Thanks Topiary and ESCC Fan
I started the thread to report on the game. It was the only game last Friday night and the score had not been reported so I posted the score.
The Prep Bowl and its playoffs leading up to it are a unique event. Friday's game ties the players back to something that began in 1927. Significantly longer than the IHSA playoffs and existence of many of the high schools playing in this weekend's state championships. Read about the history of the Prep Bowl here and the anti-Catholic attitudes present at that time of its founding. Some things never change.
Playing football at Ignatius is unlike many schools. Small roster (28, 9 seniors), no easy classes (basically all classes are the equivalent of Honors classes or above at other schools), a school and coaches that do not tolerate fools (and regularly kicks those fools out), and extremely high expectations as contributors to the school and community.
Only at Ignatius do players use the phrase "transitive property" when interviewed after the game.
My son graduated from SICP in 2017. Started on the offensive line for his last two years and played every single offensive play as center, guard, tackle or long snapper. He claims he was the smallest offensive linemen in the CCL. Not sure about that but definitely in the bottom quartile.
The chance to play in the Prep Bowl Playoffs after his junior year (2015) gave the team 2 more games that proved to be invaluable preparation for the 2016 season helping the team improve to a 7-2 regular season. Last year's Prep Bowl Playoffs did the same for this year's team.
Ignatius is unlikely to ever win a State Championship. Many factors against that happening. I know Cary Grove beat SICP easily but Ignatius is now 10-3. Only 18 teams in state will be playing a 14th game. Ignatius has played 8 IHSA State Playoff qualifiers this year and won 6 of those games. Not bad.
Trojan Fox - do not take that away from players and coaches trying to reach a common, difficult to achieve goal of winning the Prep Bowl.