Jake Thies' basket with 3.7 seconds left gave Fenwick a win over Brother Rice, OJ Powell poured in 26 points for Willowbrook in a win over Proviso East, and IC Catholic, Benet, Downers Grove South, Wheaton Warrenville South and Hinsdale Central were also winners Friday.

With the 2025 Early Signing Period over, we take a look at some of the top Class of 2027 prospects the CCL/ESCC has to offer. Carmel's Trae Taylor, Montini's Israel Abrams and Mount Carmel's Quentin Burrell are among the league's top junior players.

Cameron Mercer's 24 points paced a Riverside-Brookfield boys basketball win, and Glenbard East, Glenbard South, Morton, Downers Grove North and Fenwick boys basketball were also winners Tuesday.

Here is Friday Night Drive's 2025 All-CCL/ESCC football team, with players from all 24 member programs.

Here is the 2025 Suburban Life All-Area football team.

Wednesday marked the beginning of the 2025 Early Signing Day Period for NCAA Division I football. Here is a list of CCL/ESCC players who will be playing Division I FBS and FCS football next year.

Fenwick defeated East St. Louis 38-28 on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.

Fenwick took advantage of nearly every opportunity sent its way on Tuesday night and despite losing nearly every statistical category, they won the stat that mattered in a 38-28 win over East St. Louis in the Class 6A title game.

It's not surprise to see East St. Louis in the state title game and most expected a CCL/ESCC team to be battling them. There is one, but it probably isn't the team most though it would be. Steve Soucie previews Saturday's Class 6A title game.

Join hosts Steve Soucie, Russ Hodges and Josh Welge as they preview the Illinois high school football state championship games

Here is the 2025 Suburban Life All-Area soccer team.

As the 2025-2026 boys basketball season tips off this week, here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

Jamen Williams threw for 283 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, while Jake Thies posted over 100 rushing and 100 receiving yards as Fenwick shocked Nazareth 28-27 in overtime to win its 6A state semifinal and end Nazareth's bid for four straight state championships.

Nazareth hosted Fenwick Saturday for an IHSA state football semifinal matchup.

Here are previews and picks for semifinal games for teams in the Suburban Life coverage area.

Nine CCL/ESCC schools, including defending champions Mount Carmel, Nazareth and Montini will be competing in the IHSA state football semifinals this weekend. Below are all of the semifinal matchups featuring CCL/ESCC teams.

Mount Carmel dominated Lincoln-Way East, Nazareth rallied to stun Lake Zurich and Fenwick controlled Burlington Central to set up a 6A semifinal between the Roadrunners and Friars. Montini won its 22nd straight game and Providence knocked off top seed Washington.

As the 2025-2026 girls basketball season tips off this week, here are previews of teams from around the Suburban Life coverage area.

The Fenwick Friars slowed down a potent Burlington Central offense in a 49-21 Class 6A quarterfinal victory Saturday afternoon.

Mount Carmel and Lincoln-Way East are set to collide in a Class 8A quarterfinal matchup. Brother Rice continued its dominance in 7A and will battle St. Charles North in the quarterfinals. Fenwick cruised into the 6A quarterfinals and will take on Burlington Central.

Here are previews and picks for quarterfinal games for teams in the Suburban Life coverage area.

CCL/ESCC football players from Mount Carmel, Marist, Nazareth, Fenwick, Joliet Catholic, Providence, St. Francis, Marian Catholic, Montini and IC Catholic Prep were named to the 2025 IHSFCA All-State team. Quentin Burrell, Jake Cestone and Israel Abrams were among the winners.

Mount Carmel and Lincoln-Way East are set to square off in the Class 8A state quarterfinals. Defending champions Nazareth and Montini are still in the hunt after two rounds. Here are all of the quarterfinal matchups featuring CCL/ESCC programs.

Nazareth’s magical season will wind up in a familiar place - Illinois State University - following a 27-25, 25-18 victory over Fenwick in the Class 3A De La Salle Supersectional Monday night. 

Jake Thies rushed for 151 yards and scored four total touchdowns, and Fenwick rolled up a 31-point halftime lead and went on to a 45-7 win over Rolling Meadows in the Class 6A second-round game at Triton College.

A total of 12 CCL/ESCC football teams advanced to the second round of the 2025 IHSA state playoffs. Among the teams still in the hunt for state titles are defending champions Mount Carmel, Nazareth and Montini.

C.J. Gray led Brother Rice over Jefferson, Zach Washington's kick return sparked St. Francis against Morgan Park and Israel Abrams tossed four TD passes to help Montini remain undefeated. Fenwick, St. Rita, Providence and IC Catholic Prep added first-round playoff wins.

The Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference has revealed its All-Conference honorees and award winners for the 2025 varsity football season. Click the link below to read this year's award winners.

