Undefeated Loyola Academy Football Enters Playoffs As Top Seed

WILMETTE, IL — After a second consecutive undefeated regular season, Loyola Academy football team begins its playoff push this weekend, as the top-seeded Ramblers seek a first state championship since 2018.

Loyola (9-0) kicks off at noon Saturday against Downers Grove South (5-4) at Hoerster Field. If the Ramblers come out on top, they will face either Naperville North (6-3) or Naperville Central (6-3) in the second round.

A second-round win would set up a potential quarterfinal matchup against eighth-seeded York Community High School from Elmhurst, ninth-seeded Lincoln-Way East (7-2) or, in case of a first-round upset, No. 25 Minooka (5-4) or No. 24 Oswego East (6-3).

In addition to the top seed in the IHSA Class 8A state championship tournament, the Ramblers enter the playoffs as the top ranked team in the final Associated Press poll of the season.

Loyola Academy earns the top overall seed in the @IHSAState Class 8A playoffs. The Ramblers will host Downers Grove South in the first round at Hoerster Field. Date and time TBA. #TheRoadToDeKalb goes through Wilmette.#GoRamblers pic.twitter.com/R8BGsDxx2T
— Loyola Academy Football Alumni Club (@LAFootballAC) October 24, 2021

Related: Loyola Academy RB Named Bears High School All-Star After Breaking Record, Collarbone

Last year's season was cut short by COVID-19, so no state championship was awarded. But in the six games played in March and April 2020, the Ramblers racked up six wins, no losses and outscored their opponents by a score of 180-41.

As their 15-game winning street continued in 2021, Loyola has outscored the opposition 337-141. Their narrowest victories have come with a pair of three-point away wins over Brother Rice and Fenwick and a two-point away win against Mt. Carmel in the final week of the season.