Winning the numbers game: St. Francis stays small, but competes with best

The results say football powerhouse, but the reality for St. Francis and several other private schools in the suburbs is a much smaller scale.

St. Francis suited up roughly 30 players last weekend after busing down to suburban Indianapolis. The opponent, two-time defending Indiana state champion New Palestine, brought twice as many combatants to the stadium.

But this was nothing new for the Spartans. Up until winning the Class 5A state title last fall, the program's signature win under coach Bob McMillen happened in 2024, when St. Francis beat Loyola Academy, the largest private school in the Chicago area.

“I remember warm-ups the most,” St. Francis senior Peyton Shipley recalled. “We were warming up with like 35 dudes, if that. They had, I don't even know. They had like 130. It was crazy, seeing them and then us.”

The Spartans won on the road that night 35-21, and Loyola went on to capture the Class 8A state title.

This has been an interesting ride. When McMillen, who had a long playing career in the Arena Football League, first took the job in 2017, the Wheaton school endured back-to-back 1-8 seasons. Four years ago, the Spartans hadn't yet joined the Chicago Catholic League and were still playing in the Metro Suburban Conference.

“I've just been very fortunate,” said McMillen, now in his 10th season. “I have some really good coaches, but also just getting the right type of kid that fits our program.”

McMillen seems to be a good fit, since he went to high school at IC Catholic Prep in Elmhurst, another small, private school that punches above its weight.

In the Western Suburbs, St. Francis is actually one of the larger private schools with an enrollment of 684, according to the IHSA. Montini is listed at 551, while ICCP is just 277. All three should contend for state titles again this fall.

Small-school life isn't for everyone, but it's worked out well for football success.

“I feel like I created a deeper bond with these guys, because they're literally in every single one of my classes,” senior Evan Kolinski said. “So it's really nice.”

St. Francis, which has won 14 state titles in girls volleyball, has a couple of unique characteristics. The Spartans play on a black and blue turf field, which is certainly eye-catching. They are also one of the few schools in the country sponsored by Battle Sports, so they can mix up the uniform combinations, and also wear three different styles of helmets.

“We're like the Oregon of high school football,” McMillen said. “The kids get excited about that. Over the years, I think the administration here has realized how important athletics is. Not just football, but athletics.”

One of the biggest keys to St. Francis' rise has been quarterback development. Among the recent alums were Tommy Rittenhouse, who led Illinois State to the FCS title game last season; and Alessio Milivojevic, currently the starter at Michigan State.

The quarterback position was important last week in New Palestine. Junior starter Jadon Wilson, an East St. Louis transfer, was knocked out of the game with an injury, and St. Francis couldn't hold an early 17-7 lead.

Senior running back Tivias Caldwell Jr., a key player on last year's title team, had an 80-yard touchdown run just before halftime to give the Spartans the 10-point lead. A Bolingbrook native, he had his eye on St. Francis from an early age.

“This was my youth team's home field, so I had a lot of chemistry with this team,” Caldwell said. “I think it was the right choice, because it was just a brotherhood, and then the tenacity we all have.”

Strength in numbers doesn't really apply in this case. Maybe St. Francis should write, “It only takes 11,” on the black and blue turf.