Illinois High School Football – Week 3 Matchups to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 3 of the Illinois high school football season brings some of the best matchups we'll see all year. From top-five showdowns to heated rivalries, these games feature not only ranked teams but also some of the top underclassmen in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Mount Carmel vs. Nazareth</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The No. 1 Caravan square off with No. 4 Nazareth in the headliner of the week. Mount Carmel continues to reload with young stars, while Nazareth leans on balance and playmakers at every level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>Mount Carmel</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='432197' first='Quentin' last='Burrell'] (WR, 2027), [player_tooltip player_id='476341' first='Tavares' last='Harrington'] (DB, 2027), [player_tooltip player_id='1417782' first='Claude' last='Mpouma'] (OT, 2026)<br><strong>Nazareth</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1585141' first='Trenton' last='Walker'] (WR, 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='801877' first='Lesroy' last='Tittle'] (RB, 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1791833' first='Chris' last='Kasky'] (EDGE, 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Lincoln-Way East vs. Neuqua Valley</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lincoln-Way East, a fixture in the state's top five, takes on a Neuqua Valley team looking to make a statement. Expect this one to be decided in the trenches and on a handful of explosive plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>Lincoln-Way East</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='800191' first='Jonas' last='Williams'] (QB, 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='801702' first='Jacob' last='Alexander'] (DE, 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1598833' first='Mason' last='Halliman'] (OL, 2027)<br><strong>Neuqua Valley</strong>: Max Schueneman (OL, 2027), [player_tooltip player_id='1043364' first='Daniel' last='Robinson'] (WR, 2026), Andrew Hoffman (QB, 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Loyola Academy at St. Francis</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A clash of styles. Loyola's depth and discipline are tested against a St. Francis team eager to show it can compete with the state's elite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>Loyola</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='422465' first='Matthew' last='Lee'] (QB, 2028), Teddy Kurtzweil (WR, 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1669564' first='Tommy' last='Fraumann'] (OT, 2026)<br><strong>St. Francis</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='212322' first='Zachary' last='Washington'] (WR, 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='801979' first='Cooper' last='Paukstis'] (DE, 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1335196' first='James' last='McGrath'] (FS, 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Downers Grove North vs. Hinsdale Central</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the state's best rivalries takes center stage in Week 3. Both teams are undefeated and stocked with young talent, setting the stage for a physical, emotional battle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br><strong>Downers Grove North</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='212320' first='Owen' last='Lansu'] (QB, 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1623276' first='Will' last='Vala'] (TE, 2026), Aiden Solecki (DE, 2026)<br><strong>Hinsdale Central</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1304474' first='Tommy' last='Riordan'] (DE, 2027), [player_tooltip player_id='1115779' first='John' last='Breton'] (DE, 2027), [player_tooltip player_id='283931' first='Riley' last='Contreras'] (QB, 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Why It Matters</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 3 gives us marquee games with playoff atmospheres, but it also shines a light on the next wave of talent in Illinois. From quarterbacks stepping into leadership roles to linemen already dominating in the trenches, these matchups showcase the future of the state as much as the present.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->