Best programs that never won a State Title.

[McCaravan]

Not the best specific team that never won but what school has consistently been good, but never won a State Championship in Football? My vote, off the top of my head, is Marist.

Marist has been to the State game 3 times but never won and with some of the teams and some of the talent they have had, you would think they would have Championship trophy in their case but they don't. In recent years they have had enormous big name talent. Lot of top D1 talent. The last 3 NCAA Champions have had Marist alum on their roster. Off the top of my head as far as talent that has had major success in College recently is Nic Weisher, Flynn Nagle, Pat Coogan, Deuce McGuire, Jimmy Rolder, John Nestor, and even though he went to IMG after his freshman year, Carnell Tate. In addition to the above mentioned they have had numerous players go on and contribute to D1 programs.

There isn't a ton of Marist fans on this board but is it bad luck? Coaching? Both?. Outsiders view, in their defense, they seem to lose to teams that are as good or equally as good as them in the playoffs, although they have made some fast exits in the past. It also seemed like they quickly replaced Dunn with Dawzak and stuck with him. I know Dunn left closer to the start of the season and a wide search would have been hard but did they stick with Dawzak too long? Anyways, Marist is my vote. Any other teams?

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Off the top of my head, Sycamore.
Barrington is another one.

 

[eagles2k3!]

Good call on Barrington.
Small schools: Tolono Unity.
Scott Hamilton came close but I think was either. 0-4 or 0-5 in title games?

saw him speak once at a clinic and he was awesome. Followed him and his team ever since.

 

[eagles2k3!]

I was wrong. Scott Hamilton from Tolono was 0-6 in title games. They are 0-7 as a program. That has to be best program to never win a title.

I’ll add Palatine and Fremd as programs that have come close. Palatine 3 semifinals and one title game appearance. Fremd has one semifinal and quite a few quarterfinal losses.

2016 Palatine was probably their best chance to win it. All State QB went down in the first round to Niles Notre Dame and still made it to the semifinals. Maine South moved Kevin Jarvis to Nose for the first time all year in the semis and he was a monster. Disrupted everything.

 

[kpjasion]

I was wrong. Scott Hamilton from Tolono was 0-6 in title games. They are 0-7 as a program. That has to be best program to never win a title.

I’ll add Palatine and Fremd as programs that have come close. Palatine 3 semifinals and one title game appearance. Fremd has one semifinal and quite a few quarterfinal losses.

2016 Palatine was probably their best chance to win it. All State QB went down in the first round to Niles Notre Dame and still made it to the semifinals. Maine South moved Kevin Jarvis to Nose for the first time all year in the semis and he was a monster. Disrupted everything.

The Jarvis move was indeed key. The wind was howling that day, and DJ, who did have a hell of a senior year, was the junior backup QB. The Jarvis move neutralized our running game, so Palatine had to throw into that wind. It was a 14-7 game until the 4th quarter when DJ threw a couple of wind buffetted interceptions. I know Quags has said it and most people around Palatine agree( especially after they whipped Barrington when they were both 7-0), if Oles isn't hurt they get the trophy and wouldn't qualify for this thread. I also think the 2022 squad goes 9-0 instead of 8-1 and beats or doesn't run into York with a healthy Dersnah.

 

[Colin2299]

I think Unity takes the cake.

I'll throw in Geneva as a top 5.

 

[McCaravan]

I was wrong. Scott Hamilton from Tolono was 0-6 in title games. They are 0-7 as a program. That has to be best program to never win a title.

I’ll add Palatine and Fremd as programs that have come close. Palatine 3 semifinals and one title game appearance. Fremd has one semifinal and quite a few quarterfinal losses.

2016 Palatine was probably their best chance to win it. All State QB went down in the first round to Niles Notre Dame and still made it to the semifinals. Maine South moved Kevin Jarvis to Nose for the first time all year in the semis and he was a monster. Disrupted everything.

They had their shots in the late 80's and early 90's with Randy and Jeff Hecklinski, especially Jeff. Jeff has gone on to have an extremely impressive NCAA coaching career, some big positions at big schools

 

[USD24]

For big schools I would say Edwardsville, 30 playoff appearances, 2 runner ups and 0 titles. They always seem to be good, just not good enough. Glenbard North has 3 appearances without a win and Lemont, who was very successful for a long stretch, but just could not get over that hump went to 3 finals without a victory.

