It’s a loaded weekend around the area in Week 1. Here are previews of a few of the best games.
No. 11 Maine South at No. 8 Batavia, 7 p.m. Friday
It’s another banner year for quarterbacks locally, and this will be a showcase for two of the best. Maine South senior Jameson Purcell is committed to Indiana after completing 70% of his passes last season for 2,572 yards and 30 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Batavia senior Michael Vander Luitgaren, a Wyoming recruit, threw for 2,708 yards and 31 TDs with four interceptions on 65% accuracy. The Bulldogs have an extra sense of urgency with coach Dennis Piron saying he’s “99% sure” this is his last season.
No. 2 Brother Rice at No. 18 Lincoln-Way East, 6:30 p.m. Friday
It starts up front for Brother Rice with four-star senior Notre Dame commit Brayden Parks and five-star junior Kameron McGee anchoring the defensive line and senior Ethan Posey, a Miami (Ohio) commit, leading the offensive line. Some talented skill players also return in senior running back Jameson Davis (Army) and 6-5 junior tight end Jack McNamara. Lincoln-Way East had significant graduation losses, including state career passing yardage leader Jonas Williams. One notable veteran is Illinois-bound offensive lineman Mason Halliman.
No. 22 Carmel at No. 10 Hersey, 7 p.m. Friday
Nebraska commit Trae Taylor, the consensus No. 1 quarterback nationally in the 2027 cycle, and receiver Greg Bess-Henning have transferred out of Carmel but the cupboard’s not bare. Junior linebacker Jameer Miles and junior offensive lineman Wyatt VanBoehning are both four-star prospects. Hersey’s Jake Nawrot, the No. 5 senior quarterback in the nation and a Kentucky commit, is back after throwing for 3,078 yards and 41 touchdowns with only two interceptions last season. His top target is junior Josh Riggs, who caught 11 of those TDs.
No. 16 Barrington at No. 25 Lyons, 7:30 p.m. Friday
This is an interesting matchup of Class 8A powers aiming to compete for titles in two of the state’s deepest conferences: the Mid-Suburban West (Barrington) and the West Suburban Silver (Lyons). Junior running back Lamar Osterhues is back after finishing with 1,319 all-purpose yards last season for the Broncos. The Lions also have a proven back in EJ Kuhlman, who ran for a program-record 246 yards against York last season. Tight end Owen Matela is a Miami (Ohio) commit.
No. 1 Mount Carmel vs. East St. Louis, 7 p.m. Saturday at Hancock Stadium, Normal
This will be the seventh game between the state’s two winningest programs (East St. Louis has 864 victories, 32 more than Mount Carmel). The Caravan are 5-1 in the series and won 36-33 in 2023, the most recent meeting. Mount Carmel has more Power Four talent than any team in the state, including two Michigan commits (receiver Quentin Burrell and defensive back Tavares Harrington) and a Notre Dame recruit (linebacker Roman Igwebuike). East St. Louis’ stars include running back Myson Johnson-Cook (Auburn), cornerback Raheem Floyd (Florida) and receiver Ronnie Gomiller (Cincinnati).
