Advertise on podcast: THE Varsity Voices: High School Sports Talk

Can Mount Carmel bounce back? Can Brother Rice keep its momentum going? And can St. Ignatius challenge Loyola? Joe and Dan Freveletti preview all 12 Chicago Catholic League football matchups for October 2–3 in this Week 7 edition of Prognosticus from THE Varsity Voices. We break down the biggest storylines, players and position groups to watch, our VV Factors, the matchups and moments that could decide each game and our winner predictions across the entire slate. 🏈 WEEK 7 MATCHUPS• Fenwick vs. Brother Rice• Providence Catholic vs. Mount Carmel• St. Ignatius vs. Loyola Academy• Joliet Catholic vs. St. Patrick• IC Catholic Prep vs. Benet Academy• Carmel Catholic vs. Marist• DePaul Prep vs. Notre Dame College Prep• St. Laurence vs. Marmion Academy• St. Francis vs. Saint Viator• Nazareth Academy vs. Marian Catholic• Montini Catholic vs. De La Salle• St. Rita vs. Leo Catholic With the regular season entering its final three weeks, which teams are building momentum—and where could an upset be brewing? Which pick do you disagree with? Leave your predictions in the comments! Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices on YouTube or follow us on Spotify for weekly Chicago Catholic League football previews, recaps, player spotlights, and Illinois high school sports discussion.

Meet James McGrath, a defensive back for the St. Francis Spartans in Wheaton, Illinois and a Western Illinois commit. James joins Joe and Dan Freveletti on THE Varsity Voices: Chicago Catholic League Sports Talk for an in-season player spotlight interview. With the 2026 high school football season underway, we get to know one of the top players competing in the Chicago Catholic League. Go beyond the scores and highlights with a conversation that puts the player behind the helmet in the spotlight. Follow THE Varsity Voices for Chicago Catholic League football coverage, weekly Prognosticus previews and predictions, game recaps, player interviews, and more from Illinois high school sports. Subscribe on YouTube or follow on Spotify so you don’t miss our next episode. Who should join us for a future player spotlight? Let us know!

The Girls Catholic Athletic Conference girls flag football season delivered another action-packed week across Chicagoland. In this Week 5 recap, covering September 21–27, 2026, we break down every game involving the 17 Girls Catholic Athletic Conference teams, highlight the biggest performances and examine the GCAC players climbing the Illinois statewide leaderboards. Benet Academy leads the headlines after going 4–0 and scoring 156 points, while Marist earns a statement 20–18 victory over St. Laurence. Saint Ignatius wins four games in five days, Carmel Catholic rebounds with a season-high 46 points, and DePaul Prep responds to a one-point loss with two impressive victories. We also discuss the conference’s leading players, including: • McKenzie Saffold of St. Laurence—the new statewide scoring leader• Allie Sheldon of St. Francis—second in Illinois in rushing and scoring• Hannah Marusarz of St. Laurence—one of the state’s leading passers• Madison Rathunde and Giuliana Lee of Resurrection• Josie Borkowski of Saint Ignatius• Stella Cooney, Ainsley Clark and Mackenzie Polley of St. Francis Teams covered: Aurora Central Catholic, Benet Academy, Carmel Catholic, De La Salle Institute, DePaul Prep, Fenwick, IC Catholic, Joliet Catholic, Loyola Academy, Marist, Mother McAuley, Resurrection College Prep, St. Francis, Saint Ignatius, St. Laurence, Saint Viator and Trinity. Which GCAC team made the biggest statement this week? Leave your thoughts in the comments. Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for continuing coverage of GCAC girls flag football, the Chicago Catholic League and Illinois high school sports. #GirlsFlagFootball #GCAC #IllinoisHighSchoolSports #HighSchoolFlagFootball #IllinoisFlagFootball #GirlsSports #ChicagoHighSchoolSports #TheVarsityVoices #IHSA

Week 6 of Chicago Catholic League football delivered a major upset, two one-point thrillers, and a touchdown on the final play of a game. Joe and Dan Freveletti recap all twelve CCL games, led by freshman quarterback Sam Holcomb and Brother Rice’s 35–24 win over Mount Carmel. We also break down Ryan Loria’s walk-off interception return for Marmion against Benet, St. Rita’s 39–38 win over Montini, and St. Patrick’s 35–34 victory over Notre Dame. Plus: Loyola stays unbeaten, St. Francis edges Nazareth, Providence rebounds against Fenwick, IC Catholic moves to 6–0, and Joliet Catholic wins a defensive battle with DePaul Prep. We cover St. Ignatius–Carmel, Leo–De La Salle, and Saint Viator’s first win as well—and reveal our Week 6 Zuko’s Dawg of the Week. Which result changed your view of the CCL most? Tell us in the comments, and follow THE Varsity Voices for weekly Chicago Catholic League football previews, predictions, recaps, and power rankings.

