East St. Louis and Lincoln-Way East hold steady at 1-2, but there are changes elsewhere near the top of this week’s Illinois high school football Top 25.

For live updates and complete statewide results, bookmark our high school football scoreboard: STATEWIDE ILLINOIS FOOTBALL SCOREBOARD

September 16, 2024

Previous rank: 1 Last week: Def. Philadelphia Imhotep Charter (Pa.) 35-14

Quarterback Kendrick Lyons threw for 186 yards and two more TDs, giving him eight this season.

Next game: at Belleville East, Sept. 21

Previous rank: 2 Last week: Def. Stagg 49-3

The Griffins led 35-0 after one quarter and coasted to the nonconference win.

Next game: at Naperville North, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 5 Last week: Def. Nazareth 56-33

It was a historic night for the Caravan, as Vanderbilt commit Jack Elliott threw for 424 yards and a  program record-tying six TDs. Cooper Lehman set a program record with 255 receiving yards and scored twice.

Next game: vs. Nazareth, Sept. 13

Previous rank: 4 Last week: Lost to Mount Carmel 56-33

Logan Malachuk passed for 192 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions in the matchup of two-time defending state champions.

Next game: vs. St. Ignatius, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 7 Last week: Def. McHenry 46-7

Logan McHenry scored three first-quarter touchdowns for the Trojans.

Next game: vs. Jacobs, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 8 Last week: Def. Glenbard West 42-7

Playing past halftime for the first time this season, Minnesota commit Owen Lansu was 13 of 16 for 154 yards and three TDs.

Next game: at Proviso West, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 9 Last week: Def. Lake Park 56-6

Nathan Whitwell ran for 204 yards and three touchdowns, and Brett Berggren had five catches for 136 yards and three scores.

Next game: vs. St. Charles North, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 11 Last week: Def. Thornridge 56-0

Phillip Turner ran for two scores, and Keyandre White recovered a fumble in the end zone for his fourth defensive touchdown of the season.

Next game: vs. Normal, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 12 Last week: Def. Montini 21-6

The RedHawks opened a 21-0 lead and held the Broncos scoreless until the fourth quarter.

Next game: at Joliet Catholic, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 13 Last week: Def. Glenbrook South 51-21

St. Thomas commit Nick Peipert passed for 367 yards and four touchdowns for the Broncos.

Next game: at Maine South, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 14 Last week: Def. Andrew 31-14

Aiden Clark ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns for the Redhawks.

Next game: vs. Stagg, Sept. 20

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Loyola 35-21

Brady Palmer was 15 of 22 for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran 15 times for 87 yards and two more scores to pace the Spartans.

Next game: vs. St. Rita, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 15 Last week: Def. Westinghouse 54-0

The Mustangs’ defense posted its second consecutive shutout.

Next game: at Kenwood, Sept. 14

Previous rank: 17 Last week: Def. Wheaton North 31-13

Linebacker Aidan McClure had another big night for the North Stars with 14 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception and a TD.

Next game: at Batavia, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 3 Last week: Lost to St. Francis 35-21

In the first home game under their new lights, the Ramblers suffered their first nonconference loss since 2018. Iowa commit Ryan Fitzgerald, who was hurt in a Week 2 win against Glenbard West, dressed but did not play.

Next game: vs. Brother Rice, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 24 Last week: Def. Maine South 28-23

Brandon Jenkins ran 33 times for 238 yards and two touchdowns, and he had a key interception late for the Hawks.

Next game: at Glenbrook South, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 6 Last week: Lost to Hersey 28-23

Constantine Coines and Jameson Purcell each passed for a TD for the Hawks, and Michael Dellumo had a 98-yard kickoff-return touchdown.

Next game: vs. Barrington, Sept. 20

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Warren 38-7

Marty Hippel had touchdown runs of 48 and 47 yards for the Scouts.

Next game: at Zion-Benton, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 18 Last week: Def. Plainfield Central 49-6

Quarterback Brett Connolly accounted for 160 total yards and three TDs in less than two quarters of playing time.

Next week: vs. Joliet Central, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 19 Last week: Def. Hinsdale Central 21-16

Danny Carroll ran for 125 yards and a TD for the Lions.

Next game: vs. Glenbard West, Sept. 21

Previous rank: 20 Last week: Def. Downers Grove South 54-21

Bruno Massel threw for 234 yards and had five total touchdowns for the Dukes.

Next game: at Oak Park-River Forest, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 10 Last week: Lost to Lake Forest 38-7

The Blue Devils are allowing 33 points per game after giving up 13.7 per game last season.

Next game: at Lake Forest, Sept. 13

Previous rank: 21 Last week: Def. Fenwick 14-13

Nate Magrini had 25 carries for 152 yards and a TD for the Hilltoppers.

Next game: vs. Marist, Sept. 20

Previous rank: 22 Last week: Def. Urbana 56-0

Calen Taylor had two punt-return TDs for the Ironmen, and Kyle Beaty had three touchdown passes.

Next game: at Kankakee, Sept. 20

Previous rank: NR Last week: Def. Brother Rice 14-7

Steven Armbruster passed for 203 yards and two touchdowns for the Mustangs.