A couple of smaller schools are RI Alleman, ,who went to 5 championship games without a win. Lexington and St Joe-Ogden have also played in 5 championship games without a win.

 

[McCaravan]

For big schools I would say Edwardsville, 30 playoff appearances, 2 runner ups and 0 titles. They always seem to be good, just not good enough. Glenbard North has 3 appearances without a win and Lemont, who was very successful for a long stretch, but just could not get over that hump went to 3 finals without a victory.

A couple of smaller schools are RI Alleman, ,who went to 5 championship games without a win. Lexington and St Joe-Ogden have also played in 5 championship games without a win.

Good call on Edwardsville, I thought they won one, but they didn't.

HF won one 1994 so they don't count but for all the talented teams they've had it seems like they should have won 7 by now.

 

[SiuCubFan8]

Good call on Edwardsville, I thought they won one, but they didn't.

HF won one 1994 so they don't count but for all the talented teams they've had it seems like they should have won 7 by now.

Thought of H-F at first as well.

 

[USD24]

Not the best specific team that never won but what school has consistently been good, but never won a State Championship in Football? My vote, off the top of my head, is Marist.

Marist has been to the State game 3 times but never won and with some of the teams and some of the talent they have had, you would think they would have Championship trophy in their case but they don't. In recent years they have had enormous big name talent. Lot of top D1 talent. The last 3 NCAA Champions have had Marist alum on their roster. Off the top of my head as far as talent that has had major success in College recently is Nic Weisher, Flynn Nagle, Pat Coogan, Deuce McGuire, Jimmy Rolder, John Nestor, and even though he went to IMG after his freshman year, Carnell Tate. In addition to the above mentioned they have had numerous players go on and contribute to D1 programs.

There isn't a ton of Marist fans on this board but is it bad luck? Coaching? Both?. Outsiders view, in their defense, they seem to lose to teams that are as good or equally as good as them in the playoffs, although they have made some fast exits in the past. It also seemed like they quickly replaced Dunn with Dawzak and stuck with him. I know Dunn left closer to the start of the season and a wide search would have been hard but did they stick with Dawzak too long? Anyways, Marist is my vote. Any other teams?

Good call on Marist. My junior year, we(JC)beat them on a last second field goal, which was their only loss until the state championship game vs Buffalo Grove. They have always been good, but never could put it all together in the playoffs.

 

[McCaravan]

Thought of H-F at first as well.

I had to look it up, I know they went in the early 90's but I forgot if they won and they did in 1994 or they would have been my entry over Marist

 

[McCaravan]

Good call on Marist. My junior year, we(JC)beat them on a last second field goal, which was their only loss until the state championship game vs Buffalo Grove. They have always been good, but never could put it all together in the playoffs.

I think they have more players currently playing D1 then MC does right now and they missed the playoffs entirely two of the past 3 seasons and haven't made it past the second round since 2021.

 

[4Afan]

Bloomington has 666 all time wins, 41 playoff wins and zero titles. They lost 3 consecutive title games from 2002-2004.

 

[PowerI66]

School All-Time Wins (approx.) Best Finish
Champaign (Central) 700 Runner-up (various)
Peoria (High) 698 Runner-up (1988)
Rock Island (High) 692 Runner-up (1997)
Oak Park-River Forest 683 Quarterfinals/Semifinals
Bloomington (High) 666 Runner-up (1975, 2003)
Sterling (High) 661 Semifinals (2017, 2018)

 

[4Afan]

School All-Time Wins (approx.) Best Finish
Champaign (Central) 700 Runner-up (various)
Peoria (High) 698 Runner-up (1988)
Rock Island (High) 692 Runner-up (1997)
Oak Park-River Forest 683 Quarterfinals/Semifinals
Bloomington (High) 666 Runner-up (1975, 2003)
Sterling (High) 661 Semifinals (2017, 2018)

Peoria won in 2016.

 

[rink231111]

Sterling. Long, long playoff history. It wasn't until their eighth appearance that it made it out of the first round.661 total program wins. 38 total playoff appearances. Reached semifinals in 2017 and 2018. Combined record of 30-37 in postseason play.