Week 6 brings twelve Chicago Catholic League football games, and Joe and Dan are making their picks on Prognosticus. Can Brother Rice slow down Mount Carmel? What will decide Loyola at Marist? And which teams can make a statement as the season moves toward its second half? We preview every matchup, discuss the players and storylines to watch, and introduce the VV Factor: the one thing we think could swing each game. This week’s games: Mount Carmel at Brother Rice; Loyola at Marist; St. Rita at Montini; Nazareth at St. Francis; Providence at Fenwick; St. Ignatius at Carmel; Benet at Marmion; St. Patrick at Notre Dame; Leo at De La Salle; IC Catholic at St. Laurence; Joliet Catholic at DePaul Prep; and Marian Catholic at Saint Viator. Which pick do you disagree with? Let us know! #ChicagoCatholicLeague #IllinoisHighSchoolFootball #Prognosticus

Four games in four days. Four victories. And 148 points scored. In this Week 4 edition of THE Varsity Voices GCAC Flag Football Recap, we break down every posted Girls Catholic Athletic Conference result from September 14–20, 2026. St. Francis delivers the performance of the week with four consecutive wins, while Resurrection extends its winning streak to six games. Benet survives a one-point thriller against Marist, St. Laurence and Carmel Catholic remain unbeaten in conference play, and Joliet Catholic breaks through for its first victory of the season. We also cover: • Team-by-team results and storylines from all 17 GCAC programs• Benet’s dramatic 19–18 victory over Marist• Resurrection’s perfect 3–0 week• St. Laurence’s undefeated GCAC start• Two shutouts apiece for Carmel Catholic and Saint Viator• Joliet Catholic’s offensive breakthrough• The GCAC players appearing on the IHSA state leaderboards Among the statewide statistical leaders are St. Francis standout Allie Sheldon, St. Laurence playmakers Hannah Marusarz and McKenzie Saffold, Resurrection receiver Giuliana Lee, Saint Ignatius defensive standout Josie Borkowski and several other GCAC players making an impact across Illinois. Which GCAC team impressed you the most during Week 4? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for weekly GCAC girls flag football recaps, Chicago Catholic League football coverage, player features, interviews and Illinois high school sports analysis. #GCACFlagFootball #GirlsFlagFootball #IllinoisHighSchoolSports #GCAC #IHSA #IHSAFlagFootball #HighSchoolFlagFootball #GirlsHighSchoolSports #ChicagoHighSchoolSports #TheVarsityVoices #FlagFootball

Week 5 of Chicago Catholic League football delivered a Carmel–Montini thriller, a statement victory by Nazareth Academy and one of the season’s most remarkable defensive sequences. Joe and Dan recap all 12 CCL games, including: • Montini surviving Carmel Catholic, 42-35, behind Israel Abrams and Damacio Ortegon• Nazareth handing previously unbeaten Providence Catholic its first loss• Dylan Travis returning interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive Marian Catholic possessions• Mount Carmel making another statement against previously unbeaten Saint Patrick• Marist responding with a dominant victory over Marmion Academy• DePaul Prep moving above .500 while Saint Viator continues searching for its first win• The biggest performances, turning points and Week 5 storylines from across the conference• The announcement of this week’s Dawg of the Week This week, we’re going beyond the final scores and telling the stories that defined every game: the critical decisions, decisive plays and individual performances that changed the night. Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for weekly Chicago Catholic League football previews, predictions, recaps, player power rankings and conversations covering Illinois high school football. Which Week 5 result or individual performance impressed you the most? Let us know in the comments. #ChicagoCatholicLeague #CCLFootball #IllinoisHighSchoolFootball #IHSAFootball #HighSchoolFootball #TheVarsityVoices

Who survives Week 5—and where could we see an upset? On this edition of Prognosticus, we preview and predict every Week 5 matchup across the Chicago Catholic League/East Suburban Catholic Conference. We examine the key players and position groups, break down the biggest storylines and matchup advantages, and make our pick for every game. Listen through the final matchup, then let us know which predictions you agree with—and where you think we got it wrong. Follow the show for more Chicago-area high school football previews, predictions and analysis throughout the season. #CCL #ChicagoCatholicLeague #IllinoisHighSchoolFootball #IHSAFootball #HighSchoolFootball #ChicagoFootball #FridayNightLights #FootballPredictions

