For the first time in a very long time, Crystal Lake Central has cracked the state football rankings.

The Tigers defeated Class 6A defending state champion Cary-Grove, 27-6, in the season opener and jumped from the teams receiving votes to No. 7 in The Associated Press Class 6A poll. C-G fell from No. 2 to a tie for No. 10.

Crystal Lake South remained in the No. 6 spot in Class 7A, Marian Central is No. 9 in Class 5A and Richmond-Burton is No. 7 in Class 4A.

Here are the latest rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters:

Class 8A            
School    W-L    Pts    Prv
1. Naperville North (2)    (1-0)    70    4
2. Schaumburg (5)    (1-0)    68    
3. Glenbard North (1)    (1-0)    65    6
4. Simeon    (1-0)    50    
5. Bolingbrook (1)    (1-0)    43    9
6. Marist    (1-0)    35    8
7. O'Fallon    (1-0)    30    
8. Stevenson    (1-0)    29    9
9. Loyola    (1-0)    22    9
10. Maine South    (0-1)    17    1
Othersreceiving votes: Chicago Mt. Carmel 15, Fremd 13, Minooka 10, Sandburg 8, Belleville East 8, Downers South 6, Hinsdale Central 2, Lockport 2,Gurnee Warren 1, Naperville Central 1.

Class 7A            
School    W-L    Pts    Prv
1. East St. Louis (5)    (1-0)    85    2
2. Wheaton Warrenville South (4)    (1-0)    84    1
3. Glenbard West    (1-0)    65    3
4. Lincoln-Way East    (1-0)    60    5
5. Lake Zurich    (1-0)    55    4
6. Crystal Lake South    (1-0)    42    6
7. St. Rita    (1-0)    30    9
8. Elk Grove    (1-0)    22    7
(tie) Carmel    (1-0)    22    8
10. Rockford Boylan    (1-0)    16    10
Others receiving votes: Mundelein 4, Wheaton North 3, Bogan 3, Quincy 2, Hononegah 1, Glenbrook North 1.

Class 6A            
School    W-L    Pts    Prv
1. Danville (3)    (1-0)    85    3
2. Bloomington    (1-0)    66    5
3. Rock Island    (1-0)    64    6
4. Morgan Park (5)    (1-0)    63    
5. De La Salle    (1-0)    61    4
6. Providence (2)    (1-0)    55    1
7. Crystal Lake Central    (1-0)    48    
8. Lemont    (1-0)    36    8
9. Oak Lawn Richards    (1-0)    24    7
10. Oak Forest    (1-0)    23    9
(tie) Cary-Grove    (1-0)    23    2
Others receiving votes: Rolling Meadows 6, Normal Community 4, Crete-Monee 2, Springfield 2, St. Viator 1, Marmion 1.

Class 5A            
School    W-L    Pts    Prv
1. Joliet Catholic (10)    (1-0)    100    1
2. Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield)    (1-0)    87    3
3. Metamora    (1-0)    76    4
4. Montini    (1-0)    60    2
5. Richwoods    (1-0)    59    5
6. Washington    (1-0)    48    6
7. Vernon Hills    (1-0)    40    7
8. Sterling    (1-0)    29    10
9. Marian Central Catholic    (1-0)    23    10
10. Triad    (1-0)    8    
Others receiving votes: Sycamore 5, St. Francis 5, Marion 5, Kankakee 3, Morris 1, Rochelle 1.

Class 4A            
School    W-L    Pts    Prv
1. Quincy Notre Dame (6)    (1-0)    126    1
2. Breese Mater Dei (3)    (1-0)    119    2
3. Stillman Valley (5)    (1-0)    108    3
4. Geneseo    (1-0)    107    3
5. Rochester    (1-0)    85    5
6. Bishop McNamara    (1-0)    68    6
7. Richmond-Burton    (1-0)    49    9
8. Mahomet-Seymour    (1-0)    45    
9. Rock Island Alleman    (1-0)    27    
10. St. Edward    (1-0)    8    
Others receiving votes: Pontiac 7, Illinois Valley Central 7, Bloomington Central Catholic 4, Althoff Catholic 4, Mt. Zion 3, Effingham 2, Charleston 1.

