Football
Mt. Carmel
And then there were four
Seven teams from the Little Illini Conference began the quest to win an IHSA state football championship. Three were defeated in last weekend’s Opening Round of play. That leaves us with four teams left as we move on to the First Round of the newly-expanded playoffs.
Here’s the lineup for this weekend:
FRIDAY
Class 2A
Chester (6-4) at Newton (6-3), 7:00 p.m.
Chester is in the playoffs for the 23rd time, and if you don’t count the COVID cancellation of 2020, they are in for the eighth straight time… The Yellow Jackets are 8-22 all-time in the post-season… Newton, one of two LIC teams to get a first-round bye, is making its’ 21st appearance, and second straight… The Eagles are 18-20 all-time. Newton finished second in 2005… It’s their first-ever appearance in the Class 2A tourney after years in 3A… This is the first playoff meeting between the two schools… Chester defeated Trenton Wesclin, 55-14, in the Opening Round…Â Newton also beat Wesclin, 55-7, back in Week 2…Â Massey projects: Chester 28-27. Our prediction: Newton 33-28.
SATURDAY
Class 1A
Casey-Westfield (4-6)Â at Tuscola (7-2), 1:00 p.m.
Casey-Westfield is in the post-season for the 36th time, and fourth straight… The Warriors are 55-34 all-time in the playoffs… They won the Class 2A state title in 1985, and finished second in 1982… Tuscola is 56-22 all-time in the playoffs… The Warriors are making their 35th trip to the playoffs, and fifth straight… Tuscola won the 1A title in 2006 and 2009, and finished second three times… Casey-Westfield sprung a big upset in the Opening Round. The #22-seed Warriors won on the road at 11th-seed Astoria, 12-6… Tuscola had a bye last week… Casey-Westfield leads the playoff series, 2-1, but they haven’t met since 1996, Massey projects: Tuscola 40-13. Our prediction: Tuscola 47-0. Weather: Clouds, 65.
Class 3A
Greenville (7-3) at Mt. Carmel (9-0), 2:00 p.m.
Greenville is making its’ 28th appearance in the playoffs, and fourth in a row… The Comets are 31-27 all-time…
Mt. Carmel is 65-42 in the post-season… The Golden Aes are in the tournament for the 44th time, and seventh straight (not counting COVID)… They won the 3A state crown in 1981, and have also finished second five times…Â Greenville defeated Petersburg PORTA, 28-18, in the Opening Round last week… Mt. Carmel sat out with a bye last week… These two have meet before, with Mt. Carmel leading the playoff series, 2-1… Greenville won the last time they met, 71-70, in 2013 (the highest-scoring 3A playoff game in history)… Massey projects: Mt. Carmel 36-14. Our prediction: Mt. Carmel 33-12. Weather: Clouds, 69.
Paris (8-2) at Macomb (8-1), 2:00 p.m.
Paris is in the playoff series for the ninth time in school history, and second in a row… The Tigers are 3-8 all-time… Macomb is appearing for the 21st time, and third time in a row… The Bombers are 15-20 all-time… Macomb is back in the Class 3A state tournament for the first time since 2011 after spending years in the 4A division… They are 6-13 all-time in the 4A playoff field, and 9-7 in 3A games… Last week, Paris advanced with a 16-13 win at home over Eureka… Macomb had a bye last week… This is the first post-season matchup between the two schools… Massey projects: Macomb 32-21. Our prediction: Macomb 34-19. Weather: Rain, 62.
This story has been edited. Weather forecast inserted for Saturday games.
