🚨 Episode 10 now available 🚨 The regular season is over, and the playoffs are here! In this week’s show, powered by @ConniesPizza, we talk about the best #CCL games of Week 9 and look back at our preseason picks — the good and the bad. And of course, we close the show with a quick preview of the opening round of the #IHSA playoffs. Check it out and subscribe to Holy Crossbars on YouTube! youtu.be/zgXPuXBYECM?si=RmkM…

🟠Brother Rice (7-2) begins their 7A title defense on Saturday. The jaw-dropping scoring averages below provide a good snapshot of the Crusaders’ season. They’re loaded on both sides of the ball, and they’ve proven that they are every bit as good as the consensus top 3 teams in 8A (a 1-point loss at LWE, a 3-point loss at Loyola, and a 35-24 win vs. Mt. Carmel). The Crusaders cruised to the title game last year, but the draw this year should provide some good games. Batavia is likely next, Normal Community bludgeoned the rest of the Big 12, and a potential matchup with East St. Louis would come in the semifinals. RB Jameson Davis and QBs Sam Holcomb and Rocco Galasso would be good on any team, but this O-line makes them better. Tyler Houlf, Ethan Posey, Carlos Rios, CJ Anderson, Daniel Desouza, Austin Kavanagh, Lucas Rios, Tyler Frazier…it’s an embarrassment of riches. 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 43.7 / Defense 14.2 👀Duo to watch: Kameron McGee and Brayden Parks spend almost as much time in the backfield as opposing QBs do. If there’s a better defensive 1-2 punch in the state, I haven’t seen it. 🔵Behind Enemy Lines: St. Charles North The North Stars (6-4) make their fifth straight playoff appearance. They’ve had a heavy dose of CCL schools in that time, going 1-3 in those matchups, and they fell to Brother Rice last year in the quarterfinals. The offensive line is inexperienced but talented, and though they haven’t seen pass rushers like the Crusaders can offer, they’ve been tested this year and looked good. 🗓️Schedule: Strong - 46 opponents’ wins, 3 ranked teams, 1 RV 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 32.4 / Defense 27.9 🏆Best win: Week 2 at South Elgin, 56-21 👀One player to watch: Senior RB Tommy Vendl accumulated 213 total yards and 4 total TD last weekend @BrotherRiceFB @BRice_Athletics @Jameson_Davis27 @RoccoGalasso27 @BraydenParks27 @samholcomb_ @aydanyarbrough5 @KameronMcGee202 @Tyler_Houlf @c_rios78 @EthanPosey79 @AustinKava83075 @AndersonCj2029 @DanielDes2028 @Tyler_Frazier1 @elijahechols06 @Timothyboler3 @LucasRios60 @NateElsea @jameermurphy2 @JahonEdwards3 @lucas__strang1 @JackMac2028 @KolbyJDaniels @mason_marable @J_shelton28 @Jeremiah_Chr1s @Tymel_Lofton44 @JackBadke @AriEdwards2010 @cfk_ajj @Decatur_W @JordanJMoore11 @Logan_Monroe03

🔴St. Ignatius (7-2) went 27-9 from 2021-23 and then won five combined regular season games over the past two years. They stormed back to the top end of the CCL this year, winning 7 games by double digits and ranking in the conference’s top 5 in scoring offense and defense. Matt Miller’s triple option can make elite defenses uncomfortable and average defenses look completely lost. Junior QB Reid Hites spearheads it - and he can throw the ball pretty well too. Jayden Logan, Connor Wanzung, and Connor Hites lead a punishing defense. The Wolfpack are aiming to make another deep run in the playoffs - they were a 6A semifinalist in 2022 and a quarterfinalist in 8A in 2023. 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 38.7 / Defense 19.0 👀One player to watch: Orange Division OPOY Nino Capuano ran for 1,330 yards, and his next rushing score will be his 20th of the season. The sophomore back is electric and doesn’t go down without a fight. 🔵Behind Enemy Lines: West Aurora The Blackhawks (5-5) have scored 393 points, which is an eye-opening figure until you realize that six of their opponents allowed 29+ points per game. Still, this offense can move the ball even against stouter defensive units. It’s the 4th straight playoff appearance for West Aurora, and their 40-21 victory over Leyden last weekend was their second win in that time frame. 🗓️Schedule: Easier than average - 40 opponents’ wins, none ranked or receiving votes 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 39.3 / Defense 18.7 🏆Best regular season win: Week 8 vs. Glenbard South, 23-12 👀One player to watch: A healthy Bryce Riley is a weapon at RB. Riley and the offensive line will need to put extended drives together to get the Blackhawk defense some rest @IgnatiusFB @SIWolfpack @Hites_Reid @hites_connor @CapuanoNino @SamuelAsiaa @Chin3duMadu_ @Connor_Wanzung @jayden_logan2 @Michael_L1nehan @EvanSteigleder @tcilella09 @IvanTatum19 @henryredgateftb @TimmyKarnezis @Quinn_Wiedelman @RJ_Goodwin9 @ConniesPizza