Class 3A            
School    W-L    Pts    Prv
1. Illini West (Carthage) (11)    (1-0)    124    1
2. Wilmington (2)    (1-0)    101    2
3. Decatur St. Teresa    (1-0)    94    3
3. Tolono Unity    (1-0)    94    4
5. St. Joseph-Ogden    (1-0)    79    5
6. Nashville    (1-0)    51    7
7. Greenville    (1-0)    50    6
8. Auburn    (1-0)    33    8
9. Elmhurst Immaculate Conception    (1-0)    22    
(tie) Mt. Carmel    (1-0)    22    10
Others receiving votes: Monticello 21, Red Bud 7, Winnebago 7, DuQuoin 5, Camp Point Central 3, Carterville 2.

Class 2A            
School    W-L    Pts    Prv
1. Sterling Newman (12)    (1-0)    138    1
2. Maroa-Forsyth    (1-0)    116    2
3. Morrison (1)    (1-0)    108    2
4. Clifton Central    (1-0)    84    5
5. Casey-Westfield    (1-0)    76    6
(tie) Stark County    (1-0)    76    6
7. Westville    (1-0)    49    9
8. Mercer County (1)    (1-0)    47    8
9. Bureau Valley    (1-0)    32    10
10. Marshall    (1-0)    20    
Others receiving votes: Carlinville 11, Lena-Winslow 9, Eastland-Pearl City 4.

Class 1A            
School    W-L    Pts    Prv
1. Tuscola (14)    (1-0)    140    1
2. Dakota    (1-0)    124    2
3. Lexington    (1-0)    101    3
4. Brown County    (1-0)    86    5
5. Galena    (1-0)    81    6
6. Triopia-Meredosia-Chambersburg    (1-0)    66    7
7. East Dubuque    (1-0)    57    8
8. Moweaqua Central A&M    (0-1)    33    4
9. Aquin    (1-0)    21    10
10. Jacksonville Routt    (1-0)    20    
Othersreceiving votes: LeRoy 10, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 10, Villa Grove10, Greenfield-Northwestern 5, Alexis United 3, Chester 2, Lewistown 1.
 

- Joe Stevenson

Here are the football statistical leaders in rushing, passing and receiving after the first week of games.

RUSHING

Player     School     Att     Yds       Avg     TDs
Joel Valdivia    Grayslake Central    14    228    16.2    3
Gage Harrah    Crystal Lake Central    29    197    6.7    4
Drew Ormseth    Crystal Lake South    7    158    22.5    1
Brandon Kinsella    Richmond-Burton    9    154    17.1    2
Tyler Henken    Alden-Hebron    15    149    9.9    4
Kyle Wright    Jacobs    23    129    5.6    2
Vinnie Culhane    Grayslake Central    14    121    8.6    0
Bolek Mikulec    Crystal Lake South    20    119    5.9    2
Jack Dechow    Richmond-Burton    10    113    11.3    1
Jahard Nelson    Grayslake Central    9    109    12.1    1
Timothy Lycos    Huntley    19    105    5.5    2
Matt Smith    Harvard    22    103    4.6    0
Jordan Getzelman    Prairie Ridge    8    102    12.7    3
Corey Cavitt    Marian Central    17    99    5.8    3
Conner Greenwald    Prairie Ridge    11    74    6.7    1
George Bielis    Johnsburg    13    72    5.5    0
Bobby Gaines    Marengo    17    71    4.1    1
Dillon Kosel    Johnsburg    6    71    11.8    0
Trevor Jones    McHenry    12    70    5.8    0
Shane Engelbrecht    Alden-Hebron    6    69    11.5    0
Caz Zyks    Jacobs    23    67    2.9    1
Ryan Hines    Crystal Lake Central    13    65    5.0    0
Ryne Pearson    Richmond-Burton    7    64    9.1    0
David Diedrick    Marengo    12    61    5.0    0
Jared Koch    Marian Central    3    60    20.0    1
Brandon Taylor    Johnsburg    10    57    5.7    1
Connor Schroeder    Alden-Hebron    10    57    5.7    0
Nick Jimenez    Cary-Grove    12    56    4.6    0
Dyllon McKinney    Crystal Lake Central    8    53    6.6    0
Danny Sharp    Dundee-Crown    15    50    3.3    1

