Week 7 in Illinois high school football...

...is now in the history books. A cursory glance at the rankings in the two Chicago newspapers reveals:

Tribune                                                     Sun-Times

1. Maine South                                         1. Maine South

2. Glenbard West                                    2. Glenbard West

3. Loyola                                                    3. Lincoln-Way East 

4. Lincoln-Way East                              4. Loyola

5. Mt. Carmel                                           5. Downers Grove South 

6. Prairie Ridge                                       6. Mt. Carmel

7. Downers Grove South                     7. Prairie Ridge

8. Bolingbrook                                        8. Bolingbrook

9. St. Rita                                                   9. St. Rita

By my count, I've been to 13 games so far this year. I've seen Maine South once (against New Trier), Glenbard West twice (Hinsdale Central and Oak Park and River Forest), Loyola twice (Montini and Mt. Carmel), Lincoln-Way East once (Bolingbrook), Mt. Carmel twice (Morgan Park and Loyola), Prairie Ridge once (Jacobs), and Bolingbrook once (Lincoln-Way East). And I'll see St. Rita for the first time against Mt. Carmel this Friday.

While I feel like I've covered the bases pretty well, there is one glaring omission on my part: Downers Grove South. How did the Mustangs elude my radar? Well, could it be ... that Downers hasn't played anybody?

My guiding principle this year has been: No Lousy Games. (Sorry, Maine South, but I just don't need to see you beat up on poor ol' 2-5 Niles North, 42-6. Life is too short.) My mantra, instead, has been: the Best Game Between the Best Teams.

So, again, how did I miss seeing Downers South? Well, let's have a look at their schedule (home team in CAPS and opponents' record in parentheses):

DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH 28, South Elgin (3-4) 7

South 28, LYONS (4-3) 0

SOUTH 56, Morton (2-5) 0

South 49, LEYDEN (2-5) 0

SOUTH 24, Downers Grove North (2-5) 14

South 49, WILLOWBROOK (0-7) 13

SOUTH 38, Proviso East (1-6) 9

The Mustangs have played only one winning team so far, Lyons (4-3). Downers South, like Maine South, is in a relatively weak conference, the West Suburban Gold. Morton, Leyden, Willowbrook and Proviso East are on their schedule every year. Granted, the Mustangs host Gold teams Hinsdale South (4-3) this Friday and travel to Addison Trail (6-1) next week. But that leaves them with three non-conference opponents: South Elgin and two schools from the West Suburban Silver, Lyons and cross-town rival Downers Grove North. At least Maine South compensates for its weak conference schedule by playing Wheaton Warrenville South. 

So, come on, Coach John Belskis! How about improving that non-conference schedule a little?