In the know: 5A-8A rankings
1 . PROVIDENCE CATHOLIC (42, 6 first-place votes): After weeks of hearing "Lincoln-Way East is No. 1" and "Bolingbrook is No. 1," Providence takes the top spot. The Celtics, led by a Pete Houlihan-powered defense, ousted Oswego 16-10 in OT. East and the 'Brook each lost games they shoulda or coulda won, respectively. Sorry, but Week 1 does not mean a thing anymore by Week 11, and Providence has been proving its gold standard-heavy mettle ever since.
2 . JOLIET CATHOLIC (36): Ah, Cahokia. My kind of town, Cahokia is. With all due respects to Frank Sinatra, frankly the Hilltoppers were far too formidable. Sophomore wingback Malin Jones scored a pair of touchdowns in a 35-12 victory, enabling JCA to set up a Friday night clash at Memorial Stadium opposite Washington -- the school from Peoria, not the Pac-10. Still ...
3 . BOLINGBROOK (28): Senior quarterback Brad Geever gave the Raiders a resounding 19-7 lead only 1:24 into the fourth quarter. The 8A second-round result seemed to be in the bag, but Downers Grove South went all cardiac-kid caliber for the 22-19 comeback. Sure, the 'Brook will be back, but this one stings like a bee. Double ouch.
4 . LEMONT (24): DaRon Brown should change his first name to Dangerous, as in Dangerous DaRon Brown twisted Lemont into knots. The Indians, however, overcame a stunning 257-yard rushing, 155-yard passing effort by the Morgan Park quarterback for a 49-26 survivor. It's the playoffs, folks. You happily live for another night.
5 . LINCOLN-WAY EAST (20): Five turnovers. An injury to senior wingback Kevin Starke. A longer-than-a-Tolstoy-novel bus ride to O'Fallon. Those factors were certainly against the Griffins in a stunning 17-16 second-round 7A loss. As usual, East coach Rob Zvonar put everything into perspective, crediting O'Fallon. Trust me, the Griffins will reload.
6 . MINOOKA (12): My sentimental pick for a second-round upset in 7A, the Indians were as good as David in a 48-20 loss to the Goliath known as East St. Louis. Kyle Banks rushed for 123 yards and scored on a 74-yard run. Mitch Brozovich, the junior quarterback, will be the main returnee for coach Bert Kooi's contingent. If you were looking for the Kings of Resurgence, the crown goes here.
7 . PLAINFIELD NORTH (5): Yep, North was idle last week, eliminated in the first round by 7A powerhouse Chicago St. Rita. The Tigers will be graduating both of their quarterbacks for coach Tim Kane, the offense's leader under center in Bryce Corrigan and the defensive glue in linebacker Matt Meyers. Is this, being in the playoffs, just the start?
IN THE KNOW: 1A-4A RANKINGS
1 . WILMINGTON (18, 6 first-place votes): Cort Scheel would be a steal if the high school world ever created a fantasy football game. He touched the ball 6 times, gained 236 yards and scored 3 TDs. He also returned an interception 27 yards as the host Wildcats stomped St. Joe-Ogden 57-26. Is 3A theirs? Sorry, I get paid to ask.
2 . COAL CITY (12): Didn't Elton John sing "Rocket Man"? Yes, I'm full of ... questions this week. Coal City's fans were feeling the blues after Richmond-Burton's Rockets let loose like a missile in Round 2 of the 4A playoffs. Colt Smith and Tiger Onsen, two terrific seniors, will be missed.
3 . MORRIS (4): A 35-0 loss at home in the second round of the 4A playoffs against Mendota might cause some serious soul-searching in a town that eats, drinks and sleeps its high school football. Remember, the Redskins are two years removed from a 5A state finals appearance.
-- Bill Scheibe, GRIDIRON editor