THE Varsity Voices recaps Week 3 of the 2026 Girls Catholic Athletic Conference flag football season, covering games played September 7–13. This episode breaks down all 17 GCAC programs, including Marist’s five-game week, DePaul Prep’s 3–0 conference start, St. Laurence’s complete performance, Mother McAuley’s dominant response and Saint Ignatius’ consecutive one-point losses. We also highlight key players appearing in the Illinois state statistical leaders, including Hannah Marusarz, McKenzie Saffold, Allie Sheldon, Josie Borkowski, Stella Cooney, Kylie Cooney, Mackenzie Polley, Lily O’Connor and Madison Taylor. Teams covered: Aurora Central Catholic, Benet Academy, Carmel Catholic, De La Salle Institute, DePaul Prep, Fenwick, IC Catholic, Joliet Catholic, Loyola Academy, Marist, Mother McAuley, Resurrection College Prep, St. Francis, Saint Ignatius, St. Laurence, Saint Viator and Trinity. Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for weekly GCAC girls flag football scores, player highlights, conference storylines and Illinois high school sports coverage. #GCAC #GirlsFlagFootball #IHSA #IllinoisHighSchoolSports #FlagFootball #TheVarsityVoices #Marist #DePaulPrep #StLaurence #MotherMcAuley #SaintIgnatius

Week 4 of Chicago Catholic League football delivered rivalry drama, a stunning comeback, statement victories and one of the season’s most remarkable defensive performances. Joe and Dan recap all 12 CCL games, including: 🏈 Loyola Academy’s three-point thriller against Brother Rice🏈 Montini’s dramatic comeback victory over Nazareth Academy🏈 Mount Carmel’s offensive explosion against Marist🏈 Fenwick versus Saint Ignatius🏈 IC Catholic Prep’s dominant defensive showing against DePaul Prep🏈 Providence Catholic’s impressive victory over Carmel Catholic🏈 Saint Patrick, Notre Dame, Joliet Catholic and Leo Catholic continuing to make noise🏈 Marian Catholic versus De La Salle Institute🏈 St. Rita versus St. Francis We review the biggest moments, standout players and emerging storylines from across the conference and announce our Week 4 Dawg of the Week. Leo Catholic sophomore Malik Anderson earns the honor after recording two interceptions, two pick-sixes, one sack, two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and four total tackles in Leo’s 40–8 victory over St. Viator. Which Week 4 result surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for Chicago Catholic League football recaps, predictions, player rankings, recruiting news and high school football analysis throughout the season. #ChicagoCatholicLeague #CCLFootball #IHSAFootball #HighSchoolFootball #TheVarsityVoices

It’s Week 4 in Chicago Catholic League football and the Prognosticus is back with predictions for all 12 games! The headline matchup features the No. 1 team in Class 7A, Brother Rice, visiting the No. 1 team in Class 8A, Loyola Academy. But that is only the beginning of a loaded CCL schedule. Joe and Dan preview: • Brother Rice vs. Loyola Academy• Marist vs. Mount Carmel• Montini vs. Nazareth Academy• Carmel Catholic vs. Providence Catholic• Fenwick vs. Saint Ignatius• St. Francis vs. St. Rita• DePaul Prep vs. IC Catholic Prep• St. Laurence vs. Joliet Catholic• Marmion Academy vs. St. Patrick• Notre Dame College Prep vs. Benet Academy• Saint Viator vs. Leo Catholic• De La Salle vs. Marian Catholic We break down the major storylines, players to watch and keys to each game before making our official Week 4 predictions. Which picks do you agree with—and where do you think Prognosticus got it completely wrong? Leave your predictions in the comments! Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for Chicago Catholic League football previews, predictions, recaps, player power rankings and Dawg of the Week awards. Follow THE Varsity Voices:X: @varsity_voices1TikTok: @the.varsity.voicesYouTube: youtube.com/@THEVarsityVoices #ChicagoCatholicLeague #CCLFootball #IHSAFootball #HighSchoolFootball #Prognosticus

