Catholic League football rivalries on the South Side always receive a load of attention. Brother Rice vs. Marist is the Battle of Pulaski. St. Rita and Mount Carmel have been locking horns since 1924. The Caravan’s recent dominance (they have won the past eight matchups) has cooled that one off a little bit, but there are always new rivalries brewing.
Back in August, Mount Carmel’s stars chuckled about Brother Rice’s two state championship trophies as they arranged four of their state-record 17 trophies for a preseason photo shoot.
That same fire burns in the Southwest Suburbs. Joliet Catholic and Providence have combined to win 25 state championships. The schools are just seven miles apart and compete for the same players.
Their rivalry game is called the Holy War, and on Friday in New Lenox, nine bagpipers led Providence onto the field. The Celtics went on to win 27-0. It was Providence’s first win against the Hilltoppers since 2022.
Mount Carmel, Brother Rice and Loyola all have nationally-ranked star players. That isn’t the case for Providence, but the Celtics are right there with those larger Catholic powers in the top five of the Super 25.
Providence graduate Tyler Plantz, who played at Notre Dame in college, has instilled a rugged, hard-hitting spirit in his young team, which strated succeeding ahead of schedule last year when they reached the Class 5A state championship game.
The stars in Friday’s Holy War win are still young. Quarterback Dominic Vita, running back Brayden McKay and defensive back Isaac Patton are all juniors.
The Celtics knocked off St. Rita on the road in Week 1 and beat Kenwood in Week 2. The schedule isn’t easing up, with Carmel, Nazareth, Fenwick and Mount Carmel on deck.
Loyola, Brother Rice riding high
Top-ranked Loyola dominated St. Rita 31-0 in Week 3 and looks primed for one of the biggest showdowns of the season. The Ramblers host Brother Rice on Friday.
There are a few injury concerns for Loyola, however. Junior running back Jayden Garrett didn’t play against St. Rita and tight end Charlie Fowler, a Boston College recruit, left the game with an injury. He is one of quarterback Matthew Lee’s favorite targets.
The Crusaders were upset by Lincoln-Way East in the season opener but thrashed St. Francis 43-0 in Week 3
Expanded Thursday football
There is always Public League football on Thursdays, but this week’s slate is much larger. Rosh Hashanah begins on Friday, so there are a slew of north suburban football games on Thursday. Barrington at Hersey, Fremd at Prospect and Maine South at New Trier are among the best matchups.
Ranking updates
St. Francis, a highly-ranked preseason team, drops out of the rankings after losing 43-0 to Brother Rice. St. Charles North falls out after losing 49-17 at Geneva.
Bolingbrook returns to the Super 25 after a nice win against Yorkville. The Raiders have a major chance to reignite their season on Friday when No. 4 Oswego visits.
New Trier is the other new face in the Super 25. It is the first appearance in the rankings for the Trevians in several years.
Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 4
With record and last week’s ranking
1. Loyola (3-0) 1
Won 31-0 vs. St. Rita
Next: Friday vs. No. 6 Brother Rice
2. Mount Carmel (2-1) 2
Won 35-7 vs. Nazareth
Next: Friday vs. Marist
3. Lincoln-Way East (3-0) 3
Won 38-7 at Homewood-Flossmoor
Next: Friday vs. Bradley-Bourbonnais
4. Oswego (3-0) 4
Won 34-14 vs. Plainfield North
Next: Friday at No. 25 Bolingbrook.
5. Providence (3-0) 5
Won 27-0 vs. Joliet Catholic
Next: Friday vs. Carmel
6. Brother Rice (2-1) 6
Won 43-0 vs. St. Francis
Next: Friday at No. 1 Loyola
7. Hersey (3-0) 7
Won 49-14 at Neuqua Valley
Next: Thursday vs. Barrington
8. Batavia (2-1) 12
Won 49-21 at Glenbard North
Next: Friday vs. Lake Park
9. Sandburg (3-0) 9
Won 37-14 vs. Thornwood
Next: Friday at No. 22 Homewood-Flossmoor
10. IC Catholic (3-0) 11
Won 22-15 at St. Ignatius
Next: Friday vs. DePaul Prep
11. St. Rita (1-2) 8
Lost 31-0 at Loyola
Next: Friday vs. St. Francis
12. Montini (2-1) 14
Won 35-28 at Marist
Next: Friday at No. 21 Nazareth
13. Maine South (2-1) 13
Won 41-7 vs. Maine West
Next: Thursday at No. 24 New Trier
14. Geneva (2-1) 14
Won 49-17 vs. St. Charles North
Next: Friday at Wheaton-Warrenville South
15. Glenbard West (2-1) 18
Won 39-21 vs. Oak Park
Next: Friday at No. 17 Downers Grove North
16. Lyons (3-0) 19
Won 48-0 vs. Morton
Next: Friday at Hinsdale Central
17. Downers Grove North (3-0) 20
Won 28-0 at Hinsdale Central
Next: Friday vs. No. 15 Glenbard West
18. Prospect (3-0) 21
Won 45-14 vs. Naperville Central
Next: Thursday vs. No. 23 Fremd
19. Fenwick (3-0) 22
Won 38-14 vs. DePaul Prep
Next: Friday at St. Ignatius
20. Kankakee (2-1) 23
Won 29-14 at Rich
Next: Friday vs. Thornton
21. Nazareth (1-2) 17
Lost 35-7 at Mount Carmel
Next: Friday vs. No. 12 Montini
22. Homewood-Flossmoor (2-1) 10
Lost 38-7 vs. Lincoln-Way East
Next: Friday vs. No. 9 Sandburg
23. Fremd (3-0) 25
Won 31-7 vs. Metea Valley
Next: Thursday at No. 18 Prospect
24. New Trier (3-0) NR
Won 61-0 vs. Vernon Hills
Next: Thursday vs. No. 13 Maine South
25. Bolingbrook (2-1) NR
Won 20-7 at Yorkville
Next: Friday vs. No. 4 Oswego