Past 6A Champions

2005
2004New Lenox (Providence)(13-1)
2003Mundelein (Carmel)(14-0)
2002Chicago (Mt. Carmel)(13-1)
2001New Lenox (Providence)(14-0)
2000Park Ridge (Maine South)(13-1)
1999Naperville Central (14-0)
1998Wheaton (W. Warrenville South)(14-0)
1997 New Lenox (Lincoln-Way) (14-0)
1996Wheaton (W. Warrenville South)(13-1)
1995Wheaton (W. Warrenville South)(12-2)
1994Flossmoor (Homewood-F.)(13-1)
1993Wilmette (Loyola Academy)(12-2)
1992Naperville (North)(12-2)
1991East St. Louis (Sr.)(13-1)
1990 Harvey (Thornton) (12-2)
1989East St. Louis (Sr.)(14-0)
1988Chicago (Mt. Carmel)(14-0)
1987Arlington Heights (Hersey)(12-2)
1986Buffalo Grove(14-0)
1985East St. Louis (Sr.)(14-0)
1984East St. Louis (Sr.)(13-0)
1983East St. Louis (Sr.)(13-0)
1982Burbank (Reavis)(12-1)
1981Chicago (Brother Rice)(11-2)
1980Chicago (Gordon Tech)(12-1)

2005 6A Playoff Central

Welcome to Playoff Central. IHSFW.com gives you an in depth look at how the playoffs may take shape, by putting you right in the middle of our information control room. We break down who we think is the best bet to win it all and who's the most likely challengers. We also give you a list of the dark horse teams, or sleepers, Those teams that are overlooked throughout the year, but may sneak up o you in the playoffs or those pesky 6-3 & 5-4 teams that don't know when to quit. You can also get the latest info on what games you should miss each weekend "The Big Game" & who the best teams in the state are regardless of class "The Big 30".

Brackets & Scores
1A / 2A / 3A / 4A / 5A / 6A / 7A / 8A

2005 Title Game Date & Time; Nov. 26th 1 pm

Last Years Champ;New Lenox (Providence)(13-1) Runner-up;Bloomington (HS)(12-2)

Favorites to win the title;Joliet (Catholic)(9-0), & Morris (9-0)
Other Title Threats;Mt. Vernon(9-0),Bloomington (HS)(8-1), &Cary (C.-Grove)(9-0)
The Dark Horses;New Lenox (Providence)(5-4),Champaign (Centennial)(6-3) & Chicago (Hubbard) (7-2)

Favorites to win the title;
Joliet (Catholic)(9-0) - These guys are ranked as high as #4 in the Nation are the two time defending 5A Champs, have won a title 5 of the last 6 years, giving them 12 total titles (the most in the state) & have won and have won 28 games in a row, tying them for 13th on the states all time consecutive wins total. The Hilltoppers are know for their dominance & the own style of football. Using the wing-t formation better than it may have been intended to every be used, it's know as the 3 yards & a cloud of dust run game, JC is averaging about 9 yards a rush. They also are bringing a punishing defense up to the line of scrimmage every year. JC's backfield has often been stacked with normal size kids who relied on a huge offensive line to clear paths for them, that along with the misdirection of the wing-T has helped catapult head Coach Dan Sharp & the Hilltoppers to the front of every class come playoff time. This year is no different, Sharp thinks the backs he has this year are the best set of returning starters the schools ever had (Tampa Bay fullback Mike Alstott was a JC grad). With Joe Benson (6'1 215 sr.), Billy McKeon (RB/QB 6' 190 sr.) & Dan Hrvatin (6' 185 sr.) all giving JC's running backs the size they may have lacked in the past, along with the speed, they are the team to beat in the state, not just 6A. The Hilltoppers are averaging 48 points a game.

Morris (9-0) - The Redskins could have one of the best wrestlers in the state on their football team, thankfully, he happens to be one of the best running backs in the state as well. John Dergo (5'11 190 sr.). He's rushed for 200 yards in every game he's played so far this year and has been starting for Morris since his sophomore year. Morris, got a bump in enrollment this year & are now in 6A, where they'll have another shot at the Joliet Catholic team that has beat them in their last two 5A title games. Morris has been out scoring their opponents by 34 points, a best for 6A teams.

Other Title Threats;
Mt. Vernon(9-0) - The Rams have been tearing it up in the South Seven Conference, against some very good southern teams, Cahokia, Althoff Catholic, Triad & Newton. This normally would have a team ranked as a favorite to win the title, until you realize that, while they've one 6 games against playoff teams, some of them were very close games, like the 35-31 win over Triad & other were close against smaller teams. A 25-21 win over 4A Newton, only made Newton look like more of a threat to win the 4A title than it did to proclaim the Rams dominance coming into the 6A playoffs. Either way, the Rams are still undefeated and should not be considered a push over, but they will have to beat just about every team in the Big 12 Conference just to make it to the semi-finals.

Bloomington (HS)(8-1) - The Purple Raiders lost their only game to Normal Community 17-14 in week #2. Head coach Rigo Schmelzer always has a game plan come playoff time, and with a possible second round meeting between the two teams again, look for the Raiders to prove the second times a charm as they work on making it back to the finals for the 4th year in a row.

Cary (C.-Grove)(9-0) - The Trojans lost some talent on offensive to graduation after last year's 7A Runner-up performance. The defense though kept all three of it's leading tacklers in Alex Kube, John Mago & Kevin Passaglia. Plus the Trojans have come out of nowhere to become the dominant team in the Fox Valley, going 9-0 in the regular season for the second year in a row. Given the fact that they're in 6A in stead of 7A & they are definitely a serious title threat.

The Dark Horses;
New Lenox (Providence)(5-4) - Head coach Matt Senffner is a Hall of Fame high school coach. While the Celtics are having a bad year (yes making the playoff at 5-4 is a bad year for these guys) they are still a dangerous team. The only thing that can stop the 2004 6A Champs is the fact that they are in the same quadrant as Morris & Joliet Catholic. The winner of this quadrant most likely will win the 6A title.

Champaign (Centennial)(6-3) - Centennial was a dark horse in the Big 12, as they not only beat, but blanked 2005 Big 12 Champs Normal Community 23-0 in week 4. Giving the Ironmen their only loss of the season. The Chargers would go into a tail spin soon after, losing 3 of their last 4 after starting 5-0. They've been getting some offensive out put by sophomore phenom running back Mike Leshoure has been putting up impressive numbers this year. The Chargers might be a year off, but could fair well in the first 3 weeks of the playoffs as the may face nothing but Big 12 teams they've already seen.

Chicago (Hubbard) (7-2) - With all the focus of the first Chicago Public team to possibly win a state title falling on Morgan Park in 7A, the Greyhounds have a chance, a slight chance of pulling off the unthinkable. It will all depend on whether their opponents can stop Robert Hughes, who is quite possibly the best junior running back in the state. After that, they Greyhounds will need to watch their penalties & clean up their special teams play. Basically they need to play disciplined flawless football & they have the talent to give the top dogs in 6A more bite than bark.

6A Team stats