Oswego High School State Championship Game Postponed: IHSA

OSWEGO, IL — For the first time in its history, the Illinois High School Association has postponed the second day of state championship football games due to an “impending winter storm” and related closures, the organization announced Friday afternoon.

Four matches in four classes, including the 8A state title game between Oswego High School and Chicago’s Mount Carmel High School, will no longer happen Saturday at Illinois State University's Hancock Stadium, in Normal. The school closed its campus out of an abundance of caution for the storm, according to IHSA.

A new date and time has yet to be determined, officials said, but they won’t be played on Sunday.

Games happening at the stadium Friday will continue as scheduled.

“The postponement of the IHSA Football State Finals is unprecedented in the state playoffs 51-year history,” IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson said in a statement. “All of the competing teams in Class 5A, 6A, 7A and 8A have been alerted that their state championship games will not be played on November 29, but that they will be played in the coming days. We appreciate the patience and understanding of these schools and communities as we work to determine the best and safest solution to rescheduling these contests and crowning state champions in our four largest classes.”

The Panthers, 11-2, advanced to the Class 8A state championship after a 10-7 win against Lockport Township High School in the semifinals Nov. 22. The team has gone 11-2 this season.

It's the third time in school history that the team made it to the state championship — "an incredible accomplishment for our athletes, coaches, and entire community," Oswego High School Athletics said.