With the state champions crowned over the weekend, it’s time for the final Super 25 rankings of the 2018 season. Nazareth (13-1), the Class 7A champion, earned the No. 1 spot after it capped a thrilling year with a 31-10 victory over St. Charles North (10-4) in the championship game.
The Roadrunners, led by Player of the Year finalist and All-Area team honoree Michael Love, hung near the top of the rankings all season. They survived a brutal playoff slate including games against previously unbeaten Simeon and Batavia, then flexed their muscles in an impressive victory over the North Stars.
Loyola (11-3) is the only other state champion inside the top five. The Ramblers pulled off an incredible turnaround this season after dropping to 3-3 in September by rattling off eight consecutive wins, including an upset of unbeaten Lincoln-Way East (12-1) in the Class 8A semifinals and a 14-3 win over top-seeded Brother Rice (13-1) in the championship game.
The Ramblers finished No. 2 in the Super 25 to beat out LWE, Brother Rice and fifth-ranked Marist (11-2), which lost in the Class 8A semifinals to the Crusaders.
Here’s a look at the final Super 25 rankings for the 2018 Chicago-area high school football season. Congratulations to the state champions and everyone who participated in another exciting year.
With record and last week’s ranking
1. Nazareth (13-1) 2
CLASS 7A CHAMPION
2. Loyola (11-3) 3
CLASS 8A CHAMPION
3. Lincoln-Way East (12-1) 4
4. Brother Rice (13-1) 1
5. Marist (11-2) 5
6. Batavia (12-1) 6
7. Cary-Grove (14-0) 8
CLASS 6A CHAMPION
8. Maine South (10-2) 15
9. St. Charles North (10-4) 7
10. Mount Carmel (11-2) 9
11. Homewood-Flossmoor (10-2) 10
12. IC Catholic (14-0) 16
CLASS 4A CHAMPION
13. Simeon (11-1) 12
14. Crete-Monee (10-4) 13
15. Richards (12-1) 14
16. Joliet Catholic (10-4) 21
CLASS 5A CHAMPION
17. Montini (12-2) 11
18. Phillips (9-3) 17
19. Willowbrook (11-1) 18
20. Naperville Central (7-4) 19
21. Hinsdale Central (8-3) 20
22. Notre Dame (10-2) 22
23. Warren (10-2) 23
24. Oswego (10-1) 24
25. Oak Park River Forest (8-3) NR
Satchel Price contributed to this report
Read more Sun-Times High School Sports stories:
- HOOPS: Michael O’Brien’s Chicago-area Super 25 basketball rankings
- PODCAST: Listen to “No Shot Clock” for a preview of the 2018-19 basketball season