1Lincoln-Way East (13-0)
Last Week (Ranked 1): Defeated Benet 37-13
Next Game: 7A Championship vs. Glenbard West (Saturday, 4pm)
PrepsTalk: The Griffins will go back to Champaign for the first time since 2005. Quarterback Tom Guessel (three TDs) and running back Nick Colangelo (198 yards, two scores) dominate once again.
2Glenbard West (13-0)
Last Week (Ranked 2): Defeated Lake Zurich 19-13
Next Game: 7A Championship vs. Lincoln-Way East (Saturday, 4pm)
PrepsTalk: The defense held the Bears to only 20 yards of offense in the first half. Quarterback Henry Haeffner paced the Hilltoppers with 156 yards passing and two touchdowns.
3Mount Carmel (12-1)
Last Week (Ranked 4): Defeated Neuqua Valley 26-21
Next Game: 8A Championship vs. Glenbard North (Saturday, 7pm)
PrepsTalk: Mount Carmel is dangerous passing the ball, too. QB Don Butkus three touchdown strikes (all to Jason Gasser) send the Caravan back to state for the 16th time since 1980.
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4Crete-Monee (13-0)
Last Week (Ranked 5): Defeated Lemont 28-27
Next Game: 6A Championship vs. Cary-Grove (Saturday, 1pm)
PrepsTalk: Marcus Terrells two-point conversion with three minutes the go was the difference. Another epic game from Laquon Treadwell: two TDs (one receiving, one rushing), along with an INT and a sack.
5Glenbard North (12-1)
Last Week (Ranked 7): Defeated Loyola 27-24
Next Game: 8A Championship vs. Mount Carmel (Saturday, 7pm)
PrepsTalk: The dream season continues for Justin Jackson (44 carries, 236 yards, four touchdowns) and the Panthers, who will play at Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2007.
6Cary-Grove (13-0)
Last Week (Ranked 9): Defeated Lake Forest 42-21
Next Game: 6A Championship vs. Crete-Monee (Saturday, 1pm)
PrepsTalk: The Trojans had three players rush for more than 100 yardsRyan Mahoney (182), Kyle Norberg (143) and quarterback Quinn Baker (109). The Trojans last won state in 2009.
7Loyola (11-2)
Last Week (Ranked 3): Lost to Glenbard North 27-24
Next Game: Season Over
PrepsTalk: Quarterback Peter Pujals had a fine day (24-42, 274 yards and three touchdowns), but the defense simply could not overcome running back Justin Jacksons monster game.
8Neuqua Valley (12-1)
Last Week (Ranked 6): Lost to Mount Carmel 26-21
Next Game: Season Over
PrepsTalk: Mikey Dudek ran the opening kickoff back for a score and Dylan Andrew passed for two TDs, but Joey Rhattigan was held to less than 100 yards rushing and the Wildcats could not stop the Caravan O.
9Maine South (11-1)
Last Week (Ranked 8): Did Not Play
Next Game: Season Over
PrepsTalk: Quarterback and Northwestern recruit Matt Alviti will be part of a star-studded lineup at the Tom Lemming Banquet at Soldier Field on December 5th.
10Montini (11-2)
Last Week (Ranked 14): Defeated Joliet Catholic 40-37
Next Game: 5A Championship vs. Morris (Saturday, 10am)
PrepsTalk: What a comeback for the Broncos, who escaped from a 31-14 deficit and now look for their fourth straight state championship. Joe Borsellino scored the game-winning one-yard touchdown.
11Morris (12-1)
Last Week (Ranked 16): Defeated Sacred-Heart Griffin 30-20
Next Game: 5A Championship vs. Montini (Saturday, 10am)
PrepsTalk: Indiana recruit Danny Friend DLTE had a key interception and then secured a 24-yard touchdown catch to propel the Redskins to their fourth appearance at state since 2004.
12Waubonsie Valley (10-2)
Last Week (Ranked 11): Did Not Play
Next Game: Season Over
PrepsTalk: The Warriors produced a double-digit win season for the first time since head coach B.J. Lukes team went 12-1 in 1992. It was also the sixth straight playoff appearance for W-V.
13Lemont (11-2)
Last Week (Ranked 12): Lost to Crete-Monee 28-27
Next Game: Season Over
PrepsTalk: Christos Giatras rushed for 110 yards and a score and led 24-14 at one point, but they could not hold down the Warriors. The Indians have lost in the semis two straight years.
14Benet (11-2)
Last Week (Ranked 10): Lost to Lincoln-Way East 37-13
Next Game: Season Over
PrepsTalk: The dream season comes to an end for the Redwings, who got two touchdowns from receiver Jack Euritt. Quarterback Jack Beneventi was intercepted three times.
15Wheaton North (10-2)
Last Week (Ranked 13): Did Not Play
Next Game: Season Over
PrepsTalk: The Falcons (10-2) and Glenbard North (currently 13-0) stepped up in the DuPage Valley Conference, but every other team in the league finished with overall records at or below .500.
16Lake Zurich (10-3)
Last Week (Ranked 15): Lost to Glenbard West 19-13
Next Game: Season Over
PrepsTalk: While the Bears capitalized on Wests turnovers --including a 95-yard fumble returnTD by Grant Soucy-- they could not penetrate the rock-solid Hilltopper defense.
17Palatine (10-2)
Last Week (Ranked 17): Did Not Play
Next Game: Season Over
PrepsTalk: Quarterback Ethan Olles had a fine year, passing for over 3,000 yards and 27 touchdowns. The Pirates have reached the playoff six straight years after a nine-year layoff.
18Marian Central Catholic (11-1)
Last Week (Ranked 18): Did Not Play
Next Game: Season Over
PrepsTalk: Quarterback Chris Streveler will be graduating early and enrolling at Minnesota in January. He finished this year with 3,506 total yards (2,602 passing) and 47 trips to the end zone.
19Aurora Christian (12-1)
Last Week (Not Ranked): Defeated Sterling Newman Catholic 41-7
Next Game: 3A Championship vs. Tolono Unity (Friday, 4pm)
PrepsTalk: Chad Beebe (head coach Dons son) had two TD catches as did Cory Windleall from quarterback Ryan McQuade. Running back Joel Bouagnon chipped in with 125 yards and a score.
20Simeon (10-2)
Last Week (Not Ranked): Defeated Morgan Park 35-14
Next Game: Chicago Prep Bowl vs. Brother Rice (11am Friday)
PrepsTalk: Darnell Cockrell, Elcee Burke and John Gardner found the end zone for the Wolverines as they beat the Mustangs for the second time this year. Simeon also played in last years Prep Bowl.
Looming and Lurking: Lake Forest, Joliet Catholic, Evergreen Park, Oak Forest, Lyons, Notre Dame, Brooks, Downers Grove North, Crystal Lake Central, Lincoln-Way West, Kaneland, Bolingbrook, Providence, Lakes, Richards, Coal City, Wilmington, Brother Rice.
Check out CSN Chicagos live coverage of the 2012 IHSA State Football Championships this Friday and Saturday. On Friday, we will show each game from 1A to 4A beginning at 10:00am. Saturdays coverage of the 5A-8A games will kick off at the same time. We will have wall-to-wall highlights and postgame reaction on Saturdays High School Lites at 10:30pm. High School Lites is streamed live at csnchicago.com.
Be sure to follow @PrepsTalkCSN and @JoeCSN for prep football coverage.