Hilltoppers stay at No.3 in AP Class 5A rankings

The Associated Press released their Illinois State Football Rankings Tuesday.

In Class 5A, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin (2-0) replaced Rochester (2-0) as the No.1 team, moving up from No.2 after a 54-0 Central State 8 Conference romp over Decatur MacArthur.

Rochester (2-0) dropped down to Class 4A and took over No.1 after a 68-34 Central State 8 Conference shootout win over Springfield.

St. Rita (1-1), who was No. 4 in Class 5A in week one, moved to No. 2 in Class 5A after a 51-13 blow-out of previously No. 5 Montini.

St. Rita suffered a 7-3 loss in week one to this week's No.1 team in Class 8A - Loyola Academy (2-0).

That left Joliet Catholic (2-0) right where they were to start the week, even though they crushed week one Class 5A No. 9 Fenwick, 42-7 on Sunday night. Garnishing two first-place votes in week one, the Hilltoppers got one first-place vote this week. SHG got the other 10 first-place votes.

Maine South place kicker John Sassan's 37-yard, game-winning field goal helped the Hawks escape Evanston 10-7. Evidently, the razor-thin margin of victory didn't impress the Class 8A AP voters as the Hawks were demoted to No. 9 in Class 8A, dropping four spots from No. 5 in week one.

The Hilltoppers return home to Memorial Stadium, for their Thursday night home-opener against St.Ignatius (0-2) at 7:30 p.m, while the Hawks (2-0) play at 5:30 on Saturday evening in Park Ridge against Glenbrook North (1-1).

CLASS 5A (first place votes)

1. SHG 2-0 (10)

2. St. Rita 1-1

3. Joliet Catholic 2-0 (1)

4. Rockford Boylan 2-0

5. Sterling 2-0

6. Hillcrest 2-0

7. Mascoutah 2-0

8. Sycamore 2-0

9. Marion 2-0

10. St. Viator 2-0

CLASS 8A

1. Loyola Academy 2-0

2. Lincoln-Way East 2-0

3. Marist 2-0

4. Glenbard West 2-0

5. Naperville Central 2-0

6. Brother Rice 1-1

7. Warren 2-0

8. Edwardsville 2-0

9. Maine South 2-0

10. Hinsdale Central 2-0