Next game: at St. Francis, Sept. 20

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Follow Illinois high school sports coverage on High School on SI

Here are the candidates for the SBLive/SI Illinois Athlete of the Week as nominated by coaches, fans and readers. 

Read through the nominees and cast your vote. Voting will conclude Sunday at 11:59 p.m. and the winner will be announced Monday.

If you would like to make a nomination in a future week, email mikeclarkpreps@gmail.com.

Editor’s Note: Our Athlete of the Week feature and corresponding poll is intended to be fun, and we do not set limits on how many times a fan can vote during the competition. However, we do not allow votes that are generated by script, macro or other automated means. Athletes who receive votes generated by script, macro or other automated means will be disqualified.

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The quarterback passed for 203 yards and two touchdowns in a 14-7 win over Brother Rice.

The running back had 21 carries for 244 yards and two TDs, including a 99-yarder, in a 26-15 win vs. Huntley.

The two-way player had two interceptions, including a pick-six, and added three catches for 90 yards in a 40-6 against Glenbard North.

The quarterback had 180 total yards and four TDs in a 70-12 win against Joliet Central.

The quarterback was 12-of-17 passing for 309 yards and four TDs in a 48-34 win against Wheaton-Warrenville South.

The senior won the Class 3A race at the First to the Finish Invitational in 14:26.

The running back had 18 carries for 235 yards with three total touchdowns in a 54-21 win against Downers Grove South.

The Vanderbilt recruit tied a program record with six touchdown passes and threw for 424 yards in a 56-33 win against Nazareth.

Green had 14 assists and four aces in a 24-26, 25-19, 25-16 win against Downers Grove South in the Andrew Invitational title match. She also had 11 assists in a 25-23, 26-24 semifinal victory vs. Homewood-Flossmoor.

The UCLA commit was 18-of-25 passing for 193 yards and two TDs in a 28-23 win against Maine South.

The Oregon commit had 311 yards and four touchdowns on only 11 carries in a 49-21 win against Belleville East. 

The freshman won the individual title at the Lake Park Harvey Braus Invitational with a time of 16:53.

The senior set a program record with 265 receiving yards and scored two TDs in a 56-33 win against Nazareth.

Playing past halftime for the first time this season, the Minnesota commit was 13-of-16 passing for 154 yards and three TDs in a 42-7 win against Glenbard West.

The quarterback was 21-of-24 passing for 320 yards and five touchdowns in a 48-7 win against Rock Island.

The quarterback had 234 passing yards and five total touchdowns in a 54-21 victory against Downers Grove South.

The linebacker had 14 tackles, a forced fumble, a  fumble recovery, an interception and a touchdown in a 31-13 victory against Wheaton North.

The senior ran 14:31 to win the Lake Park Harvey Braus Invitational.

Teh Northwestern commit was 17-of-20 passing for 284 yards and four TDs in a 65-7 win against Highland Park.

The quarterback was 15-of-22 passing for 192 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-21 win against Loyola. He also ran 15 times for 87 yards and two scores.

Pollard ran for 219 yards and four touchdowns in a 58-52 win against Morris.

Wanserski shot a 77 and won medalist honors on a tiebreaker at the Jacobs Eagles Cup .

The junior had the fastest time of the day at the First to the Finish Invitational, running 16:50 to win the Class 2A race.

The senior ran 16 times for 204 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-6 win against Lake Park.

The quarterback passed for 234 yards and a touchdown in a 14-13 loss to Joliet Catholic.

To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App

Nebraska football had made bettors very happy with their on-field play the past three contests.

Over the first three weeks of the college football season, the Huskers have won and covered the spread of each contest in their 3-0 start to 2024. Following a 34-3 victory over Northern Iowa Saturday in Lincoln, NU continues to receive favorable lines from Vegas heading into the conference play.

The Big Red opened up early betting lines as eight-point favorites over No. 24 rated Illinois for their Friday night matchup at Memorial Stadium. It is the third consecutive game that the Huskers have opened as favorites, having taken down UTEP 40-7 in Week One, followed by a 28-10 win over Colorado in Week Two, then the Northern Iowa drubbing Saturday.

The over/under for total points scored in the contest is set at 46 1/2 points, Other sports books, including DraftKings, have the Huskers as 8½-point favorites and the over/under at 43½ points.

The Cornhuskers’ 3-0 start has vaulted the Big Red into both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches Top 25 polls, placing Nebraska at No. 22. Illinois enters Friday’s contest at 3-0, having taken down Eastern Illinois 45-0, then-No. 19 Kansas 23-17, and Central Michigan 30-9 .

The Illini have covered in each game this season, but each contest has hit the under in total points scored. Nebraska currently averages 34 points per game, while Illinois averaged nearly 33. The Huskers are in the Top 10 in the country for points allowed per contest at 8½ points per game, while Illinois averages 13.

The Big Red and Illini will kick off Friday in Memorial Stadium at 7 p.m. CDT, with television coverage on FOX.

MORE: Analytics Review: Nebraska Football vs Northern Iowa

MORE: Nebraska Football Inches Higher in Both Coaches, AP Polls Following Northern Iowa Win

MORE: Stukenholtz: That Old Familiar Husker Football Feeling

MORE: Northern Iowa Coach Compliments Nebraska Football Running Game, Toughness

MORE: Predicting the College Football Playoffs: Reflections on Week 3

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