SBLive Illinois Power 25 Week 6 High School Football Rankings: Unbeaten York jumps into Top 10

By Max Baker

Here is a look at the latest SBLive Illinois Power 25 high school football rankings.

• PREVIOUS RANKINGS: WEEK 1 | WEEK 2 | WEEK 3 | WEEK 4 | WEEK 5

SBLIVE ILLINOIS POWER 25 FOOTBALL RANKINGS:

October. 5, 2022

1. East St. Louis (4-2)

Last week: 1

Next game: Oct. 8 vs. Alton (1-5)

Ranking rationale: The Flyers notched their second shutout in three weeks in a dominant Southwestern Conference victory last week. East St. Louis hosts Alton (1-5) for homecoming in Week 7 in its second straight matchup against a team with a losing record.

2. Lincoln-Way East (6-0)

Last week: 2

Next game: Oct. 7 at Homewood Flossmoor (4-2)

Ranking rationale: Lincoln-Way East once again cruised to a win Friday night. They led 37-0 at the half before finishing with a 44-0 win over Sandburg. They’ll take an undefeated record into Homewood Flossmoor next week.

3. Loyola Academy (6-0)

Last week: 4

Next game: Oct. 7 at Providence Catholic (4-2)

Ranking rationale: Quarterback Jake Stearney found Declan Forde for a 52-yard touchdown to take a 28-17 lead with 7:07 left in the game. Both Mount Carmel and Loyola faced more difficult tests than they have all season, but both found a way to win. Loyola moves up a spot ahead of Mount Carmel, but it is close.

4. Mount Carmel (6-0)

Last week: 3

Next game: Oct. 7 at St. Laurence (3-3)

Ranking rationale: Mount Carmel continued its unbeaten streak with a key defensive stop late in the fourth quarter. The two teams were tied at 14 at the half before a Noah Smith interception set up a Denny Furlong touchdown catch from Blainey Dowling to go up one score.

5. Neuqua Valley (5-1)

Last week: 6

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Waubonsie Valley (0-6)

Ranking rationale: Neuqua is playoff eligible with a dominant defeat of Metea Valley. Ryan Mohler and Grant Larkin connected on two first quarter touchdowns.

6. Wheaton North (5-1)

Last week: 7

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Wheaton Warrenville South (2-4)

Ranking rationale: Senior running back Tyler O’Connor rushed for two touchdowns and kicked three extra points in the win over Glenbard North.

7. Lemont (6-0)

Last week: 8

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Richards (4-2)

Ranking rationale: Lemont continued its unbeaten season with a convincing 57-point win.

8. Sacred Heart-Griffin (6-0)

Last week: 9

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Glenwood (5-1)

Ranking rationale: Sacred-Heart Griffin scored 28 first quarter points in a 49-7 rout over Normal to continue its unbeaten season.

9. Simeon (6-0)

Last week: 10

Next game: Oct. 8 at Kenwood (4-2)

Ranking rationale: Simeon is still one of the more surprising stories from the preseason rankings and again won big 42-8 over Curie.

10. York (6-0)

Last week: 20

Next game: Oct. 7 at Hinsdale Central (3-3)

Ranking rationale: In its first Top 25 test, York proved that it belongs with a win over Glenbard West. They make the biggest leap in this week’s standings.

Photos: Mount Carmel uses second-half surge to defeat Brother Rice 28-21

Photos: Minooka edges visiting Oswego East 16-13

Photos: Lucious Dones fuels thrilling comeback victory for Althoff over Marion

11. Glenbard West (5-1)

Last week: 5

Next game: Oct. 8 at Downers Grove North (5-1)

Ranking rationale: Kelly Watson had a 96-yard touchdown return to give York a 10-7 lead in the second quarter on its way to the upset 17-13 win over the Hilltoppers. Matt Sutter had a red zone interception to seal the win. Up next is a Downers Grove North squad that suffered it's lone loss against York.

12. Hersey (6-0)

Last week: 13

Next game: Oct. 7 at Wheeling (3-3)

Ranking rationale: Hersey knocked off Rolling Meadows 35-14 to remain undefeated. After defeating Prospect in overtime two weeks ago, it’s hard to find another loss on Hersey’s schedule.

13. Warren Township (5-1)

Last week: 12

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Waukegan (0-5)

Ranking rationale: Warren has played solid football for the majority of this season and another matchup against a team with a losing record should move them to 6-1 next week.

14. Joliet Catholic (5-1)

Last week: 11

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Brother Rice (3-3)

Ranking rationale: The 15-time state champions had a 13-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and maintained a comfortable lead throughout. The Hitters take on Brother Rice next week.

15. Prospect (5-1)

Last week: 14

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Buffalo Grove (3-3)

Ranking rationale: Prospect knocked off Elk Grove 35-21 last week and next welcomes a Buffalo Grove squad that has won three of its last four games.

16. O’Fallon (5-1)

Last week: 15

Next game: Oct. 7 at Belleville West (0-6)

Ranking rationale: For the second week in a row, this week’s matchup should not be much of a test as Belleville West is still seeking its first win of the season.

17. Prairie Ridge (5-1)

Last week: 16

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Dundee Crown (2-4)

Ranking rationale: After beating Hampshire 62-34 last week, Prairie Ridge will look to continue its winning ways against a Dundee Crown team that has lost three in a row.

18. Edwardsville (5-1)

Last week: 17

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Belleville East (3-3)

Ranking rationale: Edwardsville can’t get caught looking ahead to a matchup with East St. Louis next week and will have to build on its 62-34 win over Hampshire.

19. Maine South (4-2)

Last week: 18

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Niles West (2-4)

Ranking rationale: Maine South defeated Glenbrook South 23-16 last week and could be a dark horse in the playoffs. They’ve lost two games by a combined three points.

20. Chicago Marist (3-3)

Last week: 19

Next game: Oct. 7 at Montini Catholic (3-3)

Ranking rationale: Marist gave Loyola all it could handle Friday night, but it was not enough to pull off the upset. They don’t move down in the rankings because of the strong showing.

21. Bolingbrook (4-2)

Last week: 22

Next game: Oct. 7 at Lockport (4-2)

Ranking rationale: Bolingbrook defeated Homewood Flossmoor 43-26 last week and has only lost to undefeated teams so far this year. Next up is a Lockport squad that snapped a two-game losing skid with a 34-28 win at Lincoln-Way West last week.

22. St. Rita (4-2)

Last week: 23

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Marian Central Catholic (2-4)

Ranking rationale: St. Rita knocked off Nazareth 33-10 last week and is a team that is capable of pulling off an upset.

23. Crete-Monee (4-2)

Last week: 25

Next game: Oct. 7 at Rich Township (3-3)

Ranking rationale: After starting the year 0-2, Crete-Monee has rattled off four straight wins including a 66-0 win over Thornridge last week.

24. St. Charles North (5-1)

Last week: NR

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. St. Charles East (2-4)

Ranking rationale: Much like Crete-Monee, St. Charles North has not lost since an opening week defeat to Palatine.

25. Wheaton North (5-1)

Last week: NR

Next game: Oct. 7 vs. Wheaton Warrenville South (2-4)

Ranking rationale: Wheaton North’s only loss came on a 1-point defeat to St. Charles North. They defeated Glenbard North 21-14 last week.