2025 IHSA football state championships: Players to watch and predictions

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The 2025 Illinois High School Association football state championships are here. Sixteen of the state's best teams will meet in eight title games scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal.

Below is everything you need to know about each title game, plus predictions from the Journal Star's Adam Duvall. Last week, he went 1-0 (1.00) in his semifinal predictions and is 141-41 (.775) for the season.

CLASS 1A

Lena-Winslow vs. Mt. Sterling Brown County

When: 10 a.m. Friday
Associated Press ranks, records: No. 3 L-W (12-1), RV Brown County (11-2)
Championship record (last title): L-W — 6-2 (2022). BC — 0-0 (First appearance).
Coaches: L-W — Ric Arand (272-69 in 29 years). BC — Tom Little (154-94 in 24 years).
Players to watch: L-W — Gannon Dunker (OL/DL, Sr.), Aiden Wild (RB, Sr), Miles Mahon (LB/TE). BC — Trey Fullerton (LB/RB/P, Sr.), Vince Little (QB, Sr.).
Did you know? L-W has played in the five consecutive state title games, but lost in 2023 and 2024 by scoring a total of 14 points.
Prediction: Lena-Winslow 40, Mt. Sterling Brown County 16

CLASS 2A

Wilmington vs. Maroa-Forsyth

When: 1 p.m. Friday
Associated Press ranks, records: No. 2 Wilmington (12-1), No. 10 M-F (11-2)
Championship record (last title): W — 3-1 (2023). M-F — 2-11 (2012).
Coaches: W — Jeff Reents (297-66 in 32 years). M-F — Josh Jostes (247-66 in 26 years).
Players to watch: W — Ryan Kettman (RB/DB, Sr.), Zach Ohlund (OL/LB, Sr.) M-F — Ryne Sheppard (QB/LB, Sr.), Zach Smith (WR, Sr.), Isaiah Bohlmann (LB/P, Sr.).
Did you know? Wilmington has won two Class 2A state titles (2021, 2023) in the last five years.
Prediction: Wilmington 48, Maroa-Forsyth 21

CLASS 3A

Byron vs. Tolono Unity

When: 4 p.m. Friday
Associated Press ranks, records: No. 1 Byron (13-0), No. 8 TO (12-1)
Championship record (last title): B — 3-2 (2023). TO — 0-6.
Coaches: B — Jeff Boyer (138-28 in 14 years). TO — Scott Hamilton (303-75 in 32 years).
Players to watch: B — Caden Considine (LB/RB, Sr.), Andrew Talbert (DB/QB, Jr.). TO — Dane Eisenmenger (QB, Sr.), Coleson Miller (OL/Sr.).
Did you know? Tolono Unity plays in the Illini Prairie Conference, which features Illinois Valley Central.
Prediction: Byron 48, Tolono Unity 17

CLASS 4A

Lombard Montini vs. Rochester

When: 7 p.m. Friday
Associated Press ranks, records: No. 1 LM (13-0), No. 2 R (12-1)
Championship record (last title): LM — 7-3 (2024). R — 9-0 (2023).
Coaches: LM — Mike Bukovsky (69-30 in 9 years). R — Derek Leonard (217-40 in 21 years).
Players to watch: LM — Israel Abrams (QB, Jr.), Isaac Alexander (RB/DB, Sr.), Santino Tenuta (LB/RB, Sr.). R — Connor Broughton (DL, Sr.), Kaiden Stout (RB, Sr.).
Did you know? Rochester has never lost a state title game, winning its last crown in 2023.
Prediction: Lombard Montini 38, Rochester 34

CLASS 5A

Wheaton St. Francis vs. New Lenox Providence Catholic

When: 10 a.m. Saturday
Associated Press ranks, records: No. 3 NLPC (10-3), No. 7 WSF (10-3)
Championship record (last title): WSF — 1-0 (2008). NLPC — 10-4 (2014).
Coaches: WSF — Bob McMillen (49-14 in 5 years). NLPC — Tyler Plantz (31-18 in 4 years).
Players to watch: WSF — Dario Milivojevic (WR/DB, Sr.), Jaylen Torres (DL/OL, Sr.), Zach Washington (WR/DB, Sr.). NLPC — Xavier Coleman (WR/DB, Sr.), Bryce Tencza (OL, Sr.), Broden Mackert (RB, Jr.).
Did you know? Providence Catholic beat St. Francis, 47-35 in Week 5.
Prediction: Providence Catholic 21, St. Francis 18

CLASS 6A

Oak Park Fenwick vs. East St. Louis

When: 1 p.m. Friday
Associated Press ranks, records: No. 1 ESL (10-3), No. 6 OPF (10-3)
Championship record (last title): OPF — 1-0 (2021). ESL — 11-5 (2024).
Coaches: OPF — Matt Battaglia (42-20 in six years). ESL — Darren Sunkett (234-67 in 25 years).
Players to watch: OPF — Noah Sur (K/P, Sr.), Tommy Thies (DB/HB, Sr.), Jamen Williams (QB, Sr.). ESL — Myson Johnson-Cook (RB, Jr.), Kortez Rupert (WR, Sr.), Raheem Floyd (DB, Jr.).
Did you know? East St. Louis is appearing in its sixth successive Class 6A state championship game.
Prediction: East St. Louis 56, Oak Park Fenwick 16

CLASS 7A

Chicago St. Rita vs. Chicago Brother Rice

When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Associated Press ranks, records: No. 1 CBR (12-1), RV CSR (9-4)
Championship record (last title): CSR — 2-2 (2006). CBR — 1-2 (1981).
Coaches: CSR — Martin Hopkins (24-12 in three years). CBR — Casey Quedenfeld (36-19 in five years).
Players to watch: CSR — Steven Armbruster (QB, Sr.), Walter Jones (WR, Sr.), Brandon Johnson Jr. (RB, 2027). CBR — King Liggins (DL, Sr.), Brayden Parks (DL, Sr.).
Did you know? Brother Rice beat St. Rita, 28-10 in Week 3.
Prediction: Chicago Brother Rice 48, Chicago St. Rita 27

CLASS 8A

Chicago Mt. Carmel vs. Oswego

When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Associated Press ranks, records: No. 1 CMC (13-0), No. 10 O (11-2)
Championship record (last title): CMC — 16-5 (2024). O — 2-0 (2003).
Coaches: CMC — Jordan Lynch (88-12 in eight years). O — Brian Cooney (126-35 in 15 years).
Players to watch: CMC — Quentin Burrell (WR/DB, Jr.), Emmett Dowling (QB/P, Sr.). O — Mariano Velasco (DB/WR, Sr.), Ammar Banire (RB, Soph.).
Did you know? Mt. Carmel is going for a fourth consecutive state championship and fifth in six years, winning its last three in Class 7A.
Prediction: Mt. Carmel 56, Oswego 8

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 2025 IHSA football state championship expert predictions, top players

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos