Rivalries Reignite in the Chicago Catholic League
The Chicago Catholic League remains a crucible of high‑school football rivalry, where historic matchups such as the Battle of Pulaski between Brother Rice and Marist and the Holy War between Joliet Catholic and Providence define the season’s narrative, while long‑standing contests like St. Rita versus Mount Carmel have persisted since 1924.
Providence broke a long‑standing drought last week, routing Joliet Catholic 27‑0, their first victory over the team since 2022, while Loyola crushed St. Rita 31‑0 in Week 3 and now prepares to host Brother Rice on Friday.
Mount Carmel, Brother Rice and Loyola boast nationally ranked star players, and Providence, though not nationally ranked, sits among the top five in the Super 25 poll, driven by Providence graduate Tyler Plantz, a Notre Dame alum whose hard‑hitting style anchors the squad; junior standouts Dominic Vita, Brayden McKay and Isaac Patton also contributed in the recent Holy War win.
Loyola’s preparations are hampered by injury concerns; senior Jayden Garrett will miss the upcoming game, and Charlie Fowler left the previous contest with an injury, adding uncertainty to the Friday showdown.
The rankings have shifted dramatically: St. Francis fell out after a 43‑0 loss to Brother Rice, St. Charles North withdrew following a 49‑17 defeat at Geneva, while Bolingbrook re‑entered the Super 25 after a win over Yorkville and New Trier made its first appearance in years; Thursday’s public‑league slate, bolstered by Rosh Hashanah observances, features marquee matchups such as Barrington versus Hersey, Fremd versus Prospect and Maine South versus New Trier.