Michael O'Brien's Super 25 high school football rankings for Week 14

St. Rita Mustangs' Resurgence Sparks Debate on Private School Advantages in High School Football

In a stunning turn of events, St. Rita's football team has ascended to the third spot in the Super 25 rankings, catapulting them into the conversation as a force to be reckoned with in Illinois high school football.

Prior to their playoff surge, few people saw the Mustangs' remarkable turnaround coming. They beat Hersey and then knocked off Batavia in the semifinals, scoring 56 points against Hersey and 54 points against Batavia.

While many attribute St. Rita's success to their impressive record, a closer examination reveals that it's not just about talent or resources. The Mustangs are competing with top-notch private schools like Mount Carmel and Brother Rice for players, and yet they've managed to hold their own and even outperform some of their public school counterparts.

This phenomenon highlights the elephant in the room: economic disparities play a significant role in high school football success. Schools like Mount Carmel and Nazareth have the financial muscle to devote extensive resources to football, while public schools struggle to keep pace.

The debate surrounding private school advantages will undoubtedly intensify as the season progresses. St. Rita's unexpected rise serves as a reminder that, despite being private schools, some teams are more equipped than others to dominate on the field.

Their ranking may have raised eyebrows, but St. Rita's resurgence is a testament to their determination and resilience. Coach Martin Hopkins and his players deserve credit for turning their season around, proving that with hard work and dedication, even the most unlikely underdogs can achieve greatness.

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." Coach Martin Hopkins and his team are proof that with perseverance and hard work, even the odds can be turned around!

I mean its kinda weird how much of an advantage private schools seem to have in high school football . I think it's true that schools like Mount Carmel and Nazareth have more resources, but at the same time, you gotta wonder if St. Rita's success is just because they're getting better players from other private schools...idk, maybe its a bit of both?

aww man... this is crazy!! i feel like some of these private schools are getting a free pass because of their rich donors. it's not fair to the public schools who have less resources but still wanna compete. what if those public schools had the same coaches, facilities and training as St Rita? they might be able to hold their own too...

I think it's wild how the Mustangs' success has brought up this conversation about private school advantages in high school football . I mean, St. Rita's is definitely doing something right - they're competing with some of the best schools in the state and holding their own. But at the same time, you can't deny that economic disparities are a major factor here. It's like, Mount Carmel and Nazareth have way more resources than most public schools, which gives them a huge leg up.

But hey, I don't think it's fair to say that private schools are inherently better or that they're cheating somehow. The Mustangs' determination and hard work are for real, and they deserve all the credit they can get. It's just interesting to see how this whole thing plays out as the season goes on...

idk why ppl r so mad about private schools havin more resources , it's just the way the game is played now. those wealthy schools have a bigger advantage, plain & simple . but at the same time, St Rita's comeback story is fire , shows that even with less funding, they can still put up a fight . it's all about how much you invest in your team, not just about talent .

I'm so done with these private school advantages in high school sports . Like, what's the point of even having a system if they're just gonna have more resources and better facilities? It's not fair to the public schools that are struggling to keep up. And don't even get me started on how it creates an uneven playing field...literally . St. Rita might be doing well, but it's not like they're breaking any new ground or pushing the boundaries of what's possible in football. They're just reaping the benefits of being a private school with deep pockets . Can't we have some level-headed discussion about how to make high school sports more equitable?

I'm not sure if I agree or disagree with this whole private school advantage thing... I mean, it's true that schools like Mount Carmel have more resources, but at the same time, St Rita's has some super talented players and a great coach too ... Maybe the real question is how much of a role does talent play in their success?

I'm also kinda torn on whether this is a problem or not... I mean, it's not like they're stealing players from public schools or anything ... But at the same time, it's hard to deny that some private schools have an unfair advantage when it comes to resources and facilities

I guess what I'm trying to say is that maybe we should just focus on the fact that St Rita's has turned their season around and are having a great run instead of getting too caught up in this whole debate ...

omg i was literally just saying how sick st rita mustangs are this yr they're like, totally defying expectations! I mean, no one saw them going all the way to the top, but now we get it - those private schools have some serious financial backing . Its crazy how it comes down to resources, you feel?