🟡Loyola (8-1) spent much of the season at No. 1 in various polls, and with good reason. The Ramblers boast a balanced offense and stifling defense. With the exception of a 3-point win over Brother Rice, they largely cruised to a 7-0 record. They were challenged more by two state title contenders in Weeks 8 & 9, rallying to beat IC Catholic before falling to Mt. Carmel. Blue Division DPOY Will Mettee has been the star of the defense, and he’s far from the only big-time playmaker. The Ramblers have the ability to go all the way and will benefit from having LWE and Mt. Carmel in the other half of the bracket, but they can’t overlook quality teams like Maine South or St. Ignatius, even with a win over the Wolfpack already in the books. 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 34.4 / Defense 16.1 👀One player to watch: On a roster full of great players, Carmelo Maldonado could often fly under the radar, but that time has passed. The junior RB can turn a small hole into a 20-yard gain in an instant. 🟠Behind Enemy Lines: Minooka The Indians (5-5) made their 9th consecutive playoff appearance this year, winning 35-21 at Evanston on Friday. They trailed 21-7 in the third quarter before roaring back with 28 unanswered points. The offense has been held to 14 or fewer points six times this year. 🗓️Schedule: Solid - 44 opponents’ wins, 2 ranked teams 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 18.9 / Defense 21.4 🏆Best regular season win: Week 4 vs Yorkville, 21-18 👀One player to watch: Junior RB Quinn Schiffbauer ran for 4 touchdowns in the opening round, including two fourth-quarter scores @Loyola_FB @LAGoRamblers @WillMettee @MLeeQB11 @CMaldonado425 @jayden_garrett4 @Jordan1Mckinley @Barrett_Schiff @mchughbraedan @MaloneyDom @Brocks_Thompson @JackStantonLALB @CJ_Nielsen1 @vinnytalano9 @charliefowler1_ @teddy_ghislandi @D_Williamson10 @RyanEdwards2027 @MarkAtwood20 @HunterWahtola

Round 1 of the playoffs is just 4⃣ days away! Over the next few days, we'll have full preview posts for the 8 teams that had opening round byes. We'll also have briefer updates on every other #CCL team still alive. We start with Class 8A and the only CCL vs. CCL matchup this week... 🟤Mt. Carmel (7-2) is eyeing another title, and they’ve already played the toughest schedule it’s possible to construct - more than half their games came against state-championship-caliber teams. QB Brady Cloherty has been everything Jordan Lynch could have hoped, tossing 7 touchdown passes two different times, including a wild Week 2 rally against St. Joseph Regional. He’s got possibly the deepest receiver room in the state to work with, led by Quentin Burrell, Marshaun Thornton, and Ty Kennedy, with Nathan Samuels heading the backfield. 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 41.1 / Defense 23.3 👀One player to watch: Senior CB Tavares Harrington and this talented secondary will be tasked with shutting down a Marist offense that scored 4 times through the air in their last matchup 🔴Marist (6-4) makes the trip to 64th and Dante for the second time this year. They lost by 30 the first time around, but it was a one-score game in the 4th quarter, and this team is battle-tested and dangerous. The RedHawks produced their highest point total of the season in a 49-28 opening round win vs. Neuqua Valley. Conor Hunt ran for 139 yards and 3 TD, and Jake Fleming threw for 3 of his own. 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 29.6 / Defense 27.3 👀One player to watch: Senior jack-of-all-trades Tommy Hosty is a defensive force, and the NIU baseball commit would love to extend his football career another week @CaravanFootball @Marshaun_T3 @BradyCloherty12 @quentinburrell7 @TyKennedy777 @roman_igwebuike @TavaresHarr @mannymcmoore @_nathansamuels @Legendarymarri1 @AlimMitchell123 @CJ_McCullough5 @ThomasElliottJr @khari_2029 @ChaseClark35 @DarinlGraham @PiotrNakonieczy @Ryder12Startz @Kirk63Turner @duran4wr @Isaldana_2 @RedHawkFB @HonorGloryFame @TommyHosty2027 @Jakeflem3 @ConorFlem @jjnash2410 @Conor_Hunt8 @Marquissteell @killen8362 @billy_nitsche @JackLorenz09 @ElijahThor3801 @BranBrown99

SATURDAY FINAL SCORES, powered by @ConniesPizza 🍕 @LeoLionsHSFB @MarmionFB @CelticsFootball @NDCP_Football @STLVikingFB @DePaulPrepFB are all victorious! We'll have a whopping 20 #CCL teams in action next weekend for Round 1 (the round of 32).