THE Varsity Voices recaps Week 2 of the 2026 Girls Catholic Athletic Conference flag football season, covering games played from August 31 through September 6. Saint Ignatius delivered one of the week’s strongest defensive performances, while Mother McAuley and St. Laurence each swept Saturday doubleheaders. Marist and Aurora Central Catholic recorded impressive defensive victories, Saint Viator responded to its first loss by scoring 54 points, and Carmel Catholic earned a significant conference win over St. Francis. We also spotlight the GCAC players appearing among the IHSA girls flag football statistical leaders, including: • Allie Sheldon — St. Francis• Maeve Murphy — St. Francis• Stella Cooney — St. Francis• Mackenzie Polley — St. Francis• Hannah Marusarz — St. Laurence• McKenzie Saffold — St. Laurence• Lily O’Connor — Resurrection College Prep Teams covered include Aurora Central Catholic, Benet Academy, Carmel Catholic, De La Salle Institute, DePaul Prep, Fenwick, IC Catholic Prep, Joliet Catholic, Loyola Academy, Marist, Mother McAuley, Resurrection College Prep, St. Francis, Saint Ignatius, St. Laurence, Saint Viator and Trinity. Scores and statistics discussed in this episode were compiled from publicly available IHSA and MaxPreps information. Individual statistics are cumulative season totals and depend on information submitted by schools and coaches. Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for continuing coverage of GCAC girls flag football and Illinois high school sports. YouTube: youtube.com/@THEVarsityVoicesX: @varsity_voices1TikTok: @the.varsity.voicesWebsite: thevarsityvoices.com #GirlsFlagFootball #GCAC #IHSA #IllinoisHighSchoolSports #TheVarsityVoices

Week 3 of the 2026 Chicago Catholic League football season delivered statement victories, dominant defenses and several revealing results. Joe and Dan Freveletti recap all 12 games across the CCL, including: • Loyola’s 31-0 shutout of St. Rita• Brother Rice’s second consecutive shutout• Mount Carmel’s dominant win over Nazareth• Fenwick pulling away from DePaul Prep• IC Catholic handing Saint Ignatius its first loss• Montini surviving Marist• Providence shutting out Joliet Catholic• Benet holding off Leo Catholic• St. Patrick remaining undefeated• Victories by Marmion, Carmel Catholic and Notre Dame College Prep We break down the key players, defining moments and biggest Week 3 storylines. We also look ahead to several major Week 4 matchups, led by the heavyweight showdown between Loyola Academy and Brother Rice. Plus, we announce our Week 3 Dawg of the Week! Which team made the biggest statement in Week 3? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for weekly Chicago Catholic League football previews, predictions, recaps, player power rankings and recruiting coverage. #ChicagoCatholicLeague #CCLFootball #IllinoisHighSchoolFootball #HighSchoolFootball #THEVarsityVoices

Week 3 marks the beginning of Chicago Catholic League play—and Prognosticus is back to predict all 12 CCL football games! Joe and Dan preview every matchup, break down the biggest storylines, identify the key players to watch and officially put their Week 3 picks on the record. 🏈 WEEK 3 MATCHUPS: • Brother Rice vs. St. Francis• Marist vs. Montini• Loyola Academy vs. St. Rita• Mt. Carmel vs. Nazareth Academy• Marmion Academy at De La Salle• Saint Patrick at Marian Catholic• Benet Academy at Leo Catholic• Notre Dame College Prep at Saint Viator• Carmel Catholic vs. St. Laurence• Providence Catholic vs. Joliet Catholic• Fenwick vs. DePaul Prep• Saint Ignatius vs. IC Catholic Prep Can Mt. Carmel carry the momentum from its incredible 30-point comeback into its showdown with Nazareth? How will Montini respond after having its 25-game winning streak snapped? Can St. Rita’s powerful rushing attack challenge Loyola? And what should we believe about two undefeated teams when Saint Ignatius meets IC Catholic? We make our selections, identify our upset possibilities and reveal which Week 3 games could divide the Prognosticus panel. Let us know your predictions in the comments—and be sure to return after the games when we check the Prognosticus receipts! Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for Chicago Catholic League football previews, predictions, recaps, player power rankings, recruiting news and Zuko’s Dawg of the Week. YouTube: youtube.com/@THEVarsityVoicesX: @varsity_voices1TikTok: @the.varsity.voices #ChicagoCatholicLeague #CCLFootball #chicagocatholicleaguefootball #IllinoisHighSchoolFootball #HighSchoolFootball #Prognosticus

The 2026 Girls Catholic Athletic Conference flag football season is underway! In our first GCAC Flag Football recap episode, THE Varsity Voices looks back at the opening week of competition. We break down the Week 1 results, impressive team performances, standout players and the biggest early-season storylines from around the conference. Which teams made the strongest opening statement? Who stood out during the first week? And what should GCAC girls flag football fans be watching as the season continues? Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for continued coverage of GCAC girls flag football, including game recaps, player and coach interviews, team storylines and more throughout the 2026 season. Follow THE Varsity Voices:X: @varsity_voices1TikTok: @the.varsity.voicesYouTube: youtube.com/@THEVarsityVoices #GCACFlagFootball #GirlsFlagFootball #FlagFootball #HighSchoolSports #THEVarsityVoices