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Past 7A Champions

2005
2004 Libertyville (14-0)
2003Oswego (HS)(13-1)
2002Mt. Prospect (Prospect)(12-2)
2001Mt. Prospect (Prospect)(14-0)

2005 7A Playoff Central

Welcome to Playoff Central. IHSFW.com gives you an in depth look at how the playoffs may take shape, by putting you right in the middle of our information control room. We break down who we think is the best bet to win it all and who's the most likely challengers. We also give you a list of the dark horse teams, or sleepers, Those teams that are overlooked throughout the year, but may sneak up o you in the playoffs or those pesky 6-3 & 5-4 teams that don't know when to quit. You can also get the latest info on what games you should miss each weekend "The Big Game" & who the best teams in the state are regardless of class "The Big 30".

Brackets & Scores
1A / 2A / 3A / 4A / 5A / 6A / 7A / 8A

2005 Title Game Date & Time; Nov. 26th 4 pm

Last Years Champ; Libertyville (14-0) Runner-up;Cary (C.-Grove)(13-1)

Favorites to win the title;Chicago (Mt. Carmel)(9-0),Belvidere (9-0) &Edwardsville (H.S.)(9-0)
Other Title Threats; Libertyville (6-3),Darien (Hinsdale South)(8-1) &Mt. Prospect (Prospect)(8-1)
The Dark Horses;Wilmette (Loyola Academy)(5-4),Chicago (Morgan Park) (8-1)&East St. Louis (Sr.)(6-3)

Favorites to win the title;
Chicago (Mt. Carmel)(9-0) - The Caravan are an Illinois Powerhouse team. What does that mean? It means, no matter what class they're playing in they are a favorite to win if they are undefeated. Add to that that the Caravan have bruised they're way through some very tough teams in theChicago Catholic (Blue)Conference and they are the team to beat. Mt. Carmel has a 7A best 8.8 points allowed on defense. put that together with their very confusing option attack that has been scoring 36 points a game and you've got a receipt for a title. The biggest question about the Caravan offense is who. As in who will be the hero or go to guy this week? Backs Dominic Sulo, Larry Dortch & QB Carter Kopach have all taken turns leading the Caravan in rushing or TDs for each of their 9 victories. Add to that the fact that Mt. Carmel has one of the deepest coaching staffs in high school football, if they don't out slug you on the field, they'll out think you in the huddle.

Belvidere (9-0) - The Bucs are taking advantage of a less than stellar year for the usual suspects in the Northern Illinois (NIC-9) Conference. WIth Freeport & Boylan Catholic, both having less than expected performances this season, the Bucs were able to sweep up the conference title & will be looking to make it a state title for the first time since they won back to back titles in 1993 & 1994. Don't think that just because the Freeport & Boylan had off seasons that the Bucs aren't for real, they still had to beat 5 playoff teams just to win the conference.

Edwardsville (H.S.)(9-0) - The Tigers are back. With Running back E.J. Jones (6' 185 sr.) & Joseph Allaria (QB 6' 175 jr.) leading the Tigers offense that has scored almost 38 points a game and helped them win the Southwestern Conference title outright, the Tigers could once again be representing the southern half of the state come Thanksgiving time.

 

Other Title Threats;
Libertyville (6-3) - Head coach Randy Kuceyeski said that he had Stevenson & Warren as the teams to beat in the North Suburban (Lake) Conference, that the Wildcats were the sole champs of last year and he was right. He also said that the Cats would be a different team come the end of the season. Well it's the end of the regular season & the 2004 7A Champs are back in the playoffs. With Cameron Turner (QB 5'10 170 sr.), the son of Bears offensive coach & former Illini head coach Ron Turner, at the helm of the offense & Michael Culberson-Fehling, leading the team on defense, as one of just 2 returning starters from last year's team. The Cats could give some teams a head ache as they're 3 losses all came at the hands of 8A teams.

Darien (Hinsdale South)(8-1) - The Hornets are fresh off a a West Suburban (Gold) Conference title championship this year. Only their 2nd in the last 10 years. The Hornets lost to cross town rival Hinsdale Central 6-3, who was undefeated at the time, by a score of 3-0. They've taken down Downers Grove South 42-28 & St. Charles East 20-14. The Hornets have been riding on an offense that has been putting up 37 points a game, but has some cracks on defense as they've given up 2 TDs or more in all but 2 games.

Mt. Prospect (Prospect)(8-1) - The Knights ride again. At 8-1 head coach Brent Pearlman has put his team back in contention for their 3rd state title. The Knight's only loss this season was in week #1 to the 2004 8A Champs, Downers Grove North 41 to 21.

 

The Dark Horses;
Wilmette (Loyola Academy)(5-4) - Former Bears fullback Matt Shuey's son Joe Shuey has been playing at running back & wide receiver for the Ramblers, he, along with QB Peter Bodovinac & RB Connor Detjen round out an offense that could pull off an upset or two in the playoffs. The Ramblers who looked like they would be sitting at home come week #10, upset then #15 Brother Rice, to secure their spot in the playoffs. It's that type of unpredictability that is the reason we've got Loyola as a dark horse.

Chicago (Morgan Park) (8-1) - Very few teams in the state have the talent that the Mustangs do. And even fewer teams have the pressure that they have to win come playoff time. The weight of almost 3 million people hangs on their shoulders as they look to become the first ever Chicago Public league team to win a State Football Title. Because of this & the fact that they lost their first game to Mt. Carmel, by a score of 26-6, they have to prove that they are a favorite and until they do they will be always be a dark horse team.

East St. Louis (Sr.)(6-3) - At 6-3 and being from the southern half of the state & playing in a big class, you'd think that a team would have 3 strike against it already. But then you realize that it's The Flyers, one of the most prolific teams in the state football playoffs. The Flyers get the benefit of being in contention for the title at 6-3 mainly because they've got the talent. Running back Jaious Singleton is small (5'9 195), but speedy (4.4 40 yard dash). Along with the rest of a usually offensively speedy team, the Flyers live up to their name. They put 50 points on the board in week #1 against Indiana's top team Warren Central, but lost 70-50. If they get contained it'd all over for the Flyers, if they get are let to run wild though, your team better have the offense to match the,

 

 

7A Team stats

 

 

 

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