FRIDAY FINAL SCORES, powered by @ConniesPizza 🍕 Congrats to the 6 #CCL teams who advanced! @SFHSFBWheaton @FootballNaz @HilltoppersFB @CorsairsFB @StPatrickFB @RedHawkFB Six more CCL teams are in action tomorrow. #ChicagoCatholicLeague #IHSA

🟠Leo (5-4) earned the #15 seed in 4A North, securing their first playoff appearance since they made it to the Class 1A semifinals in 2013. The Lions are as young as it gets in the CCL. All-Conference RB Jubril Kannike graduates in the spring, but the vast majority of Leo’s best players still have a year or two left to play for Theo Hopkins. QB Terrence Wilson brings a lot of speed to an offense that already has plenty of it. 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 21.6 / Defense 20.4 👀One player to watch: Sophomore Malik Anderson is one of several very athletic Lion defenders who can make game-changing plays at any time 🔴Behind Enemy Lines: Marengo The Indians (3-6) have been a frequent presence in the 4A playoffs under Paul Forsythe, and this will be their 4th playoff matchup with a current CCL team in the last decade. All have gone the way of the CCL. The Indians were 3-2 in a home-heavy first half of the season, and they carry a 4-game losing streak into the playoffs. 🗓️Schedule: Medium - 43 opponents’ wins, 1 ranked team, 1 RV 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 22.1 / Defense 24.4 🏆Best win: Week 5 at Woodstock North, 28-7 👀One player to watch: Senior QB Sam Vandello has a good arm and plenty of experience under center @LeoLionsHSFB @CoachHopkins_ @DontaeFelderJr @Malik11Anderson @jckannike @_Rob_Cunningham @_zaybuckss @AntonioWestbro4 @TrentWats09 @terrence6wilson @CalebAllen127

Moving on to Class 4A and our final two CCL teams in action this weekend.... 🔵Marmion (3-6) is the #20 seed in 4A North, and they’ll play North Lawndale at Rockne Stadium. The Cadets are looking for their first playoff win since 2021. These teams do have a common opponent - Marmion defeated Lincoln Park 34-14 in Week 2, one week after Lincoln Park beat North Lawndale 28-0. The Cadets can earn a trip to Sterling with a victory. 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 17.9 / Defense 31.1 👀One player to watch: Senior Colin McEniry has turned himself into a pretty solid QB. He’ll be a WR at the next level – and was the Red Division’s Offensive POY last year at that position – but his speed and hands serve him well as a dual-threat signal caller. 🔴Behind Enemy Lines: North Lawndale The Phoenix (5-4) aim for their first ever playoff win. In their last appearance, two years ago, they were shut out by Montini. Their most recent CCL matchup came against these Cadets, a 55-0 Marmion victory in Week 2 of the 2025 season. 🗓️Schedule: Fairly weak - 36 opponents’ wins, none ranked or receiving votes 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 19.6 / Defense 17.4 🏆Best win: Week 2 at Prosser, 22-12 👀One player to watch: Senior QB Timothy Pernell leads the Phoenix offense @MarmionAD @MarmionFB @colinmceniry13 @JoshJoy2008 @Ryanloria_5 @henrym_2027 @nroche21 @stefaniak_92373 @LukeWirtz_78 @willkolkman2029 @aidanmillerr8

🟢Providence Catholic (6-3) earned the #11 seed in 5A South and hosts Mt. Vernon on Saturday. Last year’s 5A runner-up has looked like a title contender for much of the season. They’ll be a heavy favorite this weekend, but their early-round draw is brutal – only one of Illinois Media’s #2, #3, and #4 teams can make it to the quarterfinals. Star RB Broden Mackert’s health is one key to a deep run. If he’s limited, talented juniors Dominic Vita and DeAngelo Coates can lead a more pass-heavy attack, and describing Brayden McKay as Mackert’s backup is deceiving. McKay has been brilliant, averaging 9.6 yards per carry with 8 scores. 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 29.2 / Defense 22.9 👀One player to watch: Those skill players above benefit greatly from one of the best offensive lines around, anchored by junior tackle Ben Coleman 🟠Behind Enemy Lines: Mt. Vernon The Rams (3-6) are back in the playoffs for the first time in three years, and they’re looking for their first win since 2013. Few will give them a chance to walk into New Lenox and pick up that win, but Dan Mings has an experienced team that can use a nothing-to-lose mindset to its advantage. The Rams can put up some points, but the defense has taken a beating over the last month, surrendering 61 points per game to four of southern Illinois’ better offenses. 🗓️Schedule: Fairly strong - 44 opponents’ wins, 2 ranked teams, 2 RV 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 24.1 / Defense 39.4 🗓️Best win: Week 3 vs. Collinsville, 45-34 👀One player to watch: Senior QB CJ Hughes-Disroe is an explosive runner, and it’ll be up to Jaxson Hutton and the Celtics’ defensive front to contain him @CelticsFootball @PCHS_Celtics @ProviAthletics @actionjaxsonh @dominicvita26 @BrodenMackert @braydenmckay27 @BenjaminCo38637 @CoatesGelo @Kashmoney_77 @Isaacpatton103 @jon_59osborne @HunterLong2009 @route_runner1 @Jordan_puckett6

➡️It's game day for 7 #CCL teams, and we start our 5A preview with one of those teams... 🔵St. Francis (4-5) earned the #18 seed in 5A North and will play Friday at Grayslake North. Many thought it might take the reigning 5A champs a bit of time to put their new pieces together this year, and indeed, by the second half of the season, the Spartans looked dangerous. Their most complete game was a Week 6 win over Nazareth, but close losses to Fenwick and Montini gave notice that St. Francis can compete with anyone in the playoffs. Kaneland awaits if the Spartans win in Grayslake. In general, the south half of 5A looks far stronger than the north. 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 27.9 / Defense 22.3 👀One player to watch: Western Illinois commit James McGrath is an unusually versatile defender who can line up anywhere and make an impact ⚫️Behind Enemy Lines: Grayslake North The Knights (5-4) are looking for their first playoff win since 2022. Brian Johnson’s crew had a three-game midseason stretch vs. Wauconda, Grant, and Antioch (combined record 23-4), so despite a middling schedule, they’ve got some experience against talented teams. Junior QB Jaylen Newkirk can be a threat with his legs as much as his arm. 🗓️Schedule: Weaker than average - 37 opponents’ wins, 1 ranked team, 1 RV 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 26.9 / Defense 27.3 🏆Best win: Week 8 vs. Grayslake Central, 34-29 👀One player to watch: Senior safety Beckett Dovel will have his hands full covering Greg Bess-Henning II and a deep group of WR @SFHSFBWheaton @GBessHenningII @James_McGrath07 @TiviasCaldwell @itsnoahwaz26 @Jadonwilson02 @N18_Turner @AlexTaylor_8 @JWill2__ @BlaykeLohmann1 @huntereberle4 @tajhev1 @Alvin_Redmoniii @TorreonJeffries @BrenKolinski_20 @kolinski_evan @donovan_humph2 @realduncanm @FrankMcmillen44 And we send our very best wishes to @alijah_valeri for a speedy recovery

🟤Joliet Catholic (5-4) earned the #11 seed in 6A South and will host Bradley-Bourbonnais. The Hilltoppers rely on their tough defense and bruising run game to wear down opponents on both sides of the ball. They’ve won 2 state titles under Jake Jaworski and were the 5A runners-up in 2023 and 2024. With a win on Friday, they would visit Wheaton Warrenville South, and the Hilltoppers will be a difficult matchup for any of the teams in their quarter of the bracket. 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 19.7 / Defense 17.1 👀One player to watch: LB/RB Derrick Pomatto averaged 9 yards per carry as the lead back in a deep backfield, and the White Division DPOY will team with Ryker Czubak and the rest of the defense to focus on stopping Ky’ren Edmon 🔴Behind Enemy Lines: Bradley-Bourbonnais The Boilermakers (4-5) have lost 5 of their last 6 games, but those losses also came against teams that finished a combined 35-10. This is another run-first offense, so look for JCA to stack the box and force sophomore QB Gavin Pippin to make plays. The Boilermakers have won 4 playoff games in the last 3 years, and they were knocked out in the second round last year by St. Laurence. 🗓️Schedule: Tough - 51 opponents’ wins, 2 ranked teams, 2 RV 🏈Scoring averages: Offense 22.6 / Defense 29.0 🏆Best win: Week 1 at T.F. North, 34-7 👀One player to watch: Junior RB Ky’ren Edmon is the real deal @HilltoppersFB @JCAonline @derrick_pomatto @rykerczubak @cfk_nuk @vinthekicker @KeegCastagnoli @CalebSmithCB6 @CStuckwisc54947 @SkedelVincent @nico_gonzo99 @nick_sojka @DylanTravis_2