Michael O'Brien's Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 12

Several of the state’s best teams welcomed back star players from injury this week, but the biggest injury news is the return of Oswego running back Ammar Banire.

Banire was the breakout star of last season’s Class 8A playoffs, leading the Panthers to the state championship game with a quarterfinal win against Maine South and a semifinal victory over Lockport.

Since then, the 6-2, 190-pound junior has received scholarship offers from Oklahoma State and several Big Ten schools. He visited Notre Dame in early October.

Banire missed Oswego’s last five regular-season games, and his playoff status was completely unknown before the weekend. The Panthers are a solid team and could compete against any of the 8A powers without him, but Banire is a special talent who elevates the team to another level.

Banire returned in style in the first round against Naperville Central. He scored a 31-yard touchdown on his first touch and finished with seven carries for 118 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half of the Panthers’ 27-6 win.

Oswego hosts Naperville North in the second round this weekend.

Public League flowers

It was a banner weekend for Public League football teams. Lane, Kenwood, Simeon, King and Morgan Park all advanced to the second round of the playoffs. And they didn’t sneak in. The Public League winners may not have knocked off football powerhouses, but all five victories were against legitimate, established schools: South Elgin, Glenbard East, Oak Lawn, Deerfield and Oak Forest.

This may not be the end of the road for the Public League. Huntley is a heavy favorite over Lane in 8A, and Simeon is an underdog against Nazareth in 6A. But King will have an outside shot against Cary-Grove in 5A, as will Kenwood against Normal in 7A.

Morgan Park faces a major challenge against Providence in 5A. The Mustangs are underdogs, but still the most likely team to advance to the quarterfinals.

Goode entertains the state

And then there is Goode. The little-known Southwest Side school played an astounding Class 6A state playoff game against visiting Quincy. The Knights lost 88-84 in a game that started at 3 p.m., lasted four hours, set multiple state records, and had to be moved to Englewood’s stadium when darkness set in. Goode’s field has no lights.

The combined 172 points is the most ever in a high school game in Illinois, topping the 166 scored when Springfield beat Rock Island 94-72 on October 29, 2021. Quincy quarterback Bryson Little threw a state-record nine touchdown passes and rushed for two TDs.

“This is why we love high school sports,” IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said. “The circumstances weren’t ideal, but everyone involved came together on behalf of students, and the result is something that no one involved with this game is ever going to forget.”

Super 25 updates

Kankakee and Sandburg fall out of the rankings after losing in the first round of the playoffs. The Eagles were ranked most of the season, and Kankakee has been in the Super 25 since the preseason.

Several contenders vied for the two open spots. Barrington, Naperville North, Glenbard West, Fenwick, St. Francis and Wheaton-Warrenville South all received serious consideration.

Nazareth and Lyons were the selections. Both teams have two high-quality wins, which the other contenders don't. The Roadrunners defeated York and Providence and Lyons knocked off Barrington and Wheaton-Warrenville South this season.

Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 12

With record and last week’s ranking

1. Lincoln-Way East (10-0) 1

Won 31-7 vs. Oak Park.

Next: Hosts Hinsdale Central.

2. Loyola (9-1) 2

Won 41-0 vs. Minooka.

Next: Hosts No. 22 York.

3. Brother Rice (8-2) 3

Won 48-7 vs. St. Charles North.

Next: Hosts No. 11 Batavia.

4. Mount Carmel (8-2) 4

Won 55-21 vs. Marist.

Next: Hosts Barrington.

5. Hersey (10-0) 5

Won 49-7 vs. Yorkville.

Next: Hosts Glenbard West.

6. IC Catholic (9-1) 6

Won 42-0 vs. Genoa-Kingston.

Next: Hosts Johnsburg.

7. Bolingbrook (9-1) 7

Won 38-14 vs. Lockport.

Next: Hosts No. 24 Lyons.

8. Maine South (9-1) 8

Won 56-20 vs. O'Fallon.

Next: Hosts No. 13 St. Ignatius.

9. Oswego (9-1) 9

Won 27-6 vs. Naperville Central.

Next: Hosts Naperville North.

10. Geneva (9-1) 10

Won 49-30 vs. Carmel.

Next: Hosts Wheaton North.

11. Batavia (8-2) 11

Won 39-10 vs. Lincoln-Way Central.

Next: At No. 3 Brother Rice.

12. Homewood-Flossmoor (8-2) 12

Won 35-7 vs. Conant.

Next: At No. 18 New Trier.

13. St. Ignatius (8-2) 13

Won 55-7 vs. West Aurora.

Next: At No. 8 Maine South.

14. St. Rita (7-3) 15

Won 36-10 vs. Buffalo Grove.

Next: At No. 16 Downers Grove North.

15. Montini (8-2) 16

Won 35-12 at Geneseo.

Next: At No. 19 Morris.

16. Downers Grove North (9-1) 17

Won 49-14 at West Chicago.

Next: Hosts No. 14 St. Rita.

17. Providence (8-3) 24

Won 35-20 at Kankakee.

Next: At No. 25 Morgan Park.

18. New Trier (9-1) 19

Won 21-6 vs. Glenbrook South.

Next: Hosts No. 12 Homewood-Flossmoor.

19. Morris (10-0) 20

Won 70-0 vs. Tinley Park.

Next: Hosts No. 15 Montini.

20. Huntley (10-0) 21

Won 48-17 at Oswego East.

Next: Hosts Lane.

21. Nazareth (6-5) NR

Won 28-7 vs. Dunlap.

Next: At Simeon.

22. York (8-3) 22

Won 42-14 at Downers Grove South.

Next: At No. 2 Loyola.

23. Prospect (9-1) 23

Won 56-22 vs. DePaul Prep.

Next: Hosts Rockford Guilford.

24. Lyons (8-3) NR

Won 55-15 vs. Perspectives.

Next: At No. 7 Bolingbrook.

25. Morgan Park (9-1) 25

Won 40-16 vs. Oak Forest.

Next: Hosts No. 17 Providence.