Steve Tucker's Super 25 after Week 5

1 Maine South (5-0) 1

Hosts Waukegan on Saturday

There might be a temptation to look ahead to a showdown with Glenbrook South, but that would be a mistake. Waukegan has talent.

2 St. Rita (5-0) 2

At No. 16 Loyola on Saturday

The offense needs more consistency and a good game from QB Larry Garrett. The defense will have to try to slow down quarterback Lucas Ruske, who has been the Ramblers¹ biggest ground gainer.

3 Naperville North (5-0) 3

No. 23 Naperville Central on Friday at North Central

Huskies have won five of the last six meetings to go up 20-18 in the series that is played at North Central College. This will be the first in a series of big tests for the reigning Class 8A state champions. Could Nick Mlady be the school's second consecutive Sun-Times Player of the Year?

4 Wheaton Warrenville South (5-0) 4

At West Aurora on Friday

The Tigers are improving every week after overcoming some personnel questions in the preseason. Quarterback Joe Furco and running back Peter Jarrett engineered a rout of Naperville Central.

5 Lincoln-Way East (5-0) 5

At Lockport on Friday

The Knights' quarterback Spencer Stanek completed 14-of-15 passes for 216 yards and threw three touchdowns against Lincoln-Way Central.

6 Bolingbrook (5-0) 6

At Lincoln-Way Central on Friday

Leave it to Geever. Quarterback Brad Geever is making all the right moves for the unbeaten Raiders, who can't afford to look ahead to their showdown with Lincoln-Way East.

7 Geneva (5-0) 7

DeKalb on Friday at Northern Illinois

Fullback Drew Fagot (87 yards on 13 carries) and junior quarterback Brandon Beitzel, who threw for120 yards, take some of the heat off running back Michael Ratay.

8 Barrington (5-0) 9

Hosts Palatine on Saturday

Linebackers Alex Smith, Cam Good and Jason Bromm lead a defense that will be tested in a rare Saturday afternoon home game.

9 Thornton (5-0) 10

At Thornridge on Saturday

Jamal Gray returned the opening kickoff 96 yards and then caught six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns against Thornwood.

10 Glenbard West (5-0) 11

At York on Friday

Shades of the Fridge as 6-4, 290-pound offensive lineman Chris Watt scored one of 10 touchdowns, on a run, for the Hilltoppers.

11 Bartlett (5-0) 12

Elgin on Friday at Streamwood

Quarterback Josh Hasenberg was on the receiving end of a touchdown pass from Alex VanNess, but six Hawks turnovers are a concern.

12 Hinsdale Central (4-1) 13

At Downers Grove North on Friday

Big day for quarterback John Whitelaw, who scored on runs of 25, 2, 30 and 39 yards and had a 52-yard gain that set up his six-yard TD pass to Rich Zajesk against Oak Park.

13 Glenbrook South (5-0) 15

At Niles West on Friday

Interceptions by Peter Mann, Kyle Brubaker and Alex Garvey all turned into touchdowns in a 44-0 romp over Waukegan.

14 Mount Carmel (3-2) 19

At De La Salle on Friday

Milton Greer ran for 193 yards and three touchdown as the Caravan snapped a two-game skid with an exclamation point.

15 Brother Rice (4-1) 8

Hosts Providence on Friday

The Crusaders had the bad fortune of facing an angry Mount Carmel team that was in desperate need of a big win. Tom Gibson was 17-for-26 for 147 yards in the loss.

16 Loyola (4-1) 17

Hosts No. 2 St. Rita on Saturday

The Ramblers, who rolled over St. Ignatius, needs a win Saturday to have any chance at the Catholic Blue title.

17 Carmel (4-1) 20

Hosts Notre Dame on Friday

In its last two games after losing at Marist, the Corsairs have outscored its two opponents 99-20. Carmel has had a lot of success against this week's opponent, Notre Dame, in Mundelein.

18 Cary-Grove (5-0) 21

Hosts Woodstock on Friday

Kyle Leibforth had an interception return for a touchdown as the Trojans smashed Jacobs 41-0.

19 Fremd (4-1) 22

Hosts Conant on Friday

Brett Opitz's 33-yard field goal game the Vikings a dramatic win over Schaumburg Saturday at Conant. Michael Gyetvay ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns.

20 Morgan Park (3-2) 24

Simeon on Friday at Gately

Dominique Bell had four first-half touchdowns in a 47-0 win against Dunbar.

21 Joliet Catholic (3-2) 25

Hosts Marist on Friday

The running of Tyler Hudetz and the defense were the difference in a 21-0 victory over previously unbeaten St. Patrick.

22 Lemont (5-0) NR

At Tinley Park on Friday

Junior Danny Hayes rushed 13 times for 87 yards to give the junior 667 yards on 89 carries this fall.

23 Naperville Central (4-1) 16

No. 3 Naperville North Friday at North Central

The Redhawks had no answers for Wheaton Warrenville South. Next up is the crosstown rivalry with unbeaten Naperville North

24 Oak Forest (5-0) NR

Hosts Bremen on Friday

Mike Williams, a sophomore soccer player, had the game-winning field goal, the first of his career, in the last minute of a 10-8 thriller over Hillcrest.

25 Warren (4-1) NR

At Zion Benton on Friday

The defense made the difference and Aaron Montgomery's one-handed interception was a big play against a beat-up Lake Zurich.

On the bubble: Hubbard, Glenbard North, Lincoln-Way Central, Nazareth, Marist, Montini, Stevenson, York, Sandburg, Wheaton North, Grant, Robeson, Rich East.