Sandburg, Reavis, Oak Forest, Mount Carmel and St. Laurence are picks to click for Week 5.
Homewood-Flossmoor (3-1, 2-0) at Sandburg (4-0, 2-0)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Troy McAllister, who went 19-20 in four seasons as Sandburg’s coach and led the Eagles to the playoffs three times, makes his return to Orland Park in his first year at H-F.
Sandburg coach Sheamus Murphy, who spent last season as an assistant under McAllister, will try to stay perfect as the Eagles’ head coach.
While there will certainly be a lot of attention on the sidelines, there is plenty of talent worth watching in this Southwest Valley Blue showdown.
Junior quarterback Sean Ruisz and junior receiver/running back/defensive back Quinn Durkin have a terrific connection for the Eagles.
Senior receivers Joaquin Jordan and Myles Ellis, who made up half of H-F’s state championship 400-meter relay team in the spring, form a dynamic duo for the Vikings.
X-factor: Drew Drzonek, Sandburg, senior, kicker.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Sandburg.
Homewood-Flossmoor’s Myles Ellis (3) runs after the catch against Lockport during a Southwest Valley Blue game at Lockport on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025. (Sean King / Daily Southtown)
Reavis (3-1, 1-1) at Evergreen Park (3-1, 0-1)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Reavis coach Tim Zasada has likely felt some deja vu recently when taking on the South Suburban Red rival Mustangs.
The last three meetings have ended with very similar results — the Mustangs winning 28-21 in 2022, 27-20 in 2023 and 21-13 last season.
The Rams will look to turn the tables led by Zasada’s son, Parker, a senior running back/defensive lineman. Reavis has been opportunistic on defense and special teams, blocking four punts and scoring on an interception return by Skylar O’Neill in Saturday’s 41-12 win over Argo.
Evergreen Park looks to bounce back from a 31-7 loss to Shepard. Junior Tyler Phelps, who plays running back, receiver and defensive back and also returns kicks, also stepped in at quarterback last week due to an injury.
X-factor: Blake Stefanek, Reavis, senior, kicker/punter.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Reavis.
Reavis’ Parker Zasada trots into the end zone after a catch against Argo during a South Suburban Red game in Burbank on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (Gary Middendorf / Daily Southtown)
Tinley Park (1-3, 0-1) at Oak Forest (4-0, 2-0)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: After taking down Marmion 41-28 in their season opener, the Bengals have won each of their last three games by at least 33 points.
They’ll look to keep rolling when they welcome in the district rival Titans for this South Suburban Blue game. Senior quarterback Daniel Chopp is an experienced leader and junior running back William McMaster has been tough to stop.
Tinley Park will try to snap a three-game losing streak behind senior running back Ladale Smith and senior linebacker Cabren White.
X-factor: Andrew Dawson, Oak Forest, senior, receiver/defensive back.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Oak Forest.
Mount Carmel’s Emmett Dowling (7) throws the ball on the run against St. Rita during a nonconference game in Chicago on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Mount Carmel (4-0) vs. Benet (3-1)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Benedictine.
Matchup breakdown: The Caravan, who took care of St. Ignatius 41-14 last week, need to avoid looking ahead to a Week 6 showdown against Brother Rice.
The combination of senior quarterback Emmett Dowling and junior receiver Quentin Burrell — who visited Notre Dame last weekend — has been pretty much unstoppable thus far.
Benet has wins over Hillcrest, De La Salle and St. Viator, so this game certainly presents a huge step up in competition. Luke Doyle had a key punt return touchdown last week for the Redwings.
X-factor: Madden Wilson, Mount Carmel, senior, running back.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Mount Carmel.
St. Laurence’s Cory Les (80) runs the ball against DePaul Prep during a Class 4A state quarterfinal in Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (Patrick Gorski / Daily Southtown)
St. Laurence (3-1) vs. Leo (2-2)
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Xavier.
Matchup breakdown: St. Laurence suffered its first loss of the season Friday night, falling 21-14 to Carmel.
Senior Jimmy McDermott and sophomore Noah Taylor have split time at quarterback, with McDermott throwing a TD pass and Taylor running for a TD last week.
The Vikings’ defense has been solid, allowing an average of 14 points.
Leo opened the season with wins over Chicago Public League foes Dunbar and Amundsen before losing to St. Patrick and dropping a 35-14 decision to Marian Catholic last week.
Trent Watson threw a 26-yard TD pass to Antonio Clark in the loss to the Spartans.
X-factor: Cory Les, St. Laurence, senior, running back/defensive back.
Steve Millar’s prediction: St. Laurence.
