Brother Rice Vs. Loyola: A Guide To The IHSA 8A State Title Game

CHAMPAIGN, IL — For Brother Rice, this weekend's IHSA Class 8A football state championship game has been 33 years in the making. The Crusaders haven't been in a title game since they finished as the state runner-up in 1985. For Catholic League rival Loyola Academy, Saturday's state championship game will be the Ramblers' fourth title game appearance in a row.

The Crusaders have the added possibility on the line that a win in the state title game will give them a perfect season. That would be a first in school history. The only time Brother Rice has ever won a state football championship came in 1981 when they won the IHSA Class 6A title with an 11-2 record.

Current Head Coach Brian Badke says the 1981 team went on a run after an 0-2 start. What's on the line for the 2018 Crusaders would be a perfect 14-0 season that would be remembered forever at the school many men who grew up on the South Side call their alma mater.

Expectations have been high, at least internally, for the Crusaders all year.

"This was the goal," Badke said of this team preparing for the state championship game over Thanksgiving week. "It might surprise others that we are here, but it doesn't surprise us."

Badke isn't wrong to say it's a surprise for most to see Brother Rice in the state championship game. The team was 2-7 last season.

"But we knew we had a lot of guys coming back from injuries," he said. "It's a good core that worked extremely hard in the off-season to get to this point, and it has all paid off."

Badke called Brother Rice's senior leadership "phenomenal."

"They have a great bond with the juniors and sophomores who have taken on key roles," he said.

Saturday's state championship game is a rematch of a Sept. 14 regular season game in which the Crusaders crushed visiting Loyola, 35-3.

"They (Loyola) had some injuries, and their quarterback didn't play. We took advantage of a few turnovers and were playing our best," Badke said of the lopsided win earlier in the season.

But a team like Loyola is never one to take lightly. The Ramblers are coming off a stunning 24-16 win over Lincoln-Way East in the Class 8A semifinals. LWE had previously been rated as one of the best high school football teams in the Midwest.

"Loyola has been to four consecutive championship games for a reason," Badke said. "We know they are going to be ready. They are a really good football team, so it will be a great battle on Saturday night."

Class 8A State Championship Game

Where: Memorial Stadium, Champaign

When: 7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 24

Who: Brother Rice (13-0) vs. Loyola Academy (10-3)

Last meeting: Brother Rice won, 35-3, at Gary Little Stadium earlier this season on Sept. 14.

Tickets: $10 per day

Watch here via IHSA TV

Television: NBC Sports Chicago | Channel Finder
Streaming: NBC Sports App | Order DVD

Storyline: A state championship game turns out to be the true finale for the traditional Chicago Catholic League. Two traditional Catholic League teams will face off for the state title in the final season before the league merges with the East Suburban Catholic Conference next year.

"This is a testament to how great the league is," Badke said.

A third Catholic League team, Lombard - Montini Catholic, is vying for the Class 5A state title this weekend.

About Brother Rice

Season Record: 13-0

Last season: 2-7

Last week: Beat Marist, 14-3, in IHSA semifinal

Previous state titles: 1981

Game By Game This Season:

8/24 vs. Marist, W- 20-16
8/31 vs. Crete-Monee, W- 54-16
9/7 vs. Fenwick W, 35-3
9/14 vs. Loyola Academy, W- 35-3
9/21 vs. Providence Catholic, W- 20-0
9/28 vs. St. Rita, W- 21-14
10/5 vs. Aurora Marmion Academy, W- 40-0
10/12 vs. Leo, W- 48-0
10/19 vs. Lombard Montini, W- 31-0

IHSA Playoffs

10/27 vs. Zion-Benton, W- 49-0
11/3 vs. Oak Park-River Forest, W- 27-27
11/10 vs. Gurnee Warren, W- 20-0
11/17 vs. Marist, W- 14-3

Full season statistics and complete roster here via IHSA

About Loyola

Season Record: 10-3

Last season: State runner-up, lost to Lincoln-Way East in 8A championship game

Last week: Beat Lincoln-Way East, 24-16, in IHSA semifinal

Previous state titles: 1993, 2015

Game By Game This Season:

8/24, Rockford, MI - W, 27-7

8/31, Winnetka (New Trier) - W, 41-3

9/8, Chicago (Mt. Carmel) - L, 12-17

9/14, Chicago (Brother Rice) - L, 3-35

9/21, Chicago (St. Ignatius) - W, 21-14

9/29, Lombard (Montini) - L, 27-28

10/8, Chicago (De La Salle) - W, 49-14

10/13, Chicago (St. Rita) - W, 33-3

10/20, New Lenox (Providence Catholic) - W, 28-7

IHSA Playoffs:

10/27, Minooka - W, 38-14

11/3, Oswego (H.S.) - W, 22-0

11/10, Park Ridge (Maine South) - W, 17-0

11/17, Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East) - W, 24-16

Full season statistics and complete roster here via IHSA