| Conference | Overall | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W-L | PF | PA | W-L | PF | PA | Home | Away | Strk |
| Mt. Carmel Golden AcesMCHS | 7-0 | 262 | 77 | 10-0 | 391 | 149 | 5-0 | 5-0 | W10 |
 Newton EaglesNEW | 5-2 | 292 | 142 | 7-3 | 401 | 207 | 5-0 | 2-3 | W5 |
 Paris TigersPAR | 5-2 | 260 | 122 | 8-3 | 351 | 199 | 5-1 | 3-2 | L1 |
 Olney TigersOLN | 4-3 | 249 | 196 | 4-6 | 305 | 297 | 3-1 | 1-5 | L2 |
 Robinson MaroonsROB | 3-4 | 120 | 205 | 4-6 | 186 | 371 | 1-4 | 3-2 | L1 |
 Casey-Westfield WarriorsC-W | 2-5 | 113 | 213 | 4-7 | 189 | 284 | 1-4 | 3-3 | L1 |
 Marshall LionsMAR | 2-5 | 120 | 217 | 3-7 | 150 | 309 | 1-3 | 2-4 | L3 |
 Lawrenceville IndiansLVILLE | 0-7 | 70 | 314 | 0-9 | 84 | 390 | 0-5 | 0-4 | L9 |
Standings are updated when results are made available. Some columns are hidden on small screens; scroll the table sideways or view on a larger screen for the full set.
- W-L:
- Conference Record
- PF:
- Total Points For
- PA:
- Total Points Against
- HOME:
- Home Record
- AWAY:
- Away Record
- STRK:
- Current Streak
WesclinWESC(2-8)8atMarshallMAR(3-7)16FINALRobinsonROB(4-6)44at
CharlestonCHA(1-8)41FINALNewtonNEW(7-3)26at
Civic MemorialCM(5-6)36FINALLawrencevilleLVILLE(0-9)14at
CarlyleCARL(7-4)26FINALOlneyOLN(4-6)7at
TaylorvilleTAY(6-4)47FINALCasey-WestfieldC-W(4-7)43at
East Alton-Wood RiverEAWR0FINAL
DuQuoinDUQ(6-5)22atMt. CarmelMCHS(10-0)50FINAL
ChesterCHE(6-5)25atParisPAR(8-3)27FINALWesclinWESC(2-8)7atNewtonNEW(7-3)55FINALMt. CarmelMCHS(10-0)35at
EffinghamEFF(2-8)28FINAL
Breese Mater DeiBMD(5-5)20atCasey-WestfieldC-W(4-7)15FINAL
BentonBEN(9-1)55atRobinsonROB(4-6)6FINAL
SalemSAL(6-5)28atOlneyOLN(4-6)27FINALParisPAR(8-3)42at
North VermillionNORT12FINAL
Eastland (Lanark)EAST(6-5)50atLawrencevilleLVILLE(0-9)0FINALMarshallMAR(3-7)7at
Sparta/SteelevilleSS(9-2)36FINALMarshallMAR(3-7)20atParisPAR(8-3)34FINALCasey-WestfieldC-W(4-7)14atNewtonNEW(7-3)42FINALLawrencevilleLVILLE(0-9)9atOlneyOLN(4-6)46FINALMt. CarmelMCHS(10-0)29atRobinsonROB(4-6)13FINALParisPAR(8-3)45atLawrencevilleLVILLE(0-9)11FINALNewtonNEW(7-3)14atMt. CarmelMCHS(10-0)43FINALRobinsonROB(4-6)20atCasey-WestfieldC-W(4-7)13FINALOlneyOLN(4-6)53atMarshallMAR(3-7)8FINALMarshallMAR(3-7)20atRobinsonROB(4-6)7FINALMt. CarmelMCHS(10-0)24atParisPAR(8-3)20FINALNewtonNEW(7-3)25atOlneyOLN(4-6)30FINALLawrencevilleLVILLE(0-9)20atCasey-WestfieldC-W(4-7)40FINALRobinsonROB(4-6)19atLawrencevilleLVILLE(0-9)16FINALParisPAR(8-3)29atNewtonNEW(7-3)35FINALOlneyOLN(4-6)30atMt. CarmelMCHS(10-0)38FINALCasey-WestfieldC-W(4-7)13atMarshallMAR(3-7)6FINALOlneyOLN(4-6)19atParisPAR(8-3)49FINALNewtonNEW(7-3)56atRobinsonROB(4-6)14FINALMt. CarmelMCHS(10-0)42atCasey-WestfieldC-W(4-7)0FINALMarshallMAR(3-7)60atLawrencevilleLVILLE(0-9)8FINALMarshallMAR(3-7)0atMt. CarmelMCHS(10-0)40FINALLawrencevilleLVILLE(0-9)6atNewtonNEW(7-3)58FINALCasey-WestfieldC-W(4-7)20atOlneyOLN(4-6)42FINALRobinsonROB(4-6)0atParisPAR(8-3)42FINALNewtonNEW(7-3)62atMarshallMAR(3-7)6FINALMt. CarmelMCHS(10-0)46atLawrencevilleLVILLE(0-9)0FINALParisPAR(8-3)41atCasey-WestfieldC-W(4-7)13FINALOlneyOLN(4-6)29atRobinsonROB(4-6)47FINALMarshallMAR(3-7)7at
Moweaqua (Central A & M)MOW(5-6)48Opening RoundFINALOlneyOLN(4-6)22atSalemSAL(6-5)26Opening RoundFINALCasey-WestfieldC-W(4-7)12at
AstoriaAST(6-4)6Opening RoundFINAL
EurekaEUR(4-6)13atParisPAR(8-3)16Opening RoundFINALRobinsonROB(4-6)16at
Tolono (Unity)TOL(9-2)70Opening RoundFINALChesterCHE(6-5)22atNewtonNEW(7-3)28First RoundFINALCasey-WestfieldC-W(4-7)6at
TuscolaTUS(8-2)45First RoundFINAL
GreenvilleGRE(7-4)22atMt. CarmelMCHS(10-0)44First RoundFINALParisPAR(8-3)6at
MacombMAC(9-1)27First RoundFINALNewtonNEW(7-3)at
Johnston CityJC(10-0)Second Round7:00 PMBentonBEN(9-1)atMt. CarmelMCHS(10-0)Second RoundTBD| Season | Champion(s) |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Mt. CarmelMCHS |
| 2025 | OlneyOLN |
| 2024 | OlneyOLN |
| 2023 | Mt. CarmelMCHS |
| 2022 | Mt. CarmelMCHS |
| 2021 | Mt. CarmelMCHS |
| 2020 | No season (COVID) |
| 2019 | OlneyOLNParisPAR |
| 2018 | ParisPAR |
| 2017 | Red Hill |
| 2016 | NewtonNEW |
| 2015 | NewtonNEW |
| 2014 | Casey-WestfieldC-WLawrencevilleLVILLERobinsonROB |
| 2013 | Casey-Westfield (Eastern)/Olney-Robinson (Egyptian) |
| 2012 | Casey-Westfield (Eastern)/Olney (Egyptian) |
| 2011 | MarshallMAR |
| 2010 | Casey-WestfieldC-W |
| 2009 | Casey-WestfieldC-W |
| 2008 | Casey-WestfieldC-W |
| 2007 | Casey-WestfieldC-W |
| 2006 | Red Hill |
| 2005 | Casey-WestfieldC-W |
| 2004 | Casey-WestfieldC-W |
| 2003 | MarshallMAR |
| 2002 | MarshallMAR |
| 2001 | Red Hill |
| 2000 | MarshallMAR |
| 1999 | Casey-WestfieldC-WPalestine |
| 1998 | Casey-WestfieldC-W |
| 1997 | MarshallMAR |
| 1996 | Casey-WestfieldC-W |
The official bracket. Seeds, halves and sites are the IHSA's own, imported from their bracket. Who wins each game is this site's projection and nothing more.
