New No. 1 in Class 8A
The only change at the top in The Associated Press statewide rankings for high school football released Tuesday was in 8A, the largest class.
Mount Carmel jumped three spots to No. 1 after beating previous No. 1 St. Rita 35-19 in front of about 8,000 fans at Gately Stadium. Mount Carmel (4-0) linebacker Steve Filer had a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown and Caravan quarterback Jordan Lynch ran 47 yards for a touchdown late in the third.
St. Rita (3-1) fell to No. 5. Maine South rejoined the 8A ranks at No. 10.
In 7A, No. 1 Rolling Meadows returned 2 interceptions and forced 6 turnovers in a 28-6 victory over Hoffman Estates. Joe Okon had a fumble recovery and a 31-yard touchdown return among his 2 interceptions for Rolling Meadows (4-0).
No. 9 Carmel and No. 10 St. Charles East entered the 7A poll.
Normal Community retained the top spot in 6A after a home-opening 47-6 victory over 5A-ranked Mattoon. Austin Davis rushed for 2 TDs and returned a blocked punt for another score.
No. 3 Richards and No. 4 Lemont swapped positions after Richards' 23-22 victory. No. 9 Lake Forest and No. 10 Chatham Glenwood joined the 6A list.
Marian Central stayed at No. 1 in 5A after its second consecutive shutout, a 35-0 win over Marmion in the Suburban Catholic Conference. T.J. Pappas rushed for 2 touchdowns and returned an interception 45 yards for a score for Marion (4-0).
In 4A, six-time reigning state champion and No. 1-ranked Driscoll stayed unbeaten with a 50-21 victory over St. Francis. David Schwabe passed for 2 touchdowns and rushed for 2 touchdowns for Driscoll.
Mahomet-Seymour moved up two spots to No. 4 after a 44-26 victory over previous No. 5 Rochester, which fell to ninth. Mahomet-Seymour this Friday will visit 4A No. 3 Bloomington Central Catholic (4-0) in a game that could decide the Corn Belt Conference.
Coal City moved into a tie at No.10 with Mascoutah.
St. Joseph-Ogden remained No. 1 and undefeated in 3A after a 42-20 victory over Clifton Central. Will Lindsey had two touchdowns and 149 yards rushing in helping SJ-O top 40 points for the fourth time in as many games.
Aledo/Westmer moved up to No. 6 after a 42-30 victory that knocked previous No. 6 Carthage Illini West out of the 3A ranks. Amboy/LaMoille made its 3A season debut at No. 10.
Morrison (4-0) remained No. 1 in Class 2A after a 61-8 romp over Varna River Valley. Nate McBride and Tyler Hayes each returned kickoffs for touchdowns for Morrison, which will travel to Amboy/LaMoille this week in a clash of Big Rivers Conference co-leaders.
Sterling Newman (3-1), another Big Rivers member, joined the 2A ranks at No. 10.
In 1A, No. 1 Tuscola won 47-6 over Monticello. Clayton Meyer had eight receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns for the winners. He also intercepted a pass, and kicked five extra points to become Tuscola's all-time leader in PATs.
Dakota (4-0) stormed into the 1A ranks at No. 2. Dakota had been No. 3 in 2A, but is 1A in the Illinois High School Association's most up-to-date list for football enrollments.
Cerro Gordo/DeLand-Weldon joined the 1A list at No. 10.