I think its kinda weird how ppl r already talkin about private schools havin an unfair advantage... like, St Rita's did just come from nowhere! They beat some top public schools in the playoffs and now they're 3rd in the rankings. Thats not a fluke. And yeah, resources matter, but so does heart & teamwork. St Rita's players are workin hard & makin it happen on the field. Maybe instead of focusin on who has more money, we should be talkin about how to help ALL schools improve their programs?

I'm loving the St Rita Mustangs' story ! They're proof that if you've got a solid team spirit and some serious hustle, you can overcome financial disparities to dominate on the field. I mean, it's not just about talent or resources, but also about how well-coached your team is and how invested the parents are in supporting them . It's like, don't get me wrong, private schools have their perks, but that doesn't mean they're inherently better than public schools. St Rita's resurgence is all about heart and determination . Let's give it up for Coach Martin Hopkins and his team - they've got the whole season ahead of them to prove what they're made of .

tbh I think its kinda rich that ppl are debating private school advantages when like half the state doesnt have a decent football team lol they're just lucky to have a solid coach and players who actually care about the game. it's not all about $$$ and resources, sometimes you just gotta put in the effort and win at what u do best

OMG I'm literally dying over here!!! St. Rita's comeback is insane! I mean, who would've thought they'd actually make it to 3rd spot in the Super 25 rankings? They're def proof that talent + hard work = CHAMPIONS ! And yeah, those private school advantages are REAL I'm not saying public schools can't compete, but it's crazy how much of a difference it makes when you've got the dough to invest in your teams. Nazareth and Mount Carmel, for example... they're like the Ferrari's of high school football Meanwhile, St. Rita's is like the underdog story that never ends . Coach Martin Hopkins must be doing something right! Go Mustangs!

omg u guys st rita mustangs are on fire!! i'm literally living for this team they're def provein all haters wrong that private schools r better than public ones its not just about money they got skills & heart too coach martin hoppings is a genius he's doin somethin right and yeah i know some people might say its unfair but u can't deny the facts st rita's team is killin it on that field

omg i'm so hyped about st rita mustangs right now!!! they're like total underdogs who came out of nowhere and took over the rankings idk how much money mount carmel and brother rice are throwing at their football teams but it's def making a difference i feel bad for public schools tho they have to deal with so many budget cuts its all about resources i guess

I totally get why people are making a big deal about this... I mean, who doesn't love an underdog story? But at the same time, it's just so sad that economic disparities are still such a huge factor in our schools. Like, my kid is on a rec league team and they have all these amazing resources, but some public schools can barely afford uniforms let alone football programs.

And yeah, I get why private schools like Mount Carmel are able to attract top talent... it's just not fair that others don't have the same opportunities. But what really gets me is how we're still having this conversation in 2025... shouldn't we be past all this by now?

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE HAVING A BIGGER CONVERSATION THAN THIS ARTICLE IS GIVING US! SERIOUSLY THOUGH, IT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS HAVE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE WHEN IT COMES TO HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. I MEAN, YOU CAN'T DISPUTE THE FACTS - MOUNT CARMEL AND BROTHER RICE ARE TAKING ALL THE TALENTED PLAYERS FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS BECAUSE THEY CAN AFFORD TO PAY FOR THEM! IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING "MORE EQUIPPED" OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT'S JUST ABOUT WEALTH AND RESOURCES, Period.

idk why people still make such a big deal about private school football advantages ...i mean, cant we just appreciate teams for winning instead of making assumptions about their background? St Rita's resurgence is straight fire and they deserve all the props for turning it around

OMG, can u believe how far St. Rita Mustangs have come ?? They're totally crushing it right now! I mean, those rankings are crazy! Private schools having a huge advantage in high school football is just so not fair though Mount Carmel and Brother Rice must be throwing loads of cash at their teams to compete with the likes of St. Rita... it's just not cool

I think it's kinda weird how private schools have an advantage in high school football . I mean, you'd think it'd be all about talent and hard work, but when you consider the resources they have at their disposal... it's a different story altogether . My friend's kid plays for a public school and they're struggling to compete with teams that can afford fancy training facilities and equipment . It's not fair, in my opinion. But at the same time, I don't blame St. Rita or any other private school team for trying to level up . They've worked hard to get where they are, and if anyone can prove their doubters wrong, it's them .