While waiting for the rankings...

...to come out for Week Four, let's consider the fortunes of three (actually four) programs: Fenwick, Carmel, St. Rita (and Mount Carmel).

Fenwick, 3-1 so far under new head coach Gene Nudo, could go 7-2 and have their best season since 2004. Here's the Friars regular season records for the last eight years:

2011: 4-6
2010: 5-4
2009: 3-6
2008: 6-3
2007: 5-4
2006: 6-3
2005: 3-6
2004: 8-1

Fenwick has notched victories this year over Hales Franciscan, Marmion and Bishop McNamara. (Their only loss was to St. Rita.)

Assuming the Friars go on to beat St. Laurence (1-3), Gordon Tech (2-2), Lake Forest Academy (2-2) and De La Salle (3-1), and lose to Loyola (3-1), they would finish at 7-2 for the regular season.

That would be a heck of a turnaround!
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Carmel, on the other hand, is struggling at 1-3, with losses to Lincoln-Way East, Glenbard North and St. Viator, and a lone victory over Marian Catholic. This is unfamiliar territory for the Corsairs, who have finished with winning records in each of the last eight seasons:

2011: 7-4
2010: 10-2
2009: 7-3
2008: 10-2
2007: 10-3
2006: 8-3
2005: 7-3
2004: 7-4

This year, however, Carmel could finish at an unbelievable 2-7! How? With losses to upcoming opponents Nazareth (2-2), Marist (4-0), Joliet Catholic (3-1) and -- possibly! -- Notre Dame (3-1). The Corsairs' one lock should be St. Patrick (2-2).

Can you even imagine a post-season without Carmel?
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Finally, there's St. Rita (and Mount Carmel). Why do I keep linking the two? I hope to make that clear in a moment.

The Mustangs are currently 2-2, with victories over downstate Danville and Fenwick, and losses to Marist and Brother Rice. But the South Siders still have to play Providence (3-1), Mount Carmel (4-0) and Loyola (3-1). If they lose to those three and still beat Hales Franciscan (3-1) and Bishop McNamara (2-2), St. Rita will end up the regular season at 4-5 and watch the playoffs from the bleachers! How could that possibly happen? (The Mustangs haven't had a losing season since Moses was a little boy.)

It could happen because of Rita's crushing schedule. And this is where Mount Carmel comes in. St. Rita's crosstown rival is currently 4-0, with victories over St. Patrick (2-2), Morgan Park (1-3), De La Salle (3-1) and St. Joseph (0-4). Is it really that hard to imagine St. Rita at 4-0, too, if they'd played such a schedule?

So while the Mustangs could sit out the postseason this year, the Caravan could lose all four games against future opponents Brother Rice, Loyola, St. Rita and Providence, and still enter the playoffs with a 5-4 record, assuming they beat St. Laurence. Does that seem right to you?

If there's any justice in the universe, teams should be rewarded for playing tough schedules and punished for playing easy ones.

And that's why I'll be rooting for St. Rita to defeat Mount Carmel at Gately on October 12.

P. S. Maine South, are you listening?