SE Illinois News

The origins of high school football in Illinois date back to the 1880s. Some of the state’s most tradition-rich programs originated before 1900, including schools such as Oak Park, East Aurora, Freeport, Woodstock, Joliet, West Aurora, Pontiac, Pittsfield, and East St. Louis. Many of the greatest legends in the history of the sport played high school football in Illinois, including Red Grange, Otto Graham, Dick Butkus, Ray Nitschke, and Kellen Winslow.

The IHSA did not adopt a formal playoff system until 1974. In Chicago, the Prep Bowl series that pitted the winners of the Public and Catholic leagues began in 1934. Elsewhere, schools in different regions of the state claimed ‘mythical’ state championships for many decades.

In small communities and larger cities all across Illinois, thousands of fans head to high school stadiums to watch football on Friday nights. The term ‘Friday Night Lights’ has become symbolic with high school football across the country, and in some communities, many businesses shut down and most of the townspeople head out to watch the games.

High school football in Illinois can be defined by the hundreds of local rivalries that exist to this day. The oldest state series involves two Chicago teams – Hyde Park and Englewood – which dates back to 1889. Other long-standing rivalries include East Aurora vs West Aurora; Champaign Central vs Urbana; Ottawa vs Streator; Tuscola vs Arcola; Oak Park vs Proviso East; Centralia vs Mt. Vernon; Peoria Central vs Peoria Manual; Thornton vs Bloom; East St. Louis vs Belleville West; and Princeton vs Kewanee.

One of the state’s best rivalries didn’t begin until 2010 when Rochester and head coach Derek Leonard joined the Central State Eight Conference. Derek’s father Ken Leonard recently retired as head coach at Sacred Heart-Griffin after a legendary career. The Rochester-SHG matchups over the last 13 years are referred to by many as the ‘Leonard Bowl,’ considered classics and often close, high-scoring affairs.

Many Illinois communities identify with their local high school football teams. Traditions are carried out year after year with Homecoming parades and week-long celebrations that include alumni reuniting and catching up on old times. The history of certain rivalries can be traced back for generations such as in Douglas County communities Arcola and Tuscola. This rivalry extends beyond the gridiron when in the 1850s a controversial election saw Tuscola gain the county seat over Arcola. Both towns’ high schools began playing football in the mid-1890s with their annual game known as ‘Cola Wars.’

In Mid-Illini Conference near Peoria, Metamora and Washington sit just a few miles apart with their teams having met more than 60 times on an almost even split record during what is simply known as Metamora-Washington week. The stands are always packed with fans surrounding the field creating a special atmosphere where for many people it is considered "the most important week of the year."

In Quincy when Quincy Senior (public) meets Quincy Notre Dame (Catholic), it’s not just a rivalry game but also a community event bringing together talents from across town despite its remote location necessitating extensive travel for other games.

As things change yearly across Illinois and nationwide traditions like Friday Night Lights continue strong ensuring community celebrations at high school football games remain vibrant each fall season.