Football fans across Chicago's suburbs are in for a treat this Friday with a packed Week 4 high school schedule featuring some heavyweight matchups. The action spans across Southland, Aurora, Elgin, Naperville, and Lake County with several conference showdowns that could shape playoff pictures.
In the CCL/ESCC Blue, defending state champion Mount Carmel faces a tough road test at St. Ignatius Friday night. Meanwhile, powerhouse Loyola travels to Brother Rice in what should be a hard-fought battle under the lights.
The Southwest Valley Blue conference delivers some must-see games as Lincoln-Way East, consistently ranked among Illinois' best, visits Lockport. Naperville Central and Neuqua Valley square off in what could be one of the weekend's most competitive matchups.
Friday Night Spotlight Games
Joliet Catholic at Marist stands out as a marquee CCL/ESCC Orange showdown. Both programs boast rich traditions and state championship pedigrees, making this 7:30 p.m. kickoff appointment viewing for high school football enthusiasts.
In the DuKane Conference, Batavia takes on Lake Park while Geneva hosts Wheaton Warrenville South. The Fox Valley Conference features an intriguing Prairie Ridge at Burlington Central matchup that has significant playoff implications.
Local rivalries take center stage in the Lincoln-Way district as Lincoln-Way Central battles Lincoln-Way West. These neighborhood showdowns always attract large crowds regardless of records.
The Northern Lake County Conference has several competitive matchups including Grayslake North at Wauconda and Lakes visiting Grayslake Central. Round Lake travels to Antioch in another game with potential conference title implications.
Saturday Slate Rounds Out Week 4
The action continues Saturday with Marian Catholic facing Leo at St. Xavier in a CCL/ESCC Red matchup. Thornridge visits Bloom in an 11 a.m. Southland Conference contest, while Argo and Reavis square off at noon in South Suburban Red play.
For fans following midweek results, Wednesday saw some notable soccer and volleyball outcomes. Beecher dominated with a 4-0 soccer victory over Manteno behind Wences Baumgartner's hat trick and assist. In volleyball, Libertyville improved to 16-5 by defeating Lake Zurich.
Remember that local high school scores can be submitted to specific email addresses based on region. Daily Southtown results should go to southtownsports@gmail.com, while Beacon-News, Courier-News, and Naperville Sun results can be sent to tribwestsports@gmail.com.
As teams approach the midpoint of their regular seasons, these Week 4 matchups will start separating contenders from pretenders. Early conference positioning is crucial for teams with playoff aspirations, making these games increasingly important for coaches and players alike.
