This week's Super 25 was a challenge. There were tough decisions everywhere.
The first came at No. 3. Lincoln-Way East and Mount Carmel are the top two teams in the area right now. It is doubtful anyone disputes that.
But which team comes next? It's awkward to raise Nazareth after a loss. But the Roadrunners are a proven group with back-to-back state titles and a load of future college players.
The Caravan beat Nazareth 56-33. That final score doesn't look great. But it was just a 35-33 lead in the final minute of the third quarter. And remember, this was at Mount Carmel.
There was another factor in my decision to put Nazareth in the No. 3 spot. The Roadrunners' three opponents this season (Kankakee, Kenwood, Mount Carmel) are a combined 5-4.
The other contenders for the No. 3 spot have not played that caliber of schedule. Downers Grove North's opponents are 1-8. Batavia's are 3-6.
There were four new additions to the rankings: St. Francis, Lake Forest, St. Rita and Hersey.
Lake Forest beat Warren. St. Rita took down Brother Rice, so both teams make their season debuts.
Hersey is back after beating Maine South. St. Francis returns after a win at Loyola. The Ramblers didn't have injured starting quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald, a major factor. But St. Francis scored 35 points against the Ramblers' defense in Wilmette.
Brother Rice, Wheaton North, Fenwick and Wheaton-Warrenville South drop out. Teams currently right outside the Super 25 are Geneva, Carmel, Libertyville, Fremd, St. Laurence and Sandburg.
Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 4
With record and last week's ranking
1. Lincoln-Way East (3-0) 1
Friday at Naperville North
2. Mount Carmel (2-1) 3
Friday vs. St. Ignatius
3. Nazareth (2-1) 4
Friday vs. IC Catholic
4. Downers Grove North (3-0) 6
Friday at Proviso West
5. Batavia (3-0) 7
Friday vs. No. 12 St. Charles North
6. Cary-Grove (3-0) 8
Friday vs. Jacobs
7. Barrington (3-0) 9
Friday at No. 20 Maine South
8. Marist (3-0) 10
Friday at No. 23 Joliet Catholic
9. St. Francis (3-0) NR
Friday vs. No. 15 St. Rita
10. Loyola (1-2) 2
Friday vs. Brother Rice
11. Naperville Central (3-0) 11
Saturday vs. Stagg
12. St. Charles North (3-0) 19
Friday at No. 5 Batavia
13. Lake Forest (3-0) NR
Friday at Zion-Benton
14. Oswego (3-0) 14
Saturday vs. Joliet Central
15. St. Rita (2-1) NR
Friday at No. 9 St. Francis
16. Kankakee (2-1) 16
Friday vs. Normal
17. York (3-0) 17
Friday at Oak Park
18. Lyons (3-0) 18
Saturday vs. Glenbard West
19. Morgan Park (2-1) 20
Saturday vs. Kenwood at Lane
20. Maine South (1-2) 5
Friday vs. No. 7 Barrington
21. Hersey (1-2) NR
Friday at Glenbrook South
22. Warren (1-2) 12
Friday vs. Waukegan
23. Joliet Catholic (2-1) 22
Friday vs. No. 8 Marist
24. Prairie Ridge (3-0) 24
Friday at Huntley
25. Sycamore (3-0) 25
Friday at Rochelle
