Soucie: Football appears to be on the horizon. How can a season take place within health regions?

Without specific parameters from the Illinois High School Association, it is difficult to determine exactly how a schedule might look heading into a potential 2021 spring football season.

It is also difficult to establish exactly what path might be the best to take without knowing how many weeks will be allotted.

I’ve proposed several potential options over the course of the lengthy “offseason,” and while not knowing exactly what the parameters are and exactly how many teams will participate, there’s a multitude of potential choices that would have to be made in order to move forward.

Back in July, I attempted a balanced district formula with a flexible playoff system based on how many weeks the state would allow. This accounted for seven-game regular seasons with teams in eight-team regional-based districts, with a varied playoff system based on how many weeks of postseason were afforded.

I don’t believe that is a viable plan moving forward as the weeks of the season will be limited somewhat.

Next, in September, I attempted to trim the regular season down to five regular-season games, allowing for a few more options for postseason play. This could very much still work, but there are conditions that have to be met, including allowing play across regions and affording for a full postseason. I don’t currently have the answer to either of those questions and may not get them any time soon.

I am of the belief that much of the scheduling will be linked to inter-region play right now, which may lead to a different sort of regional postseason. Classes may not have the designations that they usually do – there might have to be fewer classes or more. Making it work will require creativity and acceptance that everyone might not get exactly what they want.

If playoffs are still considered an option (regional or statewide) teams would likely need to be placed inside of groupings with teams inside of their health regions. In some cases, conference alignments might work, in others it becomes more complicated.

For this exercise, each of the 11 COVID-19 health regions has been broken down into three designations: small, medium or large. Teams currently classified as Class 1A and Class 2A programs are listed as small, Class 3A through 5A in medium, Class 6A through Class 8A are in large groupings. Some regions have larger groupings of smaller schools, others lean toward substantial larger schools, which makes the puzzle more difficult to put together without all of the parameters.

Wednesday’s scheduled IHSA board meeting should provide answers to some of these questions, but if teams are indeed limited to their regions for play, the breakdown below should give a few clues to what team’s schedules may look like.

Here’s a breakdown of 11-man football teams from the group of teams that was previously expected to play at that level entering the fall season. Obviously, these numbers likely won’t hold in exactly the same form.

These first two charts simply show how many teams reside within each health region.


IDPH Region11-man Football Schools
Region 1 (Northwest)43
Region 2 (West Central)76
Region 3 (Southwest)45
Region 4 (St. Louis Area)31
Region 5 (Southern)25
Region 6 (East Central)55
Region 7 (Kankakee/Will Counties)24
Region 8 (DuPage County)42
Region 9 (Lake/McHenry Counties)35
Region 10 (Suburban Cook County)66
Region 11 (Chicago)59

Here’s a map of schools by region. Although, it isn’t certain that schools will be limited to only playing opponents within their region, it might be a jumping off point for what schedules could or might look like.

Obviously there are some regions where there is a significant disparity in terms of enrollment. To give a better picture of that, I’ve broken the schools into three divisions (Small - 1A/2A classifications), (Medium - 3A/4A/5A Classifications) and (Large - 6A/7A/8A Classifications).

Region 1 (Northwest Illinois)

SchoolEnrollment2019 RecordGroup
Amboy341.52-7Small
Ashton (Franklin Center)1590-9Small
Belvidere12540-9Large
Belvidere (North)1511.57-3Large
Byron47112-1Medium
Dakota2484-5Small
DeKalb18156-4Large
Dixon7625-5Medium
Durand-Pecatonica4127-4Medium
East Dubuque2122-7Small
Erie4402-7Medium
Forreston2578-3Small
Freeport1173.54-5Medium
Freeport (Aquin)103.511-1Small
Fulton292.55-5Small
Galena2412-7Small
Genoa-Kingston549.59-2Medium
Lanark (Eastland)3304-5Small
Lena-Winslow23114-0Small
Machesney Park (Harlem)20897-3Large
Milledgeville1671-8Small
Morrison27011-1Small
Orangeville101.57-4Small
Oregon430.52-7Medium
Poplar Grove (North Boone)513.55-5Medium
Rochelle901.54-5Medium
Rock Falls646.51-8Medium
Rockford (Auburn)18355-5Large
Rockford (Boylan)875.512-1Medium
Rockford (Christian)378.55-5Small
Rockford (East)19292-7Large
Rockford (Guilford)1732.51-8Large
Rockford (Jefferson)16563-6Large
Rockford (Lutheran)3624-5Small
Rockton (Hononegah)20408-3Large
Sandwich698.54-5Medium
Savanna (West Carroll)340.55-5Small
Sterling102110-1Medium
Sterling (Newman Central Catholic)374.5513-1Small
Stillman Valley588.59-2Medium
Stockton1857-4Small
Sycamore1237.510-2Medium
Winnebago454.53-6Medium

Region 2 (West Central)

SchoolEnrollment2019 recordGroup
Abingdon254.56-4Small
Aledo (Mercer County)3917-4Small
Astoria (South Fulton)215.50-9Small
Bartonville (Limestone)10122-7Medium
Bloomington1380.54-5Large
Bloomington (Central Catholic)3243-6Small
Cambridge (Ridgewood)252.56-4Small
Canton7114-5Medium
Chillicothe (Illinois Valley Central)630.510-1Medium
Coal City64912