It’s time to start making some fall plans to fire up the grill and get your snacks ready for pregame tailgates on Friday nights across the Southland.
The Illinois High School Association recently released schedules for every football team in the state, so let’s take a look at what we have to look forward to over what is sure to be an exciting nine-week regular season.
Week 1
By the time Aug. 29 rolls around, we’ll all have gone nine months without a high school football game. So, you’ve got to make up for lost time with a tripleheader.
Good thing there’s a Thursday night game as Reavis, which just missed the playoffs last season with a 4-5 record, hosts King.
Friday brings a few all-local matchups between 2023 playoff qualifiers as St. Rita hosts Sandburg, Richards travels to Crete-Monee and Eisenhower welcomes Lincoln-Way West.
You may also want to head over to Frankfort to see the Lincoln-Way East debut of quarterback Jonas Williams as the Griffins take on a fellow power in Maine South.
Saturday? That’s a no-brainer. Marist, in its first game under new coach Mike Fitzgerald, hosts Morgan Park and its four Division I recruits, including Illinois-bound receiver Tysean Griffin.
Week 2
Let’s call this rivalry week, and we’ll start it with the biggest one of them all as Brother Rice hosts Marist for the Pulaski Road Super Bowl.
But that might not be the most important CCL/ESCC game Friday night because two-time defending Class 7A state champion Mount Carmel and Vanderbilt-bound quarterback Jack Elliott travel to St. Rita.
And there’s a crosstown clash in New Lenox, where Providence hosts Lincoln-Way Central.
The rivalry fun keeps on going Saturday as Marian Catholic welcomes Homewood-Flossmoor.
Week 3
Kick off conference play in the South Suburban Red as Eisenhower hosts Richards or hit another big Catholic battle on the South Side as St. Rita travels to Brother Rice.
Not much happening Saturday, so take a breather.
Lincoln-Way East’s Trey Zvonar (2) celebrates his TD against Loyola in the Class 8A state championship game at Illinois State’s Hancock Stadium in Normal on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Week 4
The start of the Southwest Valley Conference — a merger of the SouthWest Suburban and DuPage Valley — means exciting new matchups like Lincoln-Way East at Naperville North.
You can also stay in the Southland and catch a big clash in that conference as Lincoln-Way West hosts Sandburg. Meanwhile, Joliet Catholic welcomes Marist in the CCL-ESCC Orange.
Eisenhower travels to Reavis for your Saturday entertainment.
Week 5
Lincoln-Way East hosts Homewood-Flossmoor in a Southwest Valley Blue showdown. Otherwise, go check out someone new during a slow week. Hillcrest, coming off a 7-4 season, travels to fellow 2023 playoff qualifier Bremen. Evergreen Park, 6-4 a year ago, hosts Shepard.
Week 6
There will be a pair of exciting games going on two miles apart as Brother Rice hosts Mount Carmel and Marist welcomes Providence.
Or head to New Lenox, where Lincoln-Way Central hosts Sandburg.
Providence’s Leo Slepski completes a pass against Hillcrest during a Class 5A second-round playoff game in Country Club Hills on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (James C. Svehla / Daily Southtown)
Week 7
There will be more Thursday Night Lights in Burbank as Reavis hosts Evergreen Park.
On Friday night, the two programs that are tied for the most state championships in IHSA history square off as Mount Carmel hosts Joliet Catholic. Can it get any better than that?
You can complete a tripleheader Saturday by checking out Morgan Park against Phillips at Gately Stadium or travelling up to Wilmette where Providence challenges Loyola.
Week 8
Get a look at 2023 Class 4A runner-up St. Laurence, which hosts Brother Rice on Friday night. Lincoln-Way West at Lockport and Eisenhower at Hillcrest are the other highlights.
Week 9
It’s the CCL/ESCC Blue clash that everyone will be waiting for — Loyola at Mount Carmel on Friday night.
But that’s not all on what should be a fantastic final week of the regular season. There’s also the Holy War as Providence hosts Joliet Catholic.
Sandwich your Friday night selection around a Thursday battle between Lemont and host Hillcrest and a Saturday showdown between Morgan Park and Simeon at Gately Stadium.
And don’t forget to follow those 4-4 teams fighting for their playoff lives.
