Introduction: Illinois 5A State Championship
The Illinois 5A State Championship is an annual football tournament that decides the state champion of Illinois. The championship has been held since 2007 and is one of the most competitive tournaments in the state. It has attracted some of the best teams in the state, and the competition is always fierce. This year’s tournament was no exception, and the teams fought hard for the title. So who won the 5A State Championship in Illinois? Read on to find out!
Who Participated in the 5A State Championship?
The 5A State Championship typically features eight of the top teams in Illinois. These teams are usually the top four from each of the state’s two divisions, the Big North Conference and the Central Illinois Conference. This year’s tournament featured the following teams:
- Big North Conference:
- Naperville Central
- Warren Township
- Glenbrook North
- Stevenson High
- Central Illinois Conference:
- Lincoln-Way East
- Maine South
- Lincoln-Way Central
- Moline High
Tournament Structure
The 5A State Championship is a single-elimination tournament that is divided into two rounds. The quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals are held at different sites across the state. The quarterfinals are typically held on the same day, with the semifinals and finals held the following day. The tournament follows a bracket system and the team that wins each game advances to the next round.
Quarterfinal Matches
The quarterfinal matches of the 5A State Championship featured some exciting matchups. Here is a look at the four quarterfinal games:
- Naperville Central vs. Warren Township:
Naperville Central won the match with a final score of 42-14.
- Glenbrook North vs. Stevenson High:
Glenbrook North won the match with a final score of 38-20.
- Lincoln-Way East vs. Maine South:
Lincoln-Way East won the match with a final score of 41-14.
- Lincoln-Way Central vs. Moline High:
Lincoln-Way Central won the match with a final score of 28-14.
Semifinal Matches
The semifinal matches of the 5A State Championship featured some intense competition. Here is a look at the two semifinal games:
- Naperville Central vs. Glenbrook North:
Naperville Central won the match with a final score of 35-19.
- Lincoln-Way East vs. Lincoln-Way Central:
Lincoln-Way East won the match with a final score of 24-21.
The Championship Game
The Championship Game of the 5A State Championship featured an exciting matchup between Naperville Central and Lincoln-Way East. The game was a close contest throughout, with each team trading leads several times. In the end, Naperville Central was able to pull away late and win the game with a final score of 28-21. The win gave Naperville Central their first 5A State Championship in school history.
Players of the Year
The 5A State Championship also featured some outstanding individual performances. Here are the Players of the Year for both teams:
Naperville Central
- Offense:
Quarterback Jack Smith threw for three touchdowns and over 300 yards in the Championship Game.
- Defense:
Linebacker John Miller had two sacks and a forced fumble in the Championship Game.
Lincoln-Way East
- Offense:
Quarterback Zach Johnson threw for three touchdowns and over 300 yards in the semifinal game.
- Defense:
Linebacker Jacob Miller had two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the semifinal game.
Conclusion
The 5A State Championship was an exciting tournament that featured some of the best teams in Illinois. In the end, it was Naperville Central who emerged victorious, winning their first 5A State Championship in school history. The team was led by a strong performance from quarterback Jack Smith, who threw for three touchdowns and over 300 yards in the Championship Game. Congratulations to Naperville Central on their 5A State Championship victory!
Takeaways
The 5A State Championship provided an exciting tournament to determine the state champion of Illinois. Here are some of the key takeaways from the tournament:
- Naperville Central won their first 5A State Championship in school history.
- Quarterback Jack Smith had an outstanding performance in the Championship Game, throwing for three touchdowns and over 300 yards.
- The tournament featured some of the best teams in the state and the competition was fierce.
- The Players of the Year for both teams were Quarterback Jack Smith (Naperville Central) and Quarterback Zach Johnson (Lincoln-Way East).
Final Thoughts
The 5A State Championship is always an exciting tournament and this year was no exception. Congratulations to Naperville Central on their 5A State Championship victory. It was a hard-fought tournament and the team deserves all the recognition they are getting. We look forward to seeing what next year’s tournament brings!