Steve Millar’s 3 high school football games to watch in the Southland and state final predictions

Steve Millar’s 3 high school football games to watch in the Southland and state final predictionsStory bySteve Millar, Chicago TribuneTue, November 25, 2025 at 10:46 PM UTC·4 min read

Brother Rice, St. Rita, Providence and Mount Carmel will play in Saturday’s state championship games.

Brother Rice (12-1) vs. St. Rita (9-4)

Kickoff: 4 p.m. Saturday at Hancock Stadium, Normal.

Matchup breakdown: The South Side rivals meet with the Class 7A state title on the line.

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It’s a rematch of a Week 3 game, which Brother Rice won 28-10. But St. Rita was missing senior quarterback Steven Armbruster and senior receiver Walter Jones in that game.

Armbruster has thrown for 1,556 yards and 16 touchdowns, while Jones is his top receiver with 681 yards and five TDs. The Mustangs have been rolling offensively of late, scoring 110 points over their last two games.

Senior linebacker Owen Lynch is the defensive leader for St. Rita and sophomore linebacker Jack Schapendonk has been a major playmaker in the postseason.

The Mustangs are looking to win the program’s third state championship and first since 2006.

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The Crusaders, meanwhile, are searching for their second state title and first since 1981.

Brother Rice has rolled through the playoffs, scoring over 40 points in all four games and winning each by at least 24 points.

Senior quarterback CJ Gray, an Army recruit, has thrown 22 TD passes and run for 12 more. Senior running back Jaylin Green is the team’s top rusher with 977 yards and 15 TDs, while his twin brother, Jovan, leads the Crusaders in receiving with 525 yards and six TDs.

Junior lineman Brayden Parks, who has 54 tackles and 7 1/2 sacks, was named the Catholic League Blue’s defensive player of the year.

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X-factor: Saul Ruiz, St. Rita, senior, kicker/punter.

Steve Millar’s prediction: Brother Rice.

Providence (10-3) vs. Wheaton St. Francis (10-3)

Kickoff: 10 a.m. Saturday at Hancock Stadium, Normal.

Matchup breakdown: This Class 5A championship game is another rematch from the regular season. St. Francis beat Providence 47-35 in Week 5.

The Celtics hope the maturation of their young players over the last two months can help them turn the tide.

A veteran-laden offensive line has paved the way for junior running back Broden Mackert, who has piled up 1,610 yards and 22 TDs. Sophomore Brayden McKay has added 739 yards and 11 TDs.

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Senior Xavier Coleman — a Western Illinois recruit — and junior Curtis Stubbs are the top receivers for sophomore quarterback Dominic Vita. Senior linebacker Declan Dircks leads the defense with 121 tackles.

Providence is looking for the program’s 11th championship and first since 2014.

St. Francis is trying to win its second title after winning it all in 2008.

Senior receiver Dario Milivojevic, a Southern Illinois recruit, leads the Spartans with 944 yards and 14 TDs.

Snow in the forecast could be an advantage for the run-heavy Celtics over the pass-leaning Spartans.

X-factor: Jaxson Hutton, Providence, freshman, defensive lineman.

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Steve Millar’s prediction: Wheaton St. Francis.

Mount Carmel (13-0) vs. Oswego (11-2)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday at Hancock Stadium, Normal.

Matchup breakdown: After winning three straight Class 7A state championships, Mount Carmel looks to prevail in 8A to make it a four-peat.

The Caravan is also looking to add to their state record with the program’s 17th state title.

After slipping past Loyola 21-17 in the first round, Mount Carmel has put up over 40 points in each of its last three games, winning them all by at least 19.

Senior quarterback Emmett Dowling, the Lawless Award winner for Catholic League Blue MVP, has thrown for 3,588 yards and 44 TDs and run for 468 and 10 TDs.

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Junior running back Nathan Samuels has gone for 665 yards and 10 TDs, while junior receiver Quentin Burrell has piled up 1,093 yards and 14 TDs on 65 catches. Junior linebacker Roman Igwebuike leads the defense with 104 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks.

Oswego, looking for the program’s third state championship and first since 2003, is allowing just 10 points a game. Senior receiver/defensive back Mariano Velasco has nine TD catches and six interceptions.

X-factor: Marshaun Thornton, Mount Carmel, sophomore, receiver/kick returner.

Steve Millar’s prediction: Mount Carmel.

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