But Saturday's rematch at Marist could be quite a bit different. That's why it's my Game of the Week. (Although Naperville Central -- my dark horse -- at Maine South should be good too.)
The visiting Ramblers (10-1) are the defending 8A runners-up and seeded No. 6 in the bracket. The Wilmette squad is ranked No. 4 in the Tribune, No. 5 in the Sun-Times and No. 9 in MaxPreps. After losing the season opener to Phillips Loyola has rattled off ten straight, including six victories over winning teams. The Ramblers have outscored their opponents, 343-124, and four of those schools are still in the playoffs. In fact, all four teams that qualified from the Catholic League Blue -- Loyola, Mount Carmel, St. Rita and Providence -- are still in the hunt. (Only Brother Rice failed to make the postseason from that conference.) Oh, and Mount Carmel and St. Rita could conceivably meet up in the 7A semifinals.
Here's Loyola's full 2017 schedule (with home team in CAPS):
PHILLIPS (11-0) 20, Loyola 14
LOYOLA 13, La Puente (Bishop Amat), CA (4-4) 6
LOYOLA 31, Mt. Carmel (8-3) 7
Loyola 42, ST. FRANCIS (1-8) 7
LOYOLA 41, Fenwick (7-4) 14
Loyola 34, St. Rita (9-2) 14
LOYOLA 49, Leo (4-7) 7
Loyola 28, PROVIDENCE (7-4) 3
LOYOLA 28, Brother Rice (2-7) 7
LOYOLA 35, New Trier (6-4) 32
LOYOLA 28, Hinsdale Central (8-3) 7
I'd say the most impressive victory in that list was the 25-point win over Providence while the closest call was that squeaker over New Trier two weeks ago.
As for the RedHawks, do you think they'll have a chip on their shoulder after that drubbing two years ago? Undefeated Marist (11-0) is the No. 3 seed and ranked No. 5 in MaxPreps and No. 6 in both the Trib and the Sun-Times. The Mount Greenwood squad defeated six opponents with winning records (Marian, Nazareth and Benet are still alive) and outscored its foes by an eye-popping 474-128. Here's their schedule:
MARIST 23, Brother Rice (2-7) 14
Marist 42, MISHAWAKA, IN (5-4) 15
MARIST 45, Carmel (1-8) 14
Marist 45, MARIAN CENTRAL (7-4) 20
Marist 63, MARIAN CATHOLIC (0-9) 6
MARIST 56, St. Patrick (2-7) 7
MARIST 42, Nazareth (10-1) 0
Marist 38, BENET (8-3) 24
MARIST 42, Joliet Catholic (3-6) 14
MARIST 44, Oak Park and River Forest (5-5) 0
Marist 37, CURIE (8-3) 14
The RedHawks' closest margin was nine points in Week One over archrival Brother Rice. And notice those two shutouts, against Nazareth and OPRF.
So what about this Saturday? Well, as I mentioned, Marist has to have a pretty big chip on its shoulder, they arguably have a much better team than two years ago, and the contest is on the South Side. If I were a bookmaker, I'd have the RedHawks about a one-touchdown favorite. But I'm going to be a little bit of a contrarian here and say the Ramblers pull this one out. I still see them in the 8A finals (in a rematch with Maine South?).
If you can't make it you can follow the action @BoringOldWhtGuy.
* Here's my preview of that game.
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