made them the first champion with at least four losses. Four more teams have duplicated that feat since then. IC barely made the 2008 playoffs as a No. 15 seed, but then outscored its five postseason foes, 314-67. Paving the way was a split-back veer offense. “You wear teams down, take advantage of their mistakes, and you methodically dismantle them,” explained IC coach Bill Schmidt. In 2013, current coach Bill Krefft – a co-captain for IC’s 2002 state champions and an assistant for the 2008 champs – took over. His 2015 squad reached the semifinals before the Knights won titles in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In a 43-0 victory over Carlinville in the 2016 final, Jordan Rowell rushed for a 3A title game record 270 yards and scored four touchdowns to end a 14-0 season. “Looking at the crowd, the environment, it is a lot for a young man to take in and stay focused and come out and execute the details,” Krefft said. “It’s just incredible that all of our kids did that.” Rowell finished 2016 with 2,295 rushing yards. In the 2017 3A final, IC blanked Pleasant Plains, 35-0, to cap a 13-1 season. Lazerick Eatman ran for 237 yards and four touchdowns. In the 2018 4A final, IC beat Kankakee McNamara, 31-21, to post the second 14-0 season in school history. Kyle Franklin rushed for 227 yards and two touchdowns while Khalil Saunders added 154 yards and one score. IC added a sixth title in 2022, swamping Williamsville, 48-17, in the 3A final. Dennis Mandala completed 10 of 17 passes for 200 yards and four touchdowns. Entering the 2024 season, Krefft had a 12-year record of 115-24.
#39
CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | BLOOMINGTON
Program Record Since 1974: 345-181
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 32
IHSA Playoff Record: 51-28
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 7/4
1982-2A: Bloomington Central Catholic 38, Casey 0 12-1
1983-2A: Woodstock Marian, Bloomington Central Catholic 14 11-2
1987-1A: Bloomington Central Catholic 20, Hardin Calhoun 12 12-2
1990-1A: Sterling Newman CC 6, Bloomington Central Catholic 3 (OT) 12-2
1994-3A: Bloomington Central Catholic 22, DuQuoin 12 13-1
2007-4A: Addison Driscoll 48, Bloomington Central Catholic 24 13-1
2008-4A: Bloomington Central Catholic 37, Aurora Christian 28 14-0
State Final Coaches: John McIntyre (1982, 1983, 1987), Dan Boynton (1990), Bobby Moews (1994, 2007, 2008).
Central Catholic: Bloomington Central Catholic was the first school to win three state championships in three different classes and the first to win four in four different classes: 1982 (2A), 1987 (1A), 1994 (3A), and 2008 (4A). Only 24 other programs have won four or more titles. Regardless of what class the Saints were in, they tended to be a terror although it took them awhile to get established. In fact, Central’s first playoff appearance led to the Class 2A title in 1982 under John McIntyre, who turned a 3-6 team in 1981 into a 12-1 champion. The 38-0 title game win over Casey saw Central junior Dave Schilkoski gain 135 yards thanks to stellar blocking. “Our line’s been opening those holes all year,” he told the media. The Saints followed with a runner-up showing in 1983. McIntyre capped a successful nine-year stint at the school in 1987 with another title, this time in Class 1A with a 20-12 verdict over Hardin Calhoun. The deciding score came with 8:36 left as Brian Flynn completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to Scott Connor on a crossing pattern. “I was scared I was going to drop it,” Connor said. Teammate Kurt Thoma contributed a career-high 135 rushing yards. In 1990, Coach Dan Boynton took the Saints to a 1A state championship game, shortly thereafter passing the reins to Bobby Moews. By 1994, Moews and the Saints were celebrating a 22-12 Class 3A championship game win over DuQuoin. Central trailed, 12-0, at halftime before scoring 22 unanswered points. “They’re a lot to defend,” said DuQuoin coach Al Martin. Moews later took the 2007 squad to a runner-up showing in Class 4A and followed that a year later with a 14-0 state championship effort. In a 37-28 win over Aurora Christian in the 2008 4A final, Adam Rebholz passed for 319 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for a team-high 80 yards and two more scores. “When we couldn’t run the ball, we passed,” he said. “When we couldn’t pass the ball, we ran. The dual threat really helped us out.” Teammate David Murray, who ran for 65 yards and caught four passes for 71 more, said, “To win our fourth state championship is something we’ll remember forever.” Central has sent two unforgettable players to the NFL: 6-2, 321-pound Josh Brent (2007) and 6-4, 265-pound Michael Hoomanawanui (2006), the latter earning a Super Bowl ring with New England in 2014.
