Michael O'Brien's Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 9

There were a lot of teams that could have grabbed the two open spots in the Super 25 this week, but I fell back on two teams that I've seen in person relatively recently.

Maine South has overcome some early struggles and is a proven program. They are one of the 25 best teams I've covered this season. So the Hawks are in at No. 24.

I haven't seen Sycamore play this season. But I was impressed with them last year and several key players returned this season, including Iowa-bound quarterback/safety Burke Gautcher.

The Spartans were a fixture in the rankings early in the season and were dropped after a win against Rochelle that was too close. Well, Sycamore beat Morris 42-0 in Week 8, making it an easy choice to return to the No. 25 spot.

York falls out after losing at home to Lyons and Libertyville drops out after losing to Lake Forest. The North Suburban is full of parity this season.

Teams on the cusp of the rankings right now include Stevenson, St. Francis and Lake Forest.

Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 9
With record and last week's ranking

1. Lincoln-Way East (8-0) 1
Friday vs. No. 10 Naperville Central

2. Mount Carmel (6-2) 2
Friday vs. No. 4 Loyola

3. Nazareth (7-1) 3
Friday at St. Francis

4. Loyola (6-2) 4
Friday at No. 2 Mount Carmel

5. Geneva (8-0) 5
Friday vs. St. Charles North

6. Cary-Grove (8-0) 6
Friday vs. Dundee-Crown

7. Lyons (8-0) 7
Friday vs. Proviso East

8. Downers Grove North (7-1) 8
Friday at Hinsdale Central

9. St. Rita (6-2) 9
Friday vs. IC Catholic

10. Naperville Central (8-0) 10
Friday vs. No. 1 Lincoln-Way East

11. Oswego (8-0) 11
Friday at Oswego East

12. Kankakee (7-1) 12
Friday at Crete-Monee

13. Joliet Catholic (5-3) 13
Friday at Providence

14. Marist (7-1) 14
Friday vs. Notre Dame

15. Batavia (7-1) 15
Friday at Glenbard North

16. Morgan Park (7-1) 16
Saturday vs. Simeon at Gately

17. Brother Rice (5-3) 19
Friday at St. Ignatius

18. Fenwick (6-2) 18
Friday vs. Carmel

19. Palatine (7-1) 20
Friday vs. No. 22 Barrington

20. Fremd (7-1) 21
Friday vs. Conant

21. Naperville North (6-2) 22
Friday vs. Sandburg

22. Barrington (7-1) 23
Friday at No. 19 Palatine

23. Prospect (6-2) 24
Friday vs. Buffalo Grove

24. Maine South (5-3) NR
Friday at Evanston

25. Sycamore (8-0) NR
Friday vs. Cahokia