PASSING

Player     School     Comp     Att     Pct     Yds       TDs     INTs
Robert Tonyan    McHenry    25    38    65.7%    259    3    1
George Bielis    Johnsburg    10    21    47.6%    167    1    1
Tanner Kotlan    Dundee-Crown    15    34    44.1%    156    2    1
Ben Krol    Marian Central    10    18    55.5%    148    2    1
Jason Judson    Jacobs    7    11    63.6%    105    1    0
Timothy Lycos    Huntley    7    12    58.3%    98    3    0
Drew Ormseth    Crystal Lake South    3    6    50.0%    80    1    1
Ray Beckman    Grayslake Central    1    3    33.3%    66    0    0
Corey Laktas    Cary-Grove    2    3    66.6%    51    0    0
Stephen Covalt    Prairie Ridge    3    5    60.0%    44    1    1
Pat Santucci    Woodstock    6    17    35.2%    43    0    3
John Lesiak    Marengo    4    9    44.4%    41    0    1
Bryce Lalor    Alden-Hebron    3    4    75.0%    36    1    1
Timmy Linhart    Harvard    4    12    33.3%    35    0    0
Adam Pittser    Richmond-Burton    3    8    37.5%    30    0    0

RECEIVING

Player     School     Rec       Yds     Avg     TDs
Jimmy Preston    McHenry    8    84    10.5    0
Trevor Jones    McHenry    5    30    6.0    0
C.J. Price    Marian Central    5    84    16.8    1
Tyler Borter    McHenry    5    46    9.2    0
Corey Szamlewski    McHenry    4    44    11.0    2
Nick Kostalek    Huntley    4    76    19.0    2
Steve Schwartz    Dundee-Crown    4    66    16.5    1
Mike Siudak    Johnsburg    4    34    8.5    0
Tulsa Bates    Dundee-Crown    4    92    23.0    1
Henry Gigeous    Jacobs    4    70    17.5    1
Kris Rosemann    Marengo    3    30    10.0    0
Jake Braskett    McHenry    3    55    18.3    1
Collin Nolen    Harvard    2    33    16.5    0
Brandon Taylor    Johnsburg    2    16    8.0    0
Kyle Wright    Jacobs    2    30    15.0    0
Drew Walkington    Woodstock    2    20    10.0    0
Mike Molway    Johnsburg    2    44    22.0    0
Kyle Thompson    Marian Central    2    16    8.0    0
Aaron Denman    Woodstock    2    13    6.5    0
Jordan Getzelman    Prairie Ridge    2    23    11.5    1
James Davis    Huntley    2    12    6.0    0
Danny Sharp    Dundee-Crown    2    9    4.5    0
Brandon Stone    Dundee-Crown    2    10    5.0    0
Jared Koch    Marian Central    2    19    9.5    0
Grant Schleich    Woodstock    2    10    5.0    0

Note: Most games will be updated by Saturday morning following games. The stats may be found at http://mchenrycountysports.com/statistics/.

- Joe Stevenson

Defending Class 6A state champion Cary-Grove opened the season at No. 2 in The Associated Press Class 6A poll,which was released Wednesday.

Crystal Lake South is No. 6 in Class 7A, Marian Central was tied for 10th in Class 5A and Richmond-Burton was tied for ninth in Class 4A. R-B made the playoff semifinals each of the last two seasons.