Montini made history with a win over St. Laurence, Joliet Catholic stunned Providence to make the playoffs and St. Patrick defeated St. Viator in a matchup of former NFL players turned head coaches. Marian Catholic, Brother Rice and Carmel each added wins in Week 9.

There are over a dozen CCL/ESCC teams participating in the IHSA football playoffs this season. Among the playoff qualifiers are defending state champions Mount Carmel, Loyola, Nazareth and Montini. Here are all of the first-round matchups for CCL/ESCC teams.

Behind Nebraska commit Trae Taylor, Carmel scores the final 28 points to rally from a two-touchdown deficit and beat Fenwick 38-24.

Playoff spots and divisional championships are on the line as all 24 of the CCL/ESCC football teams prepare to take the field this evening. Here are all of tonight's CCL/ESCC Week 9 matchups.

Montini is 8-0 and eyeing historic achievements, while Joliet Catholic finds itself in unfamiliar territory with an Orange Division title game against Providence looming. Niles Notre Dame defeated Leo and snapped a five-game losing streak, setting up a pivotal clash with Marist.

Glenbard East senior Sam Walton got a late start to football, but the two-way starter has grown into a disruptive force on the defensive line as the Rams prepare for a Week 9 showdown with Riverside-Brookfield for the Upstate Eight East title. That and more in Bob Narang's notes.

Nine CCL/ESCC football teams including Mount Carmel, Montini, Nazareth and Brother Rice have won six or more games and secured automatic bids to the IHSA playoffs. Several teams including St. Rita, Loyola and St. Patrick are still in the mix with a week left.

As the regular season comes to a close, here are some under-the-radar players who have made a huge impact this fall on Suburban Life-area soccer teams.

St. Laurence took a crucial matchup against St. Patrick, while IC Catholic Prep and St. Francis inched closer to automatic playoff bids. Providence outlasted Loyola and multiple teams including St. Rita, Carmel, Brother Rice, Mount Carmel and Montini picked up victories.

Five CCL/ESCC football teams have secured automatic playoff bids through seven weeks of the IHSA regular season. Nazareth, Fenwick and Brother Rice all improved to 6-1, joining Mount Carmel and Montini in the postseason. Several five and four-win teams are still in the hunt.

Fenwick brothers Tommy and Jake Thies combined for four rushing touchdowns, while quarterback Jamen Williams threw for 210 yards and kicker Noah Sur made two field goals as the Friars beat Benet 48-7 to reach 6-1 and secure an automatic playoff berth

Since the start of his junior season, Fenwick kicker/punter and Northwestern football commit Noah Sur has raised over $6,000 for stillbirth prevention and awareness through Every Kick Counts. A 2026 Navy All-American Bowl honoree, Sur was a top fundraiser nationally last year.

Nazareth took down St. Rita, St. Patrick handled Benet and Marian Catholic knocked off Marmion as divisional races heat up in the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference. Leo rolled over De La Salle to earn its third win for the first time since 2021.

Mount Carmel and Montini clinched automatic playoff bids, while several CCL/ESCC teams including Brother Rice, Nazareth and Fenwick are sitting comfortably with three weeks left in the regular season. Four-win teams include Carmel, Loyola, St. Francis, Providence and more.

Fenwick has already tripled the number of wins it had last year and the Friars are relying on a strong defense and stellar goalkeeping from Dominik Ballarin. That, plus notes on St. Francis and Glenbard South and rivalry games on Thursday in Downers Grove and Hinsdale.

Marist and St. Rita snapped their recent losing streaks, while Trae Taylor threw for 5 touchdowns as Carmel scored 70 points against Marian Catholic. Mount Carmel and Brother Rice each improved to 5-0, setting the stage for a massive CCL/ESCC Blue Division showdown.

After missing his junior season to an ACL injury, Montini's Laddie Asay watched the Broncos finish 12-2 and win the IHSA 3A state championship. Now healthy and a team captain, Asay is motivated to lead to Broncos to a second straight state title.

Providence and Marmion are rolling into divisional play, Joliet Catholic stunned Marist on a scramble-drill touchdown and Nazareth held off IC Catholic Prep on a game-winning field goal. Montini held off Fenwick to stay unbeaten and Mount Carmel rolled over St. Ignatius

A failed two-point try that could have tied it was the difference as Montini bested Fenwick 31-29 Friday night.

The Montini football team hosted Fenwick Friday night in Lombard.

Montini and IC Catholic are 3-0 after wins over bigger schools, Loyola exacted its revenge on St. Francis and Brother Rice nabbed a ranked win over St. Rita in Chicago. Also included in this week's notebook are updates on the CCL/ESCC White and Red Divisions.

Jamen Williams threw for 204 yards and three touchdowns and Jake Thies had one of three Fenwick interceptions and a 67-yard TD run as the Friars remained unbeaten with a 43-26 win over Joliet Catholic that dropped the Hilltoppers to 0-3.