#38
WILMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL | WILMINGTON
Program Record Since 1974: 353-248
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 30
IHSA Playoff Record: 49-27
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 4/3
2003-3A: Stillman Valley 21, Wilmington 7 13-1
2014-3A: Wilmington 20, Williamsville 17 14-0
2021-2A: Wilmington 24, Nashville 7 12-2
2023-2A: Wilmington 28, Athens 3 13-1
State Final Coaches: Jeff Reents (2003, 2014, 2021, 2023)
Wilmington: The first 20 years of the playoffs, Wilmington qualified for the post-season just three times and won only two playoff games, both in 1988. Things turned around in 1994 when Jeff Reents took over the program. The Reents regime went 3-6 his first season and 5-4 his second. The 1996 team, however, led by future NFL running back Damien Anderson, went 11-1 with its only loss coming in the Class 3A quarterfinals. It would be the first of 14 seasons in which Wilmington would finish with one or fewer losses and the first of 13 times the Wildcats would reach at least the quarterfinals. After those playoff misses his first two seasons, Reents has never missed the playoffs again. Wilmington made a breakthrough in 2003, reaching the Class 3A final where it fell to Stillman Valley, 21-7. Tony Vercelli led the Wildcats that year with 1,479 rushing yards when not leading the team in tackles as a linebacker. Wilmington reached the pinnacle of Class 3A in 2014, defeating Williamsville, 20-17, in the final on a 31-yard field goal into the wind by Jordan Sarr out of the hold of Austin Headrick as time expired. “I kicked it, and I heard the crowd cheering and felt the joy,” Sarr told the media after capping a 14-0 season. Sarr’s opportunity to be a hero came courtesy of Alex Zlomie, whose 91-yard kickoff return for a touchdown with 6:14 left gave Wilmington a 17-10 lead. The Wildcats have collected two Class 2A titles since then, going 14-0 to claim the 2021 crown and 13-1 to land the 2023 championship. In the 24-7 win over Nashville in the 2021 final, Jacob Friddle led the victors with 159 yards on 29 carries and scored on runs of 23 and 34 yards. Wilmington, which limited foes to 10 points per game that year, held the Hornets to a season-low 107 total yards. “Not too many people have been scoring on them this year,” lamented Nashville coach Stephen Kozuszek. In the 2023 final, a 28-3 triumph over Athens, the Wildcats’ defense was stifling again, limiting its foe to 104 total yards. Wilmington’s offense was led by Kyle Farrell, who ran for 192 yards on 24 carries, the longest of which covered 78 yards for a fourth quarter touchdown. Wilmington’s lone loss in 2023 was to Seneca, 27-21 in the season-opener, a setback it avenged, 20-14, in overtime in the state quarterfinals. “These guys are guys you want to be at practice with,” Reents said. “They’re guys you love seeing in the hallways at school. They make your school better and your community better. I’m just very proud of them.” Entering the 2024 season, Reents had a 30-year record of 273-64 to rank 15th in state history for career wins.
#37
MARIAN CENTRAL CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | WOODSTOCK
Program Record Since 1974: 345-184
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 27
IHSA Playoff Record: 59-23
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 6/4
1983-2A: Woodstock Marian 34, Bloomington Central Catholic 14 13-0
1985-2A: Casey 34, Woodstock Marian 6 10-4
1986-2A: Woodstock Marian 24, Decatur St. Teresa 20 12-2
1987-2A: Woodstock Marian 35, Deer Creek-Mackinaw 6 13-1
1989-2A: Woodstock Marian 27, St. Joeseph-Ogden 13 14-0
2006-5A: Sacred Heart-Griffin 35, Woodstock Marian 14 13-1
State Final Coaches: Don Penza (1983, 1985, 1986, 1987), Steve Patton (1989), Ed Brucker (2006).