C-G graduated 18 starters from last season, but the Trojans have lost only one regular-season game since the 2004 season.

Crystal Lake Central, which hosts C-G in Friday's season opener, received five votes in Class 6A. Also receiving votes in their respective classes were Huntley (7A), Woodstock (5A) and Johnsburg (4A).

Here are the preseason rankings of Illinois high school football teams in each class, according to an Associated Press panel of sportswriters:

Class 8A
School    W-L    Pts
1. Maine South (8)    0-0    80
2. Chicago Mt. Carmel    0-0    49
3. Fremd    0-0    46
4. Naperville North    0-0    44
5. Gurnee Warren    0-0    40
6. Glenbard North    0-0    38
7. Downers South    0-0    27
8. Marist    0-0    18
9. Bolingbrook    0-0    13
(tie) Stevenson    0-0    13
(tie) Loyola    0-0    13
Others receiving votes: Edwardsville 12, Schaumburg 10, Belleville East 9, Simeon 7, Sandburg 5, Minooka 5, Glenbrook South 4, Hinsdale Central 2, Marian Catholic 2, O’Fallon 2, Naperville Central 1.

Class 7A
School    W-L    Pts
1. Wheaton Warrenville South (6)    0-0    76
2. East St. Louis (2)    0-0    70
3. Glenbard West    0-0    64
4. Lake Zurich    0-0    45
(tie) Lincoln-Way East    0-0    45
6. Crystal Lake South    0-0    30
7. Elk Grove    0-0    24
8. Carmel    0-0    19
9. St. Rita    0-0    16
10. Rockford Boylan    0-0    10
(tie) Glenbrook North    0-0    10
Others receiving votes: Bogan 9, Geneva 9, Wheaton North 6, Mundelein 2, Fenwick 2, Quincy 1, Huntley 1, Prospect 1.

Class 6A
School    W-L    Pts
1. Providence (7)    0-0    79
2. Cary-Grove (1)    0-0    64
3. Danville    0-0    52
4. De La Salle    0-0    43
5. Bloomington    0-0    42
6. Rock Island    0-0    40
7. Oak Lawn Richards    0-0    39
8. Lemont    0-0    21
9. Oak Forest    0-0    12
10. Crete-Monee    0-0    8
Others receiving votes: Marmion 6, Morgan Park 6, Rolling Meadows 6, Hillcrest 5, Crystal Lake Central 5, Normal Community 5, St. Viator 4, Glenbard South 3.

Class 5A
School    W-L    Pts
1. Joliet Catholic (8)    0-0    98
2. Montini (1)    0-0    81
3. Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin    0-0    73
4. Metamora (1)    0-0    62
5. Richwoods    0-0    55
6. Washington    0-0    39
7. Vernon Hills    0-0    24
8. Cahokia    0-0    23
9. Kankakee    0-0    18
10. Sterling    0-0    15
(tie) Marian Central Catholic    0-0    15
Others receiving votes: St. Francis 12, Springfield Lanphier 8, Marion 5, Sycamore 5, Triad 5, Chatham Glenwood 4, Woodstock 4, Rochelle 3, Mount Vernon 1.

Class 4A
School    W-L    Pts
1. Quincy Notre Dame (2)    0-0    97
2. Breese Mater Dei (2)    0-0    79
3. Geneseo    0-0    77
(tie) Stillman Valley (5)    0-0    77
5. Rochester (2)    0-0    71
6. Bishop McNamara (1)    0-0    55
7. Mt. Zion    0-0    40
8. Althoff Catholic    0-0    36
9. Effingham    0-0    23
(tie) Richmond-Burton    0-0    23
Others receiving votes: Bloomington Central Catholic 21, Mahomet-Seymour 18, Illinois Valley Central 14, Mendota 10, Rock Island Alleman 10, Pontiac 3, Freeburg 3, St. Edward 2, Johnsburg 1.

