Class 4A prep football state title: They were denied, but not in denial. Aurora Christian came up short in its bid to bring home the first state football title to the city of Aurora, but the Eagles teamed up with Bloomington Central Catholic to put on an entertaining display of offensive fireworks Friday before falling 37-28.

Class 5A prep football state championship: It wasn’t brain surgery, just football. But the efficient display by the St. Francis offense in slicing and dicing Metamora’s defense Saturday did the doctor proud. It powered a 49-35 victory that allowed the Spartans to win the IHSA Class 5A title, the school’s first in football. St. Francis had eight possessions in the game and scored touchdowns on seven of them. The only drive the Spartans didn’t cap with a score started with just 27 seconds remaining in the first half.

Class 5A prep football state championship: It wasn’t brain surgery, just football. But the efficient display by the St. Francis offense in slicing and dicing Metamora’s defense Saturday did the doctor proud. It powered a 49-35 victory that allowed the Spartans to win the IHSA Class 5A title, the school’s first in football. St. Francis had eight possessions in the game and scored touchdowns on seven of them. The only drive the Spartans didn’t cap with a score started with just 27 seconds remaining in the first half.

Boys basketball: Basketball junkies in Wheaton likely will have myriad reasons to celebrate, given the talent of all three hoops teams in the city. Wheaton North led the way last season in winning a share of the DuPage Valley Conference championship, while both St. Francis and Wheaton Warrenville South enjoyed solid seasons.