Prediction: East St. Louis (Ill.) repeats as state champs

The 2025 high school football season will be getting underway in less than six weeks, which means it’s officially preview season. Rivals is breaking down the nation’s top teams from coast-to-coast, and today we head over to the Prairie State and get a closer look at the East St. Louis Flyers. The reigning IHSA Class 6A state champions dropped only one game all of last season, a 14-13 overtime loss to IMG Academy, and should once again rank among the nation’s best.

Player Spotlight: WR Kortez Rupert

Kortez Rupert headlines a very talented East St. Louis offense and is back for what should be an explosive fall season. The three-star receiver, who committed to Indiana in June, hauled in 24 passes for 660 yards and eight scores as a junior. Rupert will face several stacked secondaries this fall, but the 6-foot-1, 160-pound pass catcher should still put up big numbers. He is in line for a huge 2025 season and will put up more than 1,000 receiving yards and 10 scores.

Others to watch: CB Raheem Floyd, LB Leon Howard, WR Laron Baker, OT Terrell Berryhill

Season Prediction: 7-2

Don’t get hung-up on the fact that we expect East St. Louis to lose two games this fall. The Flyers are playing a tough, national schedule and will go toe-to-toe with all of their opponents. East St. Louis is easily a top contender to once again win the IHSA Class 6A state crown and that’s what we believe they will do in 2025. Despite losses to Bergen Catholic (N.J.) and IMG Academy (Fla.) to start and end the season, the Flyers will head into the Illinois high school football postseason battle-tested and ready to roll. It’s state championship or bust for this team.

Game-By-Game Predictions

Aug. 28 – at Bergen Catholic (N.J.) Crusaders – L
Up against the Northeast’s top high school football program, the Flyers drop a one-possession thriller at the Battle at the Beach Classic in Ocean City.

Sep. 6 – Gadsden County (Fla.) Jaguars – W
The home opener comes against a Sunshine State foe that finished as the runner-up in Florida’s Class 2A. Nonetheless, the Flyers bounce back and earn their first win.

Sep. 12 – Bishop Gorman (Nev.) Gaels – W
Don’t be surprised by the outcome of this one. East St. Louis rolls past Bishop Gorman at home in a 42-20 triumph.

Sep. 19 – Alton (Ill.) Redbirds – W
East St. Louis begins flexing its muscle against in-state opponents. The team cruises to a 48-6 beatdown of the Redbirds.

Sep. 26 – at Bellville-West (Ill.) Maroons – W
Another Illinois opponent, another rout. The Flyers win their fifth-straight with a 48-6 blowout.

Oct. 3 – Edwardsville (Ill.) Tigers – W
In-state opponents continue to have no answer for East St. Louis.

Oct. 10 – Bellville-East (Ill.) Lancers – W
The Flyers are showing no signs of slowing down as the regular season begins to wind down.

Oct. 17 – at O’Fallon (Ill.) Panthers – W
Make that seven victories in a row for East St. Louis as it heads into a regular season finale in Florida.

Oct. 25 – at IMG Academy (Fla.) Ascenders – L
The Flyers’ winning streak comes to an end as they can’t slow down the Ascenders in a 35-20 loss.

For even more in-depth coverage of Illinois high school sports, and to chat with other fans, visit EdgyTim.com.