Marian Central Catholic: Woodstock Marian generated a run of success in the 1980s few in the state have matched. Don Penza guided the program to its first state title during a 13-0 season in 1983. Penza handed the play-calling duties to quarterback Chuck Hartlieb on offense and linebacker Darren Fortin on defense, moves that led to the Hurricanes topping Bloomington Central Catholic in the Class 2A final, 34-14. “They (Hartlieb and Fortin) let me watch the game again,” Penza told the media. “I called two offensive plays this year and neither one worked. These kids make their own decisions, and I think you saw today they do a good job of it.” Hartlieb, who went on to play in the NFL, passed for two touchdowns and ran for another. The Hurricanes lost in the 1985 Class 2A final before winning back-to-back titles in 1986 and 1987. The 34-20 Class 2A win over Decatur St. Teresa in 1986 saw Jim Hartlieb, Chuck’s kid brother, run for two touchdowns and pass for two more. In the 1985 title game loss to Casey, Jim Hartlieb suffered a mild concussion in the second quarter. “Getting beat that bad was so much motivation to come back this year, even though I don’t remember much,” Hartlieb said in 1986. In the 1987 2A final against Deer Creek-Mackinaw, Hartlieb dislocated the ring finger on his right hand in the first quarter so Marian set aside its passing attack in favor of a ground game that covered 355 yards. Hartlieb gained 122 of those yards on 16 carries and his sophomore brother, John, added 119 yards on 15 carries. After winning his third title, 35-6, Penza said, “You can win it five times, 10 times, and you’re just as happy as you were the first time, just as enthused.” An All-American end for Notre Dame in 1953, Penza and the Hurricanes took a slight step back in 1988 with a 9-2 record. Sadly, Penza passed away from a heart attack at age 57 in the spring of 1989. He had gone 76-18 in eight years at Marian and 68-18-2 in 11 years at Wisconsin Rapids Assumption for an overall mark of 144-36-2. Assistant coach Steve Patton replaced Penza and guided the 1989 Hurricanes to a 14-0 record, downing St. Joseph-Ogden in the 2A final, 27-13. “This championship is because of Don Penza and it’s for Don Penza,” Patton said. From 1981 to 1989, the Hurricanes went 93-17 with four state championships and one runner-up effort, all in Class 2A. Marian alumni joining Chuck Hartlieb in the NFL were tackle Bryan Bulaga (2007) and quarterback Chris Streveler (2013).
#36
MT. CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL | MT. CARMEL
Program Record Since 1974: 435-117
IHSA Playoff Appearances: 41
IHSA Playoff Record: 65-40
State Championship Appearances/Titles: 6/1
1974-3A: West Chicago 32, Mt. Carmel 0 11-2
1981-3A: Mt. Carmel 22, Bishop McNamara 8 13-0
2001-4A: Driscoll 42, Mt. Carmel 41 (2OT) 12-2
2002-4A: Driscoll 42, Mt. Carmel 0 13-1
2011-3A: Aurora Christian 34, Mt. Carmel 7 12-2
2023-3A: Byron 69, Mt. Carmel 7 13-1
State Final Coaches: Larry Davis (1974, 1981), Darren Peach (2001, 2002, 2011), Michael Brewer (2023).
Mt. Carmel: The thing one notices about Mount Carmel football is its consistency. Only four schools have earned more playoff berths than the Golden Aces’ 41. Mount Carmel has only had three losing seasons the past half century. Not only do the Aces punch their playoff tickets almost every year, they are difficult to knock out, having only been eliminated in the first round in 11 of their 41 appearances. Mount Carmel is only 1-5 in state championship games with its lone title coming in 1981 when a Larry Davis-coached squad topped Kankakee Bishop McNamara, 22-8, in Class 3A. Quarterback John Rafferty led the Aces with 95 passing yards on 7-of-11 accuracy. His 13-yard touchdown pass to Bruce Linson on the opening possession put Mount Carmel ahead to stay. “Ever since we were freshmen and even in junior league football, our goal was to win the state championship,” Rafferty told the media after capping a 13-0 campaign. “Everyone expected us to get this far, so we were always in a do-or-die situation.” Among the state’s most memorable title games, the 2001 Class 4A final saw Mount Carmel fall to Addison Driscoll, 42-41, in double overtime. Despite the outcome, Coach Darren Peach called it “one of the greatest games in IHSA history.” A 10-yard touchdown pass from Luke Drone to Bryant Grant pulled the Aces within a point in the second overtime, but the ensuing conversion pass missed its mark. During a timeout before the attempt, the players and coaching staff agreed with Peach’s plan to go for two. Peach inserted his “hog package” with defensive linemen Josh Woods, Bryan Straw, and Steve Ile lined up in the offensive backfield. The idea was to throw out of a power-running formation. “But, lo and behold, we didn’t complete it and they are the champions,” lamented Peach, who took solace in the caliber of play. “This is probably the best feeling I’ve ever had after a loss at the end of the year because we played so well and it was just a great game.” Drone, who later starred at Illinois State University, completed 14 of 24 passes for 196 yards and four touchdowns, giving the junior 1,741 yards for the season along with 22 scoring passes against just four interceptions. In a rematch the next year, Addison Driscoll blanked the Aces, 42-0, in the 4A final. “I thought their team speed was the difference,” said Peach, whose team had scored more than 40 points eight times that season but was held to 127 yards of offense. Drone finished his senior season having thrown for over 2,000 yards and 30 touchdowns when not rushing for more than 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns.
#35
TUSCOLA HIGH SCHOOL | TUSCOLA