Week 1 Illinois Small-School Football Digest
Intro
This is a retroactive recap of Week 1 of the 2026-27 season, based on IHSA’s posted scores for games played August 20–22, 2026. No rankings or polls are included, as none were available for this week.
Class 1A
Week 1 saw several lopsided outcomes, including Chicago (Curie)’s 42-0 shutout of Chicago (Crane) on August 20. On August 22, Fithian (Oakwood) dominated Bismarck (B.-Henning-Rossville-Alvin) 61-14, while Moweaqua (Central A & M) defeated Mackinaw (Deer Creek) 33-6. Co-op matchups included Concord (Triopia) falling 0-50 to Hardin (Calhoun), and Nokomis besting Arcola 32-13. Riverton’s 8-46 loss to Athens and Shelbyville’s 6-27 defeat to Heyworth highlighted other contests.
Class 2A
Class 2A featured a mix of decisive wins and tight games. Maroa (M.-Forsyth) routed New Berlin 59-0 on August 21, while Sterling (Newman Central Catholic) shut out Sherrard 47-0. Chicago (Amundsen) edged Chicago (Marshall) 24-2 in a co-op matchup, and El Paso (Gridley) defeated Stockton 41-20. Close games included Colfax (Ridgeview)’s 14-22 loss to LeRoy and Fisher’s 40-14 win over Toledo. On August 22, Sullivan defeated Argenta (A.-Oreana) 55-14.
Class 3A
Class 3A saw high-scoring affairs and strong defensive performances. St. Joseph (Ogden) overwhelmed Fairbury (Prairie Central) 64-20 on August 21, while Byron beat Poplar Grove (North Boone) 55-7. Lisle (Sr.) defeated Aurora (Central Catholic) 49-28, and Mt. Carmel topped DuQuoin 50-22. Notable upsets included Auburn’s 21-31 loss to Stanford (Olympia) and Erie’s 24-22 win over Monmouth (M.-Roseville). On August 22, Paris edged Chester 27-25.
Storylines to Watch
Week 1 showcased dominant performances by teams like Fithian (61-14) and St. Joseph (64-20), as well as co-op challenges for schools like Concord (0-50) and Chicago (Amundsen-Marshall). Defensive struggles were evident in games such as Greenville’s 45-0 shutout of Virden, while close contests like Auburn-Stanford (21-31) and Erie-Monmouth (24-22) hinted at competitive seasons ahead.