H.S. Football: CPS goes 1-17 vs. non CPS-foes in first round of IHSA playoffs; Improves from 0-22 last year

Geneseo defeated undefeated Chicago Sullivan, 42-0 | Instagram

By Chicago City Wire reports

Nov 4, 2024

In the first round of the 2024 Illinois High School Football Association (IHSA) playoffs, the 18 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) who played non-CPS opponents went 1-17 and were outscored 764-110, a collective 654 points, or 109 touchdowns.

This is an improvement over 2023, when in 22 games, CPS teams lost by a collective 1,079 to 63, or 169 touchdowns.

The single bright spot: Morgan Park (9-1), which defeated Tinley Park 34-0 in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.

Losses included the previously undefeated Sullivan Tigers (9-1), anointed as the top seed in Class 4A by the IHSA, which only considers record and not strength of schedule in seeding teams.

The 16th-seeded, 6-4 Geneseo Green Machine scored seven unanswered touchdowns to build a 42-0 halftime lead over the Tigers, who had pitched five shut-outs on the season, albeit all against fellow CPS teams.

The game had a running clock in the second half and ended with a 42-0 final score, a testament to the sense of mercy in Henry County.

Also in 4A, which includes schools with between 564 and 852 students, the previously-undefeated and second-seeded South Shore Tars (9-1) lost 26-0 to Rockford Boylan Catholic (6-4).

The Tars also had five shutouts on the season, and in their other four wins had never given up more than a single touchdown, against an all-CPS schedule.

To be sure, in its season opener, South Shore crushed the fellow-playoff qualifier Curie Condors, 68-0.

Curie plays in 8A, the state's largest division, reserved this year for schools with enrollments of more than 2,197.

Curie is one of CPS' largest high schools, with 3,019 students.

The Condors lost their first round game with Glenbard East, 49-0.

Other first round CPS action included:

6A: Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge 65 Chicago Goode STEM Academy 6

Prairie Ridge ran the opening kick-off back to the 47 yard line, then scored on its first play from scrimmage — a 53-yard run.

After one quarter, the Wolves had a 28-0 lead and at halftime, a 50-6 lead over Goode, which only qualified for the playoffs after fellow-playoff qualifier King inexplicably forfeited its Week 9 game, giving it a fifth win.

3A: Montini 49 Chicago North Lawndale 0

The IHSA’s bizarre seeding system placed North Lawndale (7-2), which only dressed 25 players, ahead of Montini, a traditional power that is favored to win the 3A title.

3A schools have enrollments between 416 and 562 this year.

6A: Cary-Grove 71 Senn 6

Cary-Grove (10-0) led Senn (5-5) 30-0 and had already pulled its starters with 4:31 remaining in the first quarter.

With a freshman quarterback and a running clock, the Trojans outscored Senn 48-6 over the final three quarters of the game.

6A: Geneva 49 Amundsen 7

Geneva star Tayln Taylor, who is committed to Georgia, had seven catches for 121 yards and three touchdowns in the first half.

6A: Lake Forest 42 Mather 0

Lake Forest (8-2) led Mather 35-0 with two minutes left in the first quarter.

The game was also a running clock.

Last year, Lake Forest played two seed Lake View H.S. in the first round of the 6A playoffs, winning 49-6.

5A: Sycamore 50 Noble/Bulls 8

Sycamore led 43-0 at halftime. They face Westinghouse of CPS in Round 2, which beat fellow CPS school Prosser in Round 1, 32-14.

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Three CPS schools: King (3A), Clemente (4A), Westinghouse (5A) and Young (7A) all advanced after beating fellow CPS teams in the first round.

In the past four seasons, CPS has an 8-87 IHSA playoff record against non-CPS opponents. Its teams have been outscored by 3,414 points-- by 659 touchdowns-- 3,960-546.

Since 2013, CPS is 41-191 in the IHSA playoffs against non-CPS opponents.

Of the 41 wins, 22 were by Phillips, which won state titles in 2015 (4A) and 2017 (5A) and lost in the state final in 2014 (4A).

Six of the 41 were by Simeon, which made the 6A quarterfinals in 2018 and lost in the first round this season.

In eight IHSA appearances since 2013, Lincoln Park is winless and has been outscored 295-64.

Chicago Walter Payton (0-9) has been outscored 450-132.

The IHSA expanded to eight classes, from six, in 2001.

Other CPS 2024 IHSA playoff results include:

DePaul College Prep 48 Chicago Dyett 8

T.F. North 40 Chicago Corilss 6

Benet Academy 48 Chicago Perspectives 0

Nazareth Academy 54 Chicago Payton 0

Oak Forest 44 Chicago Kennedy 0