The second week of the Illinois high school football season has turned into a showcase of elite talent and dramatic matchups, with several top‑ranked teams colliding in games that could set the tone for the rest of the year.
Montini, sitting third in the state polls, travels to face Sandburg, ranked twenty‑third, in a clash that marks the first real test for the Broncos after a 25‑game winning streak. The stakes are amplified by the presence of five‑star quarterback Israel Abrams, a Miami commit who has already demonstrated his ability to dominate opponents.
Abrams capped his recent outing with a 48‑0 victory over Hoopeston, throwing for 192 yards and three touchdowns in just two quarters, underscoring why he is considered the centerpiece of Montini’s offense.
Sandburg, meanwhile, will be without starter Sean Ruisz, but backup quarterback Max Fahey stepped up, delivering 214 yards and four scoring passes in a 28‑6 win over Riverside‑Brookfield, keeping the Eagles’ hopes alive.
Star Players to Watch
In another marquee matchup, sixth‑ranked Oswego meets twelfth‑ranked Geneva. Junior running back Ammar Banire, who holds offers from Illinois, Indiana and Iowa, has been a workhorse, amassing 286 all‑purpose yards and five touchdowns in the recent win.
Geneva’s offense also features a dynamic pass‑and‑catch duo: quarterback Ben Peterson of Eastern Michigan and receiver Bennett Konkey, who opened the game with a kickoff return for a touchdown and finished with 279 all‑purpose yards.
St. Rita’s senior quarterback John Fennell made his varsity debut, throwing touchdown passes of 37 and 35 yards in a narrow 28‑21 loss to Providence, a performance that hints at future growth.
Glenbard West, ranked tenth, is polishing a passing attack led by quarterback AJ Rayford and tight end Brady Johnson, a Northwestern recruit whose size and route running add a new dimension to the Hilltoppers’ scheme.
York’s dual‑threat quarterback Zack Assaad, who has already posted two passing touchdowns and a rushing score, will test his mettle against Nazareth, where junior transfer JJ Chapman made a splash with 303 yards and a touchdown in his first game against IC Catholic.
The Roadrunners, despite missing several key players to injury, remain one of the state’s premier Class 6A programs, and their depth will be examined as the season progresses.
Lyons, positioned twenty‑second, secured a 24‑19 victory over Barrington, improving to 7‑0 in opening week, thanks in part to veteran running back EJ Kuhlman’s 132‑yard effort.
Wheaton‑Warrenville South, ranked eighteenth, rolled past Naperville Central 27‑7, with junior three‑sport standout AJ Rogers throwing for 201 yards and two touchdowns.
Across the board, the week’s results and individual performances illustrate a competitive balance that promises plenty of excitement as the season unfolds.