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Surprising Records or Turnarounds This Season?

hingkenry

hingkenry

Redshirt
Jan 14, 2025
9
11
3
Were there any surprising records (down year) or turnaround (exceeded expectations) that jumped out at anyone this season?
I would say for me it would be Rolling Meadows. Solid run with a new coach.
 
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U

USD24

All-American
May 29, 2001
5,434
5,202
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Glenbard North was 2-7 last year and are now playing in the 7A quarters.

Provi was 4-5 last year and did not make the playoffs and now is one of the favorites to win 5A

On the flip side, JCA was one play away from winning the state championship last year and this year ended up 4-6.
 
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Roamin' Catholic

Junior
Jul 3, 2025
277
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rocketnation said:
After back-to-back 11-1 seasons, Quincy was only 5-5 this year.
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They'll slip back into reality over the course of the next 10 years. 11-1 was well above average for that program.

Should note, the Quincy QB this season was a senior transfer from QND. He took roughly 70% of the snaps his soph/junior seasons at QND and that included a CS8-West title last season. QND finished this year 7-3 (3-2 in CS8-West).

A move such as this would have made a lot more sense prior to QND's inclusion into the CS8.
But it certainly seems a puzzling decision now looking back... after winning the West in year one, returning an all-conference, maybe higher even, caliber WR/DB in Gavin Doellman (WIU commit) who led the CS8 this season in multiple scoring categories plus 3 of your 5 starting O-lineman. And, knowing QND provided the best (relative) receiving/rushing collective in the county. All while knowing Quincy's well was dry before the year began due to graduations of most the roster that went 22-2 combined over the last two seasons. Puzzling to say the least...

Wish him the best in the future though he's a bright kid from a good family.
 
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C

CCHS-Fan

Senior
Oct 4, 2001
2,003
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Turnaround:

Carmel Catholic.

3-6 to 8-3.

And that’s with (4) teams on their schedule in the quarterfinals.

A combination of (15) Soph’s/Jr’s in starting positions will return.

Their top (4) in scoring production (minus the kicker) in the CCL/ESCC return for 2026 and beyond. Those (4) produced (168) total points in conference and crossovers. That breaks down to an average of (24)pts/game of returning production heading into next season.

With (8) returning starters on offense for ‘26 they should break school scoring records next year.
 
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MS4EVER

All-Conference
Dec 4, 2004
5,552
3,566
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CCHS-Fan said:
Turnaround:

Carmel Catholic.

3-6 to 8-3.

And that’s with (4) teams on their schedule in the quarterfinals.

A combination of (15) Soph’s/Jr’s in starting positions.

Their top (4) in scoring production (minus the kicker) in the CCL/ESCC return for 2026 and beyond. Those (4) produced (168) total points this season. That breaks down to an average of (24)pts/game of returning production heading into next season.

With (8) returning starters on offense for ‘26 they should break school scoring records next year.
Click to expand...
Preseason top 5?
 
R

Redline9

Redshirt
Sep 7, 2020
45
33
18
Saint Patrick 2-7 to 5-4 (6-5 if you include playoffs). 4/5 losses to teams still alive in the Quarterfinals (Rita, BR, CG, Laurence); other loss Yorkville was by 7 points in Week 1.

Saint Viator 4-5 to 1-8

DePaul CP someone already mentioned on here.

Taft (one of the more decent CPS teams) went from a 7-2 regular season to 2-7

Lane Tech 3-6 to 8-1 regular season, won a playoff game, and still in Prep Bowl playoffs (new coach)
 
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Anon1760269333

Freshman
Oct 12, 2025
59
54
18
Roamin' Catholic said:
They'll slip back into reality over the course of the next 10 years. 11-1 was well above average for that program.

Should note, the Quincy QB this season was a senior transfer from QND. He took roughly 70% of the snaps his soph/junior seasons at QND and that included a CS8-West title last season. QND finished this year 7-3 (3-2 in CS8-West).

A move such as this would have made a lot more sense prior to QND's inclusion into the CS8.
But it certainly seems a puzzling decision now looking back... after winning the West in year one, returning an all-conference, maybe higher even, caliber WR/DB in Gavin Doellman (WIU commit) who led the CS8 this season in multiple scoring categories plus 3 of your 5 starting O-lineman. And, knowing QND provided the best (relative) receiving/rushing collective in the county. All while knowing Quincy's well was dry before the year began due to graduations of most the roster that went 22-2 combined over the last two seasons. Puzzling to say the least...