 

[PowerI66]

Peoria won in 2016.

Good catch. Definitely missed that on the quality check

 

[ramblinman reborn]

Not the best specific team that never won but what school has consistently been good, but never won a State Championship in Football? My vote, off the top of my head, is Marist.

Marist has been to the State game 3 times but never won and with some of the teams and some of the talent they have had, you would think they would have Championship trophy in their case but they don't. In recent years they have had enormous big name talent. Lot of top D1 talent. The last 3 NCAA Champions have had Marist alum on their roster. Off the top of my head as far as talent that has had major success in College recently is Nic Weisher, Flynn Nagle, Pat Coogan, Deuce McGuire, Jimmy Rolder, John Nestor, and even though he went to IMG after his freshman year, Carnell Tate. In addition to the above mentioned they have had numerous players go on and contribute to D1 programs.

There isn't a ton of Marist fans on this board but is it bad luck? Coaching? Both?. Outsiders view, in their defense, they seem to lose to teams that are as good or equally as good as them in the playoffs, although they have made some fast exits in the past. It also seemed like they quickly replaced Dunn with Dawzak and stuck with him. I know Dunn left closer to the start of the season and a wide search would have been hard but did they stick with Dawzak too long? Anyways, Marist is my vote. Any other teams?

IDK about Marist. Certainly, they have been consistently good in recent years. But, it wasn't that long ago in the pre-Pat Dunne days that they were consistently mediocre at best.

My pick is probably Barrington. They just can't seem to get over the hump.

A little over 20 years ago, I remember Bloomington dropping three consecutive title games to three different private schools. They haven't been back since.

 

[Cross Bones]

School All-Time Wins (approx.) Best Finish
Champaign (Central) 700 Runner-up (various)
Peoria (High) 698 Runner-up (1988)
Rock Island (High) 692 Runner-up (1997)
Oak Park-River Forest 683 Quarterfinals/Semifinals
Bloomington (High) 666 Runner-up (1975, 2003)
Sterling (High) 661 Semifinals (2017, 2018)

OPRF has natty's

 

[Doctor_D]

Tolono
St Joe-Ogden

 

[eagles2k3!]

idk how I missed this one but Glenbard North! 0-4 in title games. Geneva is 0-3 as well. Alleman is 0-4.

 

[Wassup13_rivals219252]

Sycamore?

 

[McCaravan]

idk how I missed this one but Glenbard North! 0-4 in title games. Geneva is 0-3 as well. Alleman is 0-4.

I think the one year a lot of people had them pegged to win it when Justin Jackson was a senior they lost to Stevenson in the second round in 2014

 

[Cyclone630]

idk how I missed this one but Glenbard North! 0-4 in title games. Geneva is 0-3 as well. Alleman is 0-4.

Glenbard North has caught lightening in a bottle 4 times, including making the state final with 6-3 (29th seed) and 5-4 (28th seed) regular season records.

Historically they are a 5-4 team, and 6-3 over the last 20 years.

 

[Cross Bones]

Sandburg

 

[Still Missing34]

How about Minooka?

 

[USD24]

How about Minooka?

Eh....While I think Minooka High School and the community has all the pieces to put together a good, if not great, program, it has always been a very mediocre program from my point of view. 22 playoff appearances, 20-23 record and 2 semi-final appearances. I have lived in the area most of my life and I have never really felt the Minooka football team was ever a threat to win a state championship.

 

[McCaravan]

Eh....While I think Minooka High School and the community has all the pieces to put together a good, if not great, program, it has always been a very mediocre program from my point of view. 22 playoff appearances, 20-23 record and 2 semi-final appearances. I have lived in the area most of my life and I have never really felt the Minooka football team was ever a threat to win a state championship.

In 2019 they were the #1 seed in 8A going into the playoffs and I don't think anyone outside of the Minnoka community gave them much of a chance, especially with LWE and a very good Warren team in 8A.....they ended up losing to a 4 loss BR team in the quarters pretty convincingly.

 

[Still Missing34]

Eh....While I think Minooka High School and the community has all the pieces to put together a good, if not great, program, it has always been a very mediocre program from my point of view. 22 playoff appearances, 20-23 record and 2 semi-final appearances. I have lived in the area most of my life and I have never really felt the Minooka football team was ever a threat to win a state championship.

