Mount Carmel’s run at No. 1 ends after nearly a full year at the top. The Caravan held the top spot in the Super 25 rankings for 16 consecutive editions, dating back to last year’s preseason.
There is certainly no shame in losing to East St. Louis and initially it seemed Mount Carmel should remain at No. 1. The Flyers are not in the Sun-Times’ coverage area, and the Caravan’s stable of college-bound talent is well-documented.
But the 42-23 loss to East St. Louis on Saturday at ISU’s Hancock Stadium just wasn’t close enough for Mount Carmel to stay on top. The Caravan’s defense was at full strength and allowed five touchdowns.
Jordan Lynch’s offense has a bit of an excuse for a down night. Starting quarterback Ryder Startz left with an injury at halftime. But Mount Carmel clearly planned to use two quarterbacks in the game. Senior Brady Cloherty checked in during the second drive and was sharing time with Startz before the injury.
The Caravan plays on ESPN this weekend against a New Jersey powerhouse, St. Joseph Regional. It will be the season opener for the Green Knights, who have won 17 state titles since 1979.
Loyola grabs the crown
It didn’t take long for John Holecek to reclaim the top spot in the rankings. Holecek’s Ramblers beat Warren 31-0 on Friday in Gurnee.
Loyola’s running game was dominant, with junior Melo Maldonado rushing for 135 yards and junior Jayden Garrett adding 104 yards.
The Ramblers’ 21-17 loss to Mount Carmel in the first round of the Class 8A state playoffs last season is still fresh in the memory. Loyola hung with the Caravan just a few months ago and returns most of its talented offensive players from that matchup.
Next up for the Ramblers is a trip to Indianapolis on Friday to face Cathedral, which lost to Indianapolis Ben Davis in Week 1.
Brother Rice, Nazareth fall
Mount Carmel wasn’t the only Catholic League team loaded with college prospects to lose in Week 1. Brother Rice and Nazareth, both ranked in the preseason top five, suffered upset defeats.
The Crusaders lost a close game in Frankfort to Lincoln-Way East and Nazareth lost 35-21 to IC Catholic, a team that was overlooked in the preseason.
The Knights are led by junior tight end Grant Bowen, one of the top prospects in the country with more than 30 college offers.
Bowen caught two touchdown passes against Nazareth, but the breakout star of the game and maybe of Week 1 overall was IC Catholic’s Jakobe Baldwin.
The sophomore running back ripped off a 65-yard TD run in the fourth quarter and finished with 202 rushing yards and two TDs.
Rankings moves
Bolingbrook, Barrington and Carmel drop out of the Super 25 after Week 1 losses. The Broncos and Corsairs lost competitive games to ranked teams and remain on the radar this season.
Bolingbrook’s 31-0 loss to Homewood-Flossmoor was a shocker. The Vikings were expected to be a ranked-caliber team this season, but the Raiders are among the most talented teams in the state.
That win gets Homewood-Flossmoor in at No. 14 and IC Catholic joins at 16 after the win against Nazareth.
St. Charles North, which took down Minooka 28-7, makes its season debut at No. 25.
Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 2
With record, last week’s ranking and Week 2 opponent
1. Loyola (1-0) 3
Friday at Indianapolis Cathedral, Ind.
2. Mount Carmel (0-1) 1
Friday vs. St. Joseph Regional, N.J.
3. Montini (1-0) 4
Friday at No. 23 Sandburg
4. Lincoln-Way East (1-0) 18
Friday at No. 19 Kankakee
5. Batavia (1-0) 8
Friday at Rochester
6. Oswego (1-0) 6
Friday at No. 12 Geneva
7. Providence (1-0) 8
Friday vs. Kenwood
8. Brother Rice (0-1) 7
Friday vs. Woodlawn
9. Hersey (1-0) 10
Friday at Hoffman Estates
10. Glenbard West (1-0) 12
Saturday vs. No. 15 St. Rita
11. St. Francis (0-1) 7
Friday vs. Clemente
12. Geneva (1-0) 14
Friday vs. No. 6 Oswego
13. Maine South (0-1) 11
Friday vs. Warren
14. Homewood-Flossmoor (1-0) NR
Friday vs. Richards
15. St. Rita (0-1) 15
Saturday at No. 10 Glenbard West
16. IC Catholic (1-0) NR
Friday vs. St. Mary’s South Side, Mo.
17. York (1-0) 17
Friday at No. 18 Nazareth
18. Nazareth (0-1) 5
Friday vs. No. 17 York
19. Kankakee (1-0) 19
Friday vs. No. 4 Lincoln-Way East
20. Downers Grove North (1-0) 20
Friday vs. Downers Grove South
21. Prospect (1-0) 21
Friday vs. St. Laurence
22. Lyons (1-0) 25
Friday at Wheaton-Warrenville South
23. Sandburg (1-0) 23
Friday vs. No. 3 Montini
24. Fenwick (1-0) 24
Friday at Oak Park
25. St. Charles North (1-0) NR
Friday at South Elgin