Wish him the best in the future though he's a bright kid from a good family.
Click to expand...
A tad salty?
 
G

Gestalt45

Freshman
Oct 26, 2023
99
61
18
Saint Ignatius was a big surprise I remember being top 20 preseason…also the obvious Marist, DePaul prep, JCA. Montini rattling off 21(?) straight wins after losing their entire defense last year, Niles notre dame resurgence,

and the biggest- Loyola losing 5 times! (When was the last time Loyola lost 4 in a row?)
 
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Anon1753850091

Redshirt
Jul 29, 2025
30
36
13
Gestalt45 said:
Saint Ignatius was a big surprise I remember being top 20 preseason…also the obvious Marist, DePaul prep, JCA. Montini rattling off 21(?) straight wins after losing their entire defense last year, Niles notre dame resurgence,

and the biggest- Loyola losing 5 times! (When was the last time Loyola lost 4 in a row?)
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Niles ND resurgence? They finished 3-6. After a 2-0 start, the finished 1-6 in conference games with only win being Leo.

I really like ND and hope they get it turned back around. But there was no resurgence this year.
 
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SiuCubFan8

All-Conference
Jul 27, 2007
5,270
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Anon1753850091 said:
Niles ND resurgence? They finished 3-6. After a 2-0 start, the finished 1-6 in conference games with only win being Leo.

I really like ND and hope they get it turned back around. But there was no resurgence this year.
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Resurgence, no, but close games with STL, Prov, JCA(albeit a down JCA) is certainly a positive for them.
 
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Anon1753850091

Redshirt
Jul 29, 2025
30
36
13
SiuCubFan8 said:
Resurgence, no, but close games with STL, Prov, JCA(albeit a down JCA) is certainly a positive for them.
Click to expand...
I suppose that is one way to look at it. Nonconference, as good as the Washington win was, the SCE win by 3 ended up looking not so great when East finished 1-8.

Then in conference, you are right, their 6 league losses were split in two. Got hammered by the three larger enrollment CCL schools they played (Rita, BR, Marist). Lost respectably to the three conference foes with smaller enrollments (SL, JC, PC). Crushed the one team with tiny enrollment.

Tough schedule, no doubt. But it seems they performed exactly as they should have against a tough schedule. We can celebrate them not getting rolled by PC, JC, and SL. But at the same time, they really should have been able to hang tighter with at least Rita and Marist.

I just don't think ND was a storyline this year because they performed roughly how everyone probably expected.
 
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Gestalt45

Freshman
Oct 26, 2023
99
61
18
Anon1753850091 said:
I suppose that is one way to look at it. Nonconference, as good as the Washington win was, the SCE win by 3 ended up looking not so great when East finished 1-8.

Then in conference, you are right, their 6 league losses were split in two. Got hammered by the three larger enrollment CCL schools they played (Rita, BR, Marist). Lost respectably to the three conference foes with smaller enrollments (SL, JC, PC). Crushed the one team with tiny enrollment.

Tough schedule, no doubt. But it seems they performed exactly as they should have against a tough schedule. We can celebrate them not getting rolled by PC, JC, and SL. But at the same time, they really should have been able to hang tighter with at least Rita and Marist.

I just don't think ND was a storyline this year because they performed roughly how everyone probably expected.
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Fair enough. I actually didn’t know they finished that poorly I just remember them playing a lot of good teams tough. Maybe that was the surprising part *
 
OnVikings!

OnVikings!

Sophomore
Nov 15, 2024
107
128
37
SiuCubFan8 said:
Resurgence, no, but close games with STL, Prov, JCA(albeit a down JCA) is certainly a positive for them.
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They should’ve beat StL. Had them on the ropes. StL also should’ve beaten Carmel, as they had them on the ropes. That’s why I think CCL teams play so well in the playoffs. Battle tested. Some of these schools come into the playoffs without being in a dogfight.
 
C

CCHS-Fan

Senior
Oct 4, 2001
2,003
558
66
And Carmel Catholic should have beaten PC and Montini. But they didn’t.

The CCHS @ StL game was a good one. Proves out as a good win for the Corsairs as StL is still alive.
 
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OnVikings!

OnVikings!