I never really thought they were the best team to not win, but I think they should be mentioned. They've had talent, good coaching and played at the mid-level 4A-6A for a while before growing into an 8A school. They were the only team to beat Oswego in 2003 as well.

 

[McCaravan]

My CPS entry for this thread would be Simeon. They have been a consistent powerhouse for decades, especially under Scott and Culbreath, and while many just think of them as a CPS power they have have had a lot of teams that could have, an in some cases should have, won State. In the early 90's they gave MC all they could handle in the 90 playoffs. Speed was off the charts. They have had some other teams that could have gone to the finals, one that lost a nail biter to HF in 2014 I believe.....I don't remember the call but their was a highly contested playoff loss to Naz that had everyone up in arms, again I forget the call, but it was a very talented Simeon team.

I know Phillips came in and put together a powerhouse for several seasons until McCalister left and won a championship for the CPS, but Simeon is the CPS king for decades and I would have liked to have seen them win one.

 

[Still Missing34]

In 2019 they were the #1 seed in 8A going into the playoffs and I don't think anyone outside of the Minnoka community gave them much of a chance, especially with LWE and a very good Warren team in 8A.....they ended up losing to a 4 loss BR team in the quarters pretty convincingly.

I'll to my grave saying the refs were highly influential in giving Minooka the season ending win against Oswego giving them the #1 seed.

 

[Cross Bones]

I never really thought they were the best team to not win, but I think they should be mentioned. They've had talent, good coaching and played at the mid-level 4A-6A for a while before growing into an 8A school. They were the only team to beat Oswego in 2003 as well.

Hated that 2003 season ending. QB went down in the 2nd half of rd 1 game. Backup QB hadn't been prepped well enough to take a snap cleanly. Knew they weren't going to be able to score rd 2 vs Oswego. Didnt even go to the game. Heard it was close at half though

 

[Still Missing34]

Hated that 2003 season ending. QB went down in the 2nd half of rd 1 game. Backup QB hadn't been prepped well enough to take a snap cleanly. Knew they weren't going to be able to score rd 2 vs Oswego. Didnt even go to the game. Heard it was close at half though

There is no love loss between those two schools.

 

[all4theillini]

idk how I missed this one but Glenbard North! 0-4 in title games. Geneva is 0-3 as well. Alleman is 0-4.

With two of the three Geneva losses in the finals coming to East St. Louis. I’m curious if there was any team in the state who would’ve beaten that team with Terry Hawthorne and Kraig Appleton.

also read somewhere the 2024 ESL wasn’t the best team in the state…they were the best team in the Midwest.

One of these days we’ll get one

 

[PowerI66]

OPRF has natty's

Same with Evanston. Just no state championships

 

[USD24]

My CPS entry for this thread would be Simeon. They have been a consistent powerhouse for decades, especially under Scott and Culbreath, and while many just think of them as a CPS power they have have had a lot of teams that could have, an in some cases should have, won State. In the early 90's they gave MC all they could handle in the 90 playoffs. Speed was off the charts. They have had some other teams that could have gone to the finals, one that lost a nail biter to HF in 2014 I believe.....I don't remember the call but their was a highly contested playoff loss to Naz that had everyone up in arms, again I forget the call, but it was a very talented Simeon team.

I know Phillips came in and put together a powerhouse for several seasons until McCalister left and won a championship for the CPS, but Simeon is the CPS king for decades and I would have liked to have seen them win one.

Simeon has the most playoff appearances (40), without a title game appearance.

 

[4Afan]

Eh....While I think Minooka High School and the community has all the pieces to put together a good, if not great, program, it has always been a very mediocre program from my point of view. 22 playoff appearances, 20-23 record and 2 semi-final appearances. I have lived in the area most of my life and I have never really felt the Minooka football team was ever a threat to win a state championship.

Absolutely agree. Minooka has always had all the pieces, but has never been able to put together a team that would be considered a serious contender.

 

[Saints7078]

How about Bloomington!!! I remember in their run of 3 2nd place finishes in a row they called themselves the "Public School State Champs!

 

[4Afan]

How about Bloomington!!! I remember in their run of 3 2nd place finishes in a row they called themselves the "Public School State Champs!

Scroll up. I mentioned them yeaterday.