The high school football rumor mill was in overdrive last week. It’s been a chaotic, unpredictable season, so almost everyone was willing to believe Mount Carmel hired former Providence coach Tyler Plantz as its defensive coordinator just days before the Caravan hosted the Celtics.
Some Providence fans even scanned the Mount Carmel press box on Friday to see if they could find Plantz.
Mount Carmel has not hired Plantz. That is straight from the mouth of Caravan AD Phil Segroves. So those rumors can be put to rest. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility that Plantz joins Mount Carmel at some point; he is friends with Jordan Lynch. But it has not happened.
IC Catholic’s moment
IC Catholic has been steadily climbing the Super 25 rankings all season. The Knights have been out of the spotlight a bit over the past three seasons, but they are a legitimate small-school powerhouse.
Coach Bill Krefft has guided the Elmhurst school to four state championships, the most recent coming in 2023 in Class 3A. The Knights reached the 3A quarterfinals last season and returned many talented players this season.
Senior Nate Lang is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the Catholic League. Junior receiver Grant Bowen is one of the country’s top prospects. He’s a top 50 player in the junior class according to 247Sports.com and has offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame, among many others.
IC Catholic knocked off Nazareth and St. Ignatius this season. Both schools are significantly larger than IC, but Friday’s test against Loyola is a different animal.
IC Catholic appears to have fewer than 200 boys enrolled. Loyola currently has 84 players listed on its varsity roster and could have 200 boys in its overall football program.
The last time Loyola and IC Catholic played, in October of 2023, the Knights sat most of their star players, and both coaches agreed to a running clock at the start of the second quarter.
It is anyone’s guess what IC Catholic has planned for Friday. The Knights had suffered a slew of injuries the week before the Loyola game in 2023. Hopefully they give it a real go on Friday against Loyola.
Dukes defense
Most of the Super 25 is dominated by high-powered offenses. Even the traditional defense-oriented teams are putting up a ton of points this season. But one very solid defense looms just outside the Super 25. And it is another team in Elmhurst.
York has allowed just 109 points this season, shut out two teams, and not allowed any team to score more than 27 points. The Dukes upset Downers Grove North 18-17 in overtime in Week 7.
Downers Grove North has one of the best defenses in the state. The Trojans have allowed only 51 points this season and shut out three teams. The 18 points they gave up to York was a season high.
Super 25 updates
Downers Grove North tumbles down to No. 19 after the upset loss to York. Lincoln-Way Central drops out of the rankings after getting dominated 42-0 against Lincoln-Way East at home. Lyons rejoins the Super 25 after a few weeks on the outside. The Lions have quality wins against Barrington, Wheaton-Warrenville South and Hinsdale Central.
Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 8
With record and last week’s ranking
1. Loyola (7-0) 1
Won 38-7 vs. St. Ignatius.
Next: Friday at No. 6 IC Catholic.
2. Lincoln-Way East (7-0) 2
Won 42-0 at Lincoln-Way Central.
Next: Friday at Lockport.
3. Brother Rice (5-2) 3
Won 42-21 vs. Fenwick.
Next: Friday at DePaul Prep.
4. Mount Carmel (5-2) 4
Won 49-14 vs. Providence.
Next: Friday at Joliet Catholic.
5. Hersey (7-0) 5
Won 71-0 at Elk Grove.
Next: Friday vs. Rolling Meadows.
6. IC Catholic (7-0) 7
Won 42-14 at Benet.
Next: Friday vs. No. 1 Loyola.
7. Bolingbrook (6-1) 9
Won 42-0 at Joliet Central.
Next: Friday vs. Plainfield North.
8. Maine South (6-1) 8
Won 49-8 at Vernon Hills.
Next: Friday vs. Evanston.
9. Oswego (6-1) 10
Won 62-21 at Joliet West.
Next: Friday vs. Minooka.
10. Geneva (6-1) 11
Won 62-35 vs. Glenbard North.
Next: Friday vs. Wheaton North.
11. Batavia (5-2) 12
Won 28-21 at Wheaton North.
Next: Friday at St. Charles East.
12. Homewood-Flossmoor (5-2) 13
Won 42-0 vs. Stagg.
Next: Friday at Bradley-Bourbonnais.
13. Prospect (7-0) 14
Won 50-0 at Wheeling.
Next: Friday at Buffalo Grove.
14. St. Ignatius (5-2) 15
Lost 38-7 at Loyola.
Next: Friday vs. Leo.
15. Sandburg (5-2) 16
Won 20-9 at Lincoln-Way West.
Next: Friday vs. Stagg.
16. St. Rita (4-3) 17
Won 42-20 vs. Leo.
Next: Friday vs. Benet.
17. Montini (5-2) 18
Won 56-7 at De La Salle.
Next: Friday vs. Marmion.
18. Providence (5-2) 19
Lost 49-14 at Mount Carmel.
Next: Friday vs. Marian Catholic.
19. Downers Grove North (6-1) 6
Lost 18-17 at York.
Friday vs. No. 22 Lyons.
20. Kankakee (5-2) 20
Won 55-0 vs. Bloom.
Next: Friday at Crete-Monee.
21. Glenbard West (5-2) 21
Won 42-24 vs. Hinsdale Central.
Next: Saturday vs. York.
22. Lyons (6-1) NR
Won 34-10 vs. Oak Park.
Next: Friday at No. 19 Downers Grove North.
23. New Trier (6-1) 23
Won 56-7 at Maine West.
Next: Friday vs. Glenbrook South.
24. Morris (7-0) 24
Won 33-0 at Sycamore.
Next: Friday at LaSalle-Peru.
25. Huntley (7-0) 25
Won 41-6 at Prairie Ridge.
Next: Friday vs. Burlington Central.