Week 1's top high school football games

Here's a look at some of the best high school football games this weekend.

No. 3 Lincoln-Way East at No. 4 Maine South, 7:30 p.m. Friday

Both of these teams have serious Class 8A title aspirations after being eliminated by eventual champ Loyola last year — Maine South in the quarterfinals and Lincoln-Way East in the semifinals. Lincoln-Way East, long a run-first team on offense, will air it out this fall with USC-bound quarterback Jonas Williams chasing the IHSA career records for passing yards. His top receivers are Blaise LaVista (Washington), Jayden Cawthon and Matt Orban. Maine South has a big-armed quarterback of its own in junior lefty Jameson Purcell, an Indiana recruit.

No. 5 Downers Grove North vs. Morgan Park, 1 p.m. Saturday at Gately

These teams will use disappointing 2024 playoff exits as fuel for this season. Minnesota-bound quarterback Owen Lansu and several current Downers Grove North teammates reached the 7A title game in 2023 before losing to Batavia in the quarterfinals last season. Trojans tight end/defensive end Will Vala (Illinois) and lineman Aiden Solecki (Purdue) also are Big Ten recruits. Morgan Park was plagued by turnovers in a Class 5A quarterfinal loss to Morris a year ago. The Mustangs, who have been the top team in the Public League in recent years, are led by versatile senior Nasir Rankin, who is committed to Illinois for football and basketball, and 6-7, 250-pound defensive lineman Carmelow Reed (Mississippi).

No. 20 Prairie Ridge at No. 13 Cary-Grove, 7 p.m. Friday

The Fox Valley is a closed conference, meaning its members play no non-league games. And it means the FVC's biggest game of the year is in Week 1. These neighboring schools are perennial state contenders who likely will wind up in Class 5A this season. Cary-Grove is led by senior Logan Abrams, a 6-3, 230-pound fullback who led the Trojans to an upset win over East St. Louis in the Class 6A final in 2023. Prairie Ridge relies on quarterback Luke Vanderwiel to lead its option offense.

No. 12 Marist at No. 14 St. Rita, 7:30 p.m. Friday

Marist's fortunes turned around last season when Mike Fitzgerald took over a program that missed the playoffs in 2023. He guided them to a 9-2 season that ended with a four-point loss to eventual champ Loyola in the 8A second round. This year's RedHawks are younger, but have a big, experienced offensive line anchored by 6-7, 315-pounder Rico Schrieber (Purdue). St. Rita is dreaming big this year after losing only to state champs last season (Mount Carmel twice and Loyola once). The Mustangs will be able to move the ball through the air with quarterback Stephen Armbruster and receivers Walter Jones and Donovan Evans all returning.

No. 25 Crete-Monee at No. 19 Richards, 6:30 p.m. Friday

Crete-Monee has one of the area's most dynamic pass-and-catch duos in quarterback Derrin Couch (2,082 yards, 41 touchdowns last season) and receiver Dorian Patterson (53 catches, 980 yards, 21 TDs). Karion Young and D'Arion Yarbrough also are experienced targets. Richards also has its quarterback returning in Noah Escobedo, along with its top three receivers and four starting offensive linemen.