Which Illinois High School has the Most Football State Titles?
A high school in Illinois won its 10th state title in program history last weekend, but that doesn't even put them close to the record for most state championships. So which high school reigns supreme in football in the Land of Lincoln?
I was reading this article from the Chicago Sun-Times about the dominant win for East St. Louis over Prairie Ridge High School in the Illinois Class 6A State Football Championship Game, and I thought to myself, which team has won the most state titles in Illinois Football History?
According to Wikipedia.org, the answer to that question is Joliet Catholic Academy in Joliet, Illinois with 15 wins. On Wikipedia they say...
"Since the advent of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) state football playoffs in 1974, JCA has won more state football titles than any other team in the state, with 15 as of 11/26/2021."
Joliet Catholic Academy is the home to many famous alumni including actress Melissa McCarthy, and then football players Mike Alstott, Tom Thayer, Rudy Ruettiger (yes that Rudy from the movie Rudy), and Mr. Basketball himself George Mikan.
Now I am sure there are high schools out there that won a ton of state titles pre-1974, but I have had (so far) no way of quantifying that number. If you can send me proof of those wins I would gladly add that school to this article as well!
Sadly, my high school Crystal Lake South High School has never won a state football title. But that doesn't mean I won't always rep the Gator Green & Gold! Has your high school ever won a football state title?