Coach Lalor, our family and I are beyond humbled by the overwhelming outpouring of love, support and gratitude by so many families, friends, coaches, officials, community members and players who have been our football family for so many decades.

Construction of new Joliet Catholic Academy athletic facilities should start in a few months.

Joliet Catholic Academy plans to begin construction in the spring if the city approves its plans.

Don Wachter has become known as Bearman for the costume he wears to each Bears game. He will be back at Soldier Field for Sunday’s NFC playoff game.

Richmond-Burton junior Blake Livdahl, an all-state linebacker who helped lead the Rockets to the Class 3A semifinals, has had his wrestling season come to an end after tearing his right ACL. He was a state runner-up wrester as a sophomore.

Former Northern Illinois University quarterback and current Mount Carmel High School head football coach Jordan Lynch was named as a member of the 2026 National Football Foundation’s College Football Hall of Fame class.

The Chicago Bears knocked off the Green Bay Packers 31-27 in Wild Card matchup Saturday night at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Don Wachter has become known as the Bearman for the costume that he wears to each Bears home game. Topping off the costume is a bear-head hat.

Stillman Valley's Mike Lalor is stepping away as head football coach after 28 years.

City spokeswoman says vote expected "early in the new year." JCA has been told possibly Jan. 20. But no date has been set.

Take a look back at some of the top sports stories from the Daily Journal area in 2025.

The IHSA announced Tuesday that the state football playoffs will be expanding from 256 to 384 teams starting in 2026. The Northwest Herald reached out to several local coaches, and here are their reactions.

The Chicago Bears beat the Cleveland Browns Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field in Chicago where wind chills dipped well below zero.

Richmond-Burton's Mike Noll won his 300th game and led the Rockets to within one win of a state championship game berth. Noll is the 2025 Northwest Herald Football Coach of the Year.

A Day 1 varsity starter as a running back his freshman year, Prairie Ridge senior Luke Vanderwiel developed into an all-state quarterback. He is the 2025 Northwest Herald Football Player of the Year after leading the Wolves to an undefeated regular season.

Meet the 2025 Northwest Herald All-Area football team.

As a Byron High School football fan, I want to express my gratitude to the Byron high school program for the many years of excitement I have come to enjoy.

Members of the St. Francis High School football team had to wait a few extra days before ultimately hoisting the state championship trophy following the Class 5A final against Providence

The Oswego football team played Mount Carmel Saturday to decide the IHSA Class 8A state championship in Huskie Stadium at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.

The Brother Rice and St. Rita football teams played Wednesday in the IHSA Class 7A State Championship game in Huskie Stadium at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.

Wheaton St. Francis defeated Providence Catholic 39-35 to win the Class 5A State championship on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025 in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.

Friday morning at the Nash Rec Center, a friend asked me what the 3A football championship point spread would be in the Byron-Tolono Unity game.

From dominant state champion teams to individual stars, take a look at some of the top prep athletic performances for the fall season from the Daily Journal area.

Byron and Tolono Unity square up Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, at Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University for the 3A football title. Byron won a barnburner 56-50.

Wilmington and Maroa-Forsyth face off Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, at Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University for the 2A football title. Wilmington won 42-6.

Lena-Winslow and Brown County take the field Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, at Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University for the 1A football title. Lena-Winslow took the win 58-13.

The late Phyllis A. Olsta, a 1951 graduate of St. Francis Academy who went on to a career in the travel industry, donated $6.08 million to her alma mater.

Having some cents of Dixon history: Centennial, quasquicentennial, sesquicentennial, dosquicentennial … Dixon can observe them all this year, from the anniversary of an unbeatable high school football team to the establishment of governance in its rural areas.

The Chicago Bears continued their winning ways Sunday with a 31-28 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Lena-Winslow is headed back to the Class 1A championship after avenging its only loss to Stockton 30-16 on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025 in Stockton.

Wilmington defeated El Paso-Gridley 41-0 in IHSA Class 2A semifinal playoff football on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025.

Caden Considine showed off what he called "explosive-play ability," rushing for 287 yards and five touchdowns, and Byron beat host Richmond-Burton 44-10 in a Class 3A state semifinal game Saturday in Richmond.

The Oswego and Lockport football teams met Saturday in a state football semifinal game.

Richmond-Burton faces Byron in an IHSA Class 3A smifinal playoff football game on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Richmond-Burton High School, in Richmond.

The Montini football team hosted Morris Saturday afternoon in an IHSA state football semifinal matchup.

The Batavia and St. Rita football teams met Saturday with a trip downstate on the line.

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

Amboy/LaMoille/Ohio defeated Polo 30-20 to win the 8-man I8FA championship game on Friday, Nov. 21, 2025 at April Zorn Memorial Stadium in Monmouth. This is the Clippers third straight championship.

The commission voted 5-0 in favor of JCA's proposal that would expand its sports facilities onto the grounds of the former Our Lady of Angels Retirement Home.

The Lisle Planning and Zoning Commission has given a positive recommendation to Benet Academy’s request for a new outdoor sports stadium and other athletic improvements.

Richmond-Burton linebacker/fullback Blake Livdahl plays bigger than his 5-foot-7 frame. A state finalist in wrestling last winter, he rushed for a season-high 122 yards and two TDs in the Rockets' 31-6 win over Monmouth-Roseville in a Class 3A state quarterfinal.

In a 28-6 win over IC Catholic Prep in the 3A semifinals, undefeated Byron did something teams all season failed to do – shut down the vaunted Knights passing attack.

Stockton shut out Dwight 44-0 on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 at Stockton High School. Check out photos from the game by MaKade Rios.

Byron downed Elmhurst IC Catholic 28-6 in 3A quarterfinal action at Byron High School on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. With the win, the Tigers advance to the semifinals against Richmond Burton.

Wilmington ran to a 49-7 victory over Tri-Valley in the Class 2A quarterfinal playoff on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025.

Richmond-Burton faces Monmouth-Roseville in an IHSA Class 3A quarterfinal playoff football game on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Richmond-Burton High School, in Richmond.

Milledgeville travels to Amboy to take on the Clippers for a shot at the 8-man state finals. Amboy took the win 18-8.

The Montini and Coal City football teams met Saturday in a quarterfinal playoff game.

The St. Charles North football team met Brother Rice Saturday in a state quarterfinal matchup.

The Batavia and Glenbard North football teams met Satudray in a quarterfinal playoff matchup.