There has been much hoopla in the IHSA offices in Bloomington this fall over the 50th anniversary of one of its prized possessions – the football playoffs.
However, with private schools dominating seven of the eight championship games, it became more about outrage than celebration for fans of high school football. Social media in all corners of the state was abuzz with heated dialogue on the competitive advantage private schools have over the publics.
Yes, it been a long-running debate and the so-called “golden anniversary” of the playoffs became the perfect kindle for it to explode into an emotional firestorm.
It all started in Belleville Althoff’s 57-14 win over Lena-Winslow in the 1A title game. Althoff’s offensive line averaged 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds. Its star running back, recruited by the top team in college football, scored seven touchdowns, rushed for 438 yards and had an 80-yard pass reception.
If these classes were set up to allow small schools to have equitable competition, how is it that such size and overwhelming talent are found on a 1A team? Althoff in 1A is a mockery.
The competitive mastery continued in 2A, a 47-0 win by Chicago Christian over Maroa-Forsyth. Going into this year, CC had a losing record in the playoffs and even lost 42-6 in the first round to Maroa in 2023.
It seems odd that they were able to get so much better in one year after decades of futility.
Class 3A has already been discussed at length with Montini and Byron playing the “championship” game in round two. After losing to Montini 49-8, Monticello may have wished the IHSA had cancelled the remaining 3A games after Byron and Montini met.
Like 2A, the champion of 4A was a relative unknown. Chicago DePaul had never had a winning team in five years of playing football. All of sudden, they exploded onto the scene and crushed Mt. Zion 40-6. How does a team make such a turnaround in one year?
Maybe because you can draw kids within a wide swath of the Chicago area. They also have back-to-back titles in boys basketball with former University of DePaul star Tom Kleinschmidt as their coach.
The only close game was in 5A, a 29-27 win by LaGrange Nazareth over Joliet Catholic. And, that was only because it was two privates going at it.
As expected, traditional big school powers Mt. Carmel (7A) and Loyola Academy (8A) continued the private school clean sweep with decisive wins. The only non-private to claim a state championship was 6A East St. Louis, an anomaly in that they can beat anyone in the state.
Another thing that East St. Louis and the private school have in uncommon is a propensity for penalties, be it taunting, unsportsmanlike or late hits. ESL led the way with 14-for-151 yards. Close behind was Althoff with 13-125, Mt. Carmel 12-120, DePaul 11-110 and Montini 8-85.
On sidenote, one reason the 8A game started almost two hours late because of all of penalties earlier in the day. It was close to midnight before it wrapped up.
That lack of discipline starts at the top and is a reflection of what it being played out at the college and pro levels. That same weekend, fights broke out at the finish of several college games because of taunting and retaliation. It got so bad between Michigan and Ohio State that the police used pepper spray on players.
In recent years, it has been stated that people are full of anger in this country because of political issues and polarizing individuals. That’s a lie.
The real problem is the condition of one’s heart. That’s what needs to be changed and society’s message of the blaming others is making the situation worse.
Many of the post-game college skirmishes came after a winner tried to plant his team’s flag on the opponent’s home field. That’s ego and pride.
Instead of rubbing it in someone’s face, how about simply shaking hands afterwards and being content as the winner?
Coaches appear to have lost control of their players at the college level. But, if you’ve reached a point where you are begging and financially enticing them to play for you, that’s to be expected.
For anyone’s heart to change, discipline is needed.
At the high school level, is there more leniency towards players because they have allegedly been recruited to play for you? Also, does an attitude of superiority lend itself toward on-field bullying in the form of penalties?
The combination of a competitive advantage and poor sportsmanship by the privates has rankled people in Illinois to perhaps its most extreme level, a truly seething cauldron that will carry over into next fall.
Much of the blame is directed at the IHSA, but that is being a bit harsh. They are in the unenviable position of finding a solution for something there might not be a solution for.
After a semifinal win over a very good Lincoln-Way East team, quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald of Loyola said Lincoln-Way was hampered by playing a weaker schedule than Loyola sees in the Catholic League. If the state playoffs are a step down by the Catholic League, maybe they should have their own state tournament and leave the publics alone.
Other states have done this and after what transpired at the 2024 state finals, it could be the time for the IHSA to institute such a separation.
Andy Colbert is a longtime Ogle County resident with years of experience covering sports and more for multiple area publications.