Opening Round23/24 Oct
Edwardsville (H.S.)Edwardsville42
Chicago (Lincoln Park)Lincoln Park0
Lombard (Glenbard East)Glenbard East42
Bartlett14
St. Charles (North)St. Charles North54
McHenry6
New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)Lincoln-Way Central53
Rockford (Jefferson)Jefferson12
Elgin (H.S.)Elgin28
Burbank (Reavis)Reavis31
Chicago (St. Patrick)St. Patrick54
Collinsville37
Hampshire34
Chicago (DePaul College Prep)DePaul37
Zion (Z.-Benton)Zion-Benton44
Northbrook (Glenbrook North)Glenbrook North0
Yorkville (H.S.)Yorkville41
Palatine (H.S.)Palatine14
Moline (H.S.)Moline42
Lisle (Benet Academy)Benet38
Belleville (East)Belleville East16
Burbank (St. Laurence)St. Laurence25
New Lenox (Lincoln-Way West)Lincoln-Way West42
Mundelein (H.S.)Mundelein14
Chicago (Prosser)Prosser24
West Chicago (H.S.)West Chicago48
Buffalo Grove28
Tinley Park (Andrew)Andrew27
Hoffman Estates (H.S.)Hoffman Estates20
Carol Stream (Glenbard North)Glenbard North34
Skokie (Niles North)Niles North48
Richton Park (Rich Township)Rich Township41First Round30/31 Oct
Normal (Community)Normal Community28Edwardsville (H.S.)Edwardsville14
Chicago (Kenwood)Kenwood46Lombard (Glenbard East)Glenbard East9
Chicago (Brother Rice)Brother Rice48St. Charles (North)St. Charles North7
Batavia39New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)Lincoln-Way Central10
East St. Louis (Sr.)East St Louis69Burbank (Reavis)Reavis0
Chicago (Westinghouse College Prep)Westinghouse13Chicago (St. Patrick)St. Patrick49
Mt. Prospect (Prospect)Prospect56Chicago (DePaul College Prep)DePaul22
Rockford (Guilford)Guilford40Zion (Z.-Benton)Zion-Benton20
Arlington Heights (Hersey)Hersey49Yorkville (H.S.)Yorkville7
Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West)Glenbard West56Moline (H.S.)Moline0
Plainfield (South)Plainfield South13Burbank (St. Laurence)St. Laurence28
Plainfield (North)Plainfield North7New Lenox (Lincoln-Way West)Lincoln-Way West21
Downers Grove (North)Downers Grove North49West Chicago (H.S.)West Chicago14
Chicago (St. Rita)St. Rita36Buffalo Grove10
Algonquin (Jacobs)Jacobs13Carol Stream (Glenbard North)Glenbard North35
Oak Lawn (Richards)Oak Lawn Richards50Skokie (Niles North)Niles North8Second Round6/7 Nov
Normal (Community)Normal CommunityChicago (Kenwood)KenwoodChicago (Brother Rice)Brother RiceBataviaEast St. Louis (Sr.)East St LouisChicago (St. Patrick)St. PatrickMt. Prospect (Prospect)ProspectRockford (Guilford)GuilfordArlington Heights (Hersey)HerseyGlen Ellyn (Glenbard West)Glenbard WestBurbank (St. Laurence)St. LaurenceNew Lenox (Lincoln-Way West)Lincoln-Way WestDowners Grove (North)Downers Grove NorthChicago (St. Rita)St. RitaCarol Stream (Glenbard North)Glenbard NorthOak Lawn (Richards)Oak Lawn RichardsQuarterfinals13/14 Nov
Normal (Community)Normal CommunityChicago (Brother Rice)Brother RiceEast St. Louis (Sr.)East St LouisMt. Prospect (Prospect)ProspectArlington Heights (Hersey)HerseyNew Lenox (Lincoln-Way West)Lincoln-Way WestDowners Grove (North)Downers Grove NorthCarol Stream (Glenbard North)Glenbard NorthSemifinals20/21 Nov
Chicago (Brother Rice)Brother RiceEast St. Louis (Sr.)East St LouisArlington Heights (Hersey)HerseyDowners Grove (North)Downers Grove NorthChampionship27/28 Nov
Chicago (Brother Rice)Brother RiceArlington Heights (Hersey)HerseySeeds are the IHSA's own projection and change every week. Five wins qualifies, so teams on fewer are still playing their way in. The real draw also takes travel into account, so Classes 1A to 6A are split into North and South halves of 24 before seeding, as the IHSA does; 7A and 8A are seeded 1 to 48. Classes themselves are not settled until the field is final, so these can move. The number beside each school is its place in its half of the draw, which is what the bracket runs on; the outlook table shows the seed in the class as a whole, 1 to 48. R marks a conference representative, C a berth already clinched on four or more wins. Ties are listed in bracket order, so the top two seeds sit in opposite halves and can only meet in the final.