Chicago, IL – Week 4 of the high school football season brought a wave of excitement but not many surprises. While there were notable performances and shifts in rankings, there were no dramatic upsets that shook the very foundations of the Super 25 standings.

One of the most significant moves from last week was made by St. Rita, which jumped up to No. 8 after a hard-fought victory against St. Francis. The Mustangs, who started the season unranked, have made a strong case for their place in the top 10. Meanwhile, Joliet Catholic also saw a substantial leap, rising to No. 13 after securing an overtime win over Marist.

In contrast, three teams fell out of the rankings: Maine South, St. Charles North, and Sycamore. The decision to remove the Hawks from the list was difficult, primarily due to their tough schedule despite holding a 1-3 record. They are likely to bounce back into the rankings as the season progresses. St. Charles North faced a strong Batavia team, suffering a loss that showcased weaknesses in the fourth quarter. As for Sycamore, although they are still unbeaten, their close calls against Mahomet-Seymour and Rochelle made it tough to keep them above teams with tougher schedules.

This week, teams Geneva, Sandburg, and St. Laurence have earned spots in the Super 25. Geneva has finally made the cut after impressive performances, particularly from standout wide receiver Talyn Taylor. The Vikings added wins against Wheaton-Warrenville South and Lake Park to their resume. Sandburg’s early loss to St. Rita now looks better in hindsight, especially with their subsequent victories against Homewood-Flossmoor and Lincoln-Way West.

St. Laurence clinched the last spot after a recent victory against Carmel, backed by their strong playoff performance last season.

The Super 25 rankings for this week are as follows:

  • 1. Lincoln-Way East (4-0) – Friday vs. Homewood-Flossmoor
  • 2. Mount Carmel (3-1) – Friday vs. Benet
  • 3. Nazareth (3-1) – Friday vs. No. 13 Joliet Catholic
  • 4. Downers Grove North (4-0) – Friday vs. Oak Park
  • 5. Batavia (4-0) – Friday at Wheaton North
  • 6. Cary-Grove (4-0) – Friday at No. 22 Prairie Ridge
  • 7. Barrington (4-0) – Saturday vs. Conant
  • 8. St. Rita (3-1) – Friday vs. Notre Dame
  • 9. St. Francis (3-1) – Friday vs. Providence
  • 10. Loyola (2-2) – Friday at DePaul Prep
  • 11. Naperville Central (4-0) – Friday vs. Lincoln-Way West
  • 12. Oswego (4-0) – Friday vs. Plainfield North
  • 13. Joliet Catholic (3-1) – Friday at No. 3 Nazareth
  • 14. Marist (3-1) – Friday at IC Catholic
  • 15. Lake Forest (4-0) – Friday vs. Lake Zurich
  • 16. Kankakee (3-1) – Friday vs. Thornwood
  • 17. York (4-0) – Friday vs. Hinsdale Central
  • 18. Lyons (4-0) – Friday vs. Proviso West
  • 19. Morgan Park (3-1) – Friday vs. Johnson at Gately
  • 20. Hersey (2-2) – Friday at Elk Grove
  • 21. Warren (2-2) – Friday vs. Zion-Benton
  • 22. Prairie Ridge (4-0) – Friday vs. No. 6 Cary-Grove
  • 23. Geneva (4-0) – Friday vs. Glenbard North
  • 24. Sandburg (3-1) – Friday vs. Metea Valley
  • 25. St. Laurence (4-0) – Friday vs. Leo

This week’s games promise to shake things up further in the rankings as teams continue to compete fiercely for playoff spots.