The Week 3 Expanded Football Top 20

Posted September 09, 2025 3:55 pm

John Lemon

First and 10

1. Downers Grove North (2-0) Next opponent: Hinsdale Central

Comment: There’s going to be one great matchup after another this fall in the West Suburban Silver, and it starts here for the No. 1 ranked Trojans. Hinsdale Central has played teams that went a combined 21-3 last year and not only beat them both, but did it by an 84-21 margin. Trojans QB Owen Lansu left last week’s blowout win midway through the first quarter.

2. St. Charles North (2-0) Next opponent: Geneva

Comment: The North Stars and Vikings shared the DuKane Conference title last year with Batavia, all going 6-1. St. Charles North got there by beating unbeaten Geneva 35-21 in the regular season finale. The North Stars ran for over 300 yards last week against Homewood-Flossmoor; Geneva’s offense struggled in a 35-6 loss to Oswego.

3. Fremd (2-0) Next opponent: Evanston

Comment: The Vikings have been dominant on both sides of the ball so far, scoring 90 points while allowing only 3 to Lake Zurich and 6 to Buffalo Grove. Evanston, led by first-year coach and former Prospect start Miles Osei, will be the next team trying to find an answer against Northwestern QB recruit Johnny O’Brien, who is off to another fast start.

4. Palatine (2-0) Next opponent: at Maine South

Comment: The Pirates pulled off quite the comeback last week, rallying from 14 points behind in the final eight minutes to beat Prospect 37-34 in overtime. Kole Fager scored four touchdowns including two in the fourth quarter and the game-winner in overtime. Maine South is a new nonconference opponent for the Pirates.

5. Glenbard West (2-0) Next opponent: at Oak Park-River Forest

Comment: After a rare 4-5 season to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2006, the Hilltoppers have opened with a pair of thrilling wins. Both victories came down to the final minute against powers Batavia and Joliet Catholic, winning last week behind senior QB Jack Walti who was filling in for injured starter AJ Radford.

6. Maine South (1-1) Next opponent: Palatine

Comment: It’s been a roller coaster start for the Hawks, following up a 40-0 season-opening loss to Lincoln-Way East with an impressive 42-14 victory over Warren. Indiana-bound QB Jameson Purcell led the charge, completing 23 of 34 passes for 243 yards and 3 scores. Their defense held Aaron Stewart to 71 yards rushing.

7. Batavia (1-1) Next opponent: Glenbard North

Comment: The Bulldogs celebrate their 75th homecoming and start DuKane Conference play against an improved Panthers team who went 2-7 last year but pushed eventual 7A state runner-up Batavia to a 35-34 game in Week 9. Glenbard North’s Donato Gatses rushed for 216 yards and 3 TDs last week against Benet; Batavia’s Tony Minnec made 13 tackles vs. South Elgin.

8. Montini (2-0) Next opponent: Marist

Comment: It’s been smooth sailing so far for the defending Class 3A state champs. After pulling out a hard-fought 20-16 win over one of Michigan’s best teams, Lumen Christi, Montini handled Hillcrest 35-12 last week. Now comes 0-2 Marist out of the CCL/ESCC White.

9. Barrington (2-0) Next opponent: at Glenbrook South

Comment: The Broncos should get a good test on their trip to Glenview against the 2-0 Titans, who opened the season beating last year’s 8A runners-up, York. Barrington sophomore Lamar Osterhuesis coming off a 205-yard rushing effort against Hersey. Quarterback Luke Tepas also had a big game, throwing for 228 yards.

10. Prospect (1-1) Next opponent: Niles West

Comment: The Knights have played a pair of hard-fought games heading into this matchup against the 0-2 Wolves. There were plenty of bright spots for Prospect last week against Palatine including Matthew Donnelly rushing for 159 yards and Jackson Cacini running for a pair of scores in addition to throwing for 160 yards.

Second and 10

11. Warren 1-1 Lost to Maine S. 42-14 / Lake Forest

12. St. Francis 2-0 Beat Mt. Zion, Md. 47-25 / Loyola

13. York 1-1 Beat Plainfield N. 38-3 / Proviso West

14. Carmel 2-0 Beat Lake Forest 51-7 / Providence

15. WW South 1-1 Lost to Lyons 31-28 / at St. Charles East

16. Hinsdale Central 2-0 Beat Naperville C. 28-14 / at Downers N.

17. Glenbard North 2-0 Beat Benet 41-15 / at Batavia

18. Burlington C. 2-0 Beat Cary-Grove 10-7 / at Jacobs

19. Naperville North 1-1 Beat Libertyville 21-14 / Sandburg

20. Hersey 0-2 Lost to Barrington 35-21 / at Maine West

St. Charles North goes through drills last month during preseason practice. The North Stars are off to a good start with a 2-0 record as they get ready for their conference opener Friday against Geneva.

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