From what I read here, the 10-team Upstate Eight is down in terms of top-end outstanding strength solid quality middle-of-the-pack depth this fall in football.
I would suggest that the North Suburban Conference also is facing that same situation this fall, and that may be creating the impression that Warren of Gurnee is poised to make a deep playoff run in 8A this fall and perhaps even thrive in the land of the giants (Lincoln-Way East, Loyola, etc.).
It certainly is possible that Warren belongs in the conversation with the aforementioned powerhouses. But please note that the view from this corner of the prep football world is that the other members of the North Suburban Conference’s “fab 5” (Lake Zurich, Stevenson, Libertyville and Lake Forest) are all possibly in various stages of slippage this fall when compared to the past decade of strength.
Strictly an opinion obviously, but the possibility could exist that blowout wins Warren has registered this fall and will continue to register in the coming weeks, may not merit the kind of exuberance that similar results would have produced in recent years.
This is not any criticism on Warren which can only play/beat the teams on its schedule. But the cautionary words shared here about South Elgin reminded me that similar thoughts and caution could also apply to Warren. That’s not to say Warren can’t go 14-0 or 13-1. It’s just that the scores it is posting in conference play this particular fall might not be as awe-inspiring as they would be in previous years.
Thanks for reading.