Class 3A
School    W-L    Pts
1. Illini West (Carthage) (5)    0-0    101
2. Wilmington (5)    0-0    85
3. Decatur St. Teresa    0-0    76
4. Tolono Unity (1)    0-0    75
5. St. Joseph-Ogden    0-0    59
6. Greenville (1)    0-0    46
7. Nashville    0-0    43
8. Auburn    0-0    40
9. Monticello    0-0    23
10. Mt. Carmel    0-0    22
Others receiving votes: Hillsboro 17, Elmhurst Immaculate Conception 15, DuQuoin 11, Winnebago 11, Red Bud 10, Williamsville 9, Sherrard 7, Sesser-Valier 4, Carterville 3, Oregon 3.

Class 2A
School    W-L    Pts
1. Sterling Newman (9)    0-0    116
2. Maroa-Forsyth    0-0    87
(tie) Morrison (2)    0-0    87
4. Lena-Winslow    0-0    77
5. Clifton Central    0-0    52
6. Casey-Westfield    0-0    46
(tie) Stark County    0-0    46
8. Mercer County (1)    0-0    33
9. Westville    0-0    27
10. Bureau Valley    0-0    21
Others receiving votes: Petersburg PORTA 19, Unity-Payson 15, Marshall 11, Wethersfield 9, Orion 7, Eastland-Pearl City 3, Pittsfield-Griggsville-Perry 2, Carlinville 2.

Class 1A
School    W-L    Pts
1. Tuscola (14)    0-0    140
2. Dakota    0-0    83
3. Lexington    0-0    78
4. Moweaqua Central A&M    0-0    75
5. Brown County    0-0    60
6. Galena    0-0    54
7. Triopia-Meredosia-Chambersburg    0-0    50
8. East Dubuque    0-0    48
9. Alexis United    0-0    40
10. Aquin    0-0    38
(tie) LeRoy    0-0    38
Others receiving votes: Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley 19, Greenfield-Northwestern 18, Jacksonville Routt 14, Salt Fork 8, Villa Grove 3, Forreston 2, Pawnee 1, Cumberland 1.

- Joe Stevenson

Crystal Lake South guard Jake Bernstein (6-foot-4, 280 pounds) committed to Vanderbilt University Tuesday night and will attend the Nashville, Tenn. school on a football scholarship.

Bernstein, a Northwest Herald All-Area first team selection last season, had narrowed his final three choices to Vanderbilt, Colorado and Minnesota. Vandy had been one of the schools recruitning him the hardest since head coach Robbie Caldwell came to Crystal Lake last spring.

"For academics, it's in a class with Harvard and schools like that," Bernstein said. "And it's [Southeastern Conference] football, that's the best football conference. They always have a team playing for the BCS championship."

Bernstein wanted to get his decision out of the way before the season opener. The Gators kick off the season at Grant Friday night. Caldwell called Tuesday after speaking to academic advisors at Vanderbilt and Berstein made it official when he called the coach back Tuesday night.

- Joe Stevenson

Cary-Grove forward Claire Jakubicek narrowed her college choices to three schools before giving her verbal commitment to Northern Illinois coach Kathy Bennett on Monday, capping a recruiting derby that spanned two years.

Jakubicek, a senior and a 2010 Northwest Herald All-Area First Team pick, averaged 16 points per game, eight rebounds, 2.3 assists, 3.1 steals and 4.1 deflections during her junior campaign. She helped the Trojans win a share of the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division title and a regional championship. The Trojans took then-undefeated Geneva to the wire in a sectional semifinal before eventually losing to bow out of the postseason.

Jakubicek was deciding between Ball State (Ind.), the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and NIU before deciding to join the Huskies, who were 10-19 overall last season and 4-12 in the Mid-American Conference. NIU offered Jakubicek a full athletic scholarship for five years.

-Maureen Lynch