The Montini Catholic varsity football team from Lombard, IL, will face Monticello, IL, in a neutral playoff game on Friday, November 29, at 4:00 PM. This matchup is part of the “2024 Illinois High School Football Playoff Brackets: IHSA – Class 3A” tournament.
What: Illinois High School Football
Who: Montini Catholic (IL) vs Monticello (IL)
When: Friday, November 29, 2024
Time: 4:00 p.m. ET
Where: Hancock Stadium
Bracket: 2024 Illinois High School Football Playoff Brackets: IHSA – Class 3A
Live stream: Watch here
Head-to-Head Comparison: Maroa-Forsyth vs. Chicago Christian
The 2024 high school football season saw two powerhouse teams, Maroa-Forsyth and Chicago Christian, deliver remarkable performances. Both teams finished with a stellar 12-1 record, showcasing their dominance in their respective Illinois classes. Here’s an in-depth comparison of their season rankings, team stats, and standout players.
Rankings and Records
| Team | IL Class | Overall Record | Conference Record | Home Record | Away Record | Neutral Record | Win % | Conference % | Points For (PF) | Points Against (PA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maroa-Forsyth | 1 | 12-1 | 7-1 | 6-0 | 6-1 | N/A | .923 | .875 | 599 | 228 |
| Chicago Christian | 2 | 12-1 | 6-1 | 7-0 | 4-1 | 1-0 | .923 | .857 | 464 | 178 |
Both teams exhibited near-perfect seasons, with Maroa-Forsyth edging out Chicago Christian in conference performance by a slim margin. However, Chicago Christian had the stronger away record, finishing undefeated at home and neutral sites.
Team Scoring Averages
| Quarter | Maroa-Forsyth | Chicago Christian |
| Q1 | 17.1 | 8.6 |
| Q2 | 13.8 | 9.4 |
| Q3 | 8.2 | 4.1 |
| Q4 | 7.0 | 7.9 |
| Final | 46.1 | 35.7 |
Maroa-Forsyth established itself as a high-scoring team, particularly strong in the first half, averaging 46.1 points per game compared to Chicago Christian’s 35.7. Chicago Christian, however, closed games stronger, slightly outscoring Maroa-Forsyth in the fourth quarter.
Team Stat Comparison
| Category | Maroa-Forsyth | Chicago Christian |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | 132.8 | 216.9 |
| Passing Yards Per Game | 280.5 | 134.1 |
| Receiving Yards Per Game | 278.2 | 127.2 |
| Total Yards Per Game | 413.2 | 351.0 |
| Tackles Per Game | 79.0 | 34.2 |
| Sacks Per Game | 0.8 | 1.2 |
| Points Per Game | 44.5 | 26.8 |
While Maroa-Forsyth excelled in the passing game, averaging an impressive 280.5 passing yards per game, Chicago Christian leaned heavily on their rushing attack with 216.9 rushing yards per game. Defensively, Maroa-Forsyth showed a higher tackle rate, while Chicago Christian had a slight edge in sacks.
Team Leaders
| Statistic | Maroa-Forsyth (Leader) | Chicago Christian (Leader) | National Average |
| Rushing Yards Per Game | #5 Khanton Wilson (78.6) | #20 Kenny Jager (138.6) | 20.1 |
| Passing Yards Per Game | #2 Ryne Sheppard (255.4) | #6 Christian Flutman (134.1) | 50.8 |
| Receiving Yards Per Game | #12 Zach Smith (87.6) | #2 Caden Boersma (69.6) | 17.2 |
| Total Yards Per Game | #2 Ryne Sheppard (295.8) | #6 Christian Flutman (174.4) | 36.4 |
| Tackles Per Game | #84 Grant Smith (8.2) | #22 Niko Griggs (5.9) | 2.7 |
| Sacks Per Game | #5 Khanton Wilson (0.5) | #59 Brock Sperling (0.8) | 0.2 |
| Points Per Game | #5 Khanton Wilson (10.2) | #20 Kenny Jager (12.5) | 2.6 |
Chicago Christian’s Kenny Jager stood out as a rushing powerhouse, averaging 138.6 yards per game and 12.5 points per game. Meanwhile, Maroa-Forsyth’s Ryne Sheppard led an explosive passing offense with 255.4 passing yards per game and nearly 300 total yards per game.
Record Breakdown
| Category | Maroa-Forsyth | Chicago Christian |
| Overall | 12-1 | 12-1 |
| Conference | 7-1 | 6-1 |
| Non-League | 1-0 | 2-0 |
| Playoff | 4-0 | 4-0 |
| Home | 6-0 | 7-0 |
| Away | 6-1 | 4-1 |
| Neutral | N/A | 1-0 |
| In-State | 12-1 | 12-1 |
Both teams displayed incredible consistency across all game types, with flawless playoff records to cap their seasons. Maroa-Forsyth’s slight edge in conference performance and overall scoring solidifies their dominance, but Chicago Christian’s balanced attack and strong road record made them formidable opponents.
Final Thoughts
The 2024 season was a testament to the high level of competition in Illinois high school football. Maroa-Forsyth’s dynamic offense and Chicago Christian’s resilient rushing attack define two distinct yet equally successful approaches to the game. If these two teams meet in the future, fans can expect an epic clash between two elite programs.