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Nov 15, 2024
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JCA is on a downward trend. Squeaked into the playoffs at 4-5. 1st round exit albeit to a good Glenwood team. They scheduled some tough non-cons, which didn't help, but could've easily also been 3-6 or 2-7. Doesn't appear to be much help on the way either. JV and Freshmen teams have both been average the past few years. I've heard they are struggling with overall enrollment as well in their last few classes, but IHSA still has them at just under 600. Not sure if that number is top-heavy? Didn't they have a stadium project in the works? Perhaps that will get them back on track?
 
hingkenry

hingkenry

Redshirt
Jan 14, 2025
9
11
3
Redline9 said:
Saint Patrick 2-7 to 5-4 (6-5 if you include playoffs). 4/5 losses to teams still alive in the Quarterfinals (Rita, BR, CG, Laurence); other loss Yorkville was by 7 points in Week 1.

Saint Viator 4-5 to 1-8

DePaul CP someone already mentioned on here.

Taft (one of the more decent CPS teams) went from a 7-2 regular season to 2-7

Lane Tech 3-6 to 8-1 regular season, won a playoff game, and still in Prep Bowl playoffs (new coach)
Click to expand...
Fairly new to CPL watching here.
I think the Lane Tech season is interesting — congratulations to those kids on a great record. It would have been more compelling to see them tested a bit more in the regular season. It looks like they played a lot of close games in Conference against some smaller, CPL teams. If they had a similar schedule to last year, they might have ended up with a similar record to 2024. But definitely can't fault them for playing the schedule they were given.
It seems like CPL records affect the schedule teams get the following year — at least that seems to be the pattern in CPS — but I’m not entirely sure how it works. Could we see a similar schedule for Taft in 2026? I’d love for someone to clarify how the scheduling works.
I think Payton is impressive too, especially with wins over Lane and Taft, two of the 8A schools.
 
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Redline9

Redshirt
Sep 7, 2020
45
33
18
hingkenry said:
Fairly new to CPL watching here.
I think the Lane Tech season is interesting — congratulations to those kids on a great record. It would have been more compelling to see them tested a bit more in the regular season. It looks like they played a lot of close games in Conference against some smaller, CPL teams. If they had a similar schedule to last year, they might have ended up with a similar record to 2024. But definitely can't fault them for playing the schedule they were given.
It seems like CPL records affect the schedule teams get the following year — at least that seems to be the pattern in CPS — but I’m not entirely sure how it works. Could we see a similar schedule for Taft in 2026? I’d love for someone to clarify how the scheduling works.
I think Payton is impressive too, especially with wins over Lane and Taft, two of the 8A schools.
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I'm not an expert on CPL scheduling and conferences/divisions, but I think it operates somewhat similar to the English Premier League where you can get promoted or relegated each year. I'm sure it's more complicated than that.

Lane Tech did much better than some of their more recent seasons. 20ish years ago I would remember them typically winning 7-9 games each season, with an occasional win in the IHSA playoffs. Seems like the new coach is starting things right over there. I have always been surprised, even in CPS, that a school with 4,000ish students like Lane does not have a larger roster and have better seasons on the football field. Their soccer team has been top 4 the last two seasons at State, and their basketball team has been decent recently as well. Their girls softball and volleyball teams usually compete for city championships and win some games in state playoffs. Their baseball team has had several D1 recruits in recent years too. Hopefully their football team can be on the level of Simeon, Morgan Park, and Kenwood in the next few years.
 
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Anon1753850091

Redshirt
Jul 29, 2025
30
36
13
OnVikings! said:
JCA is on a downward trend. Squeaked into the playoffs at 4-5. 1st round exit albeit to a good Glenwood team. They scheduled some tough non-cons, which didn't help, but could've easily also been 3-6 or 2-7. Doesn't appear to be much help on the way either. JV and Freshmen teams have both been average the past few years. I've heard they are struggling with overall enrollment as well in their last few classes, but IHSA still has them at just under 600. Not sure if that number is top-heavy? Didn't they have a stadium project in the works? Perhaps that will get them back on track?
Click to expand...
JV team struggled this year. Frosh team seemed to have plenty of talent. Some up and down results, but they really manhandled Providence in week 9, which is always a good barometer when those two clash at the lower levels.

It seems the current sophs won't offer a ton of depth or high end talent the next year or two, but in 1-2 years the current frosh should help the varsity a great deal.

I believe next year is the last year of the 6A success factor for them. And depending on their non-con selections, they may struggle to make the playoffs again. Which means fall of 2027 they will likely be back to the 4A/5A border. And with Naz (if they make a state final this year or next) and possibly SF and/or PC bumped up to 6A, they would be slotting back down to 4A/5A with the current frosh as rising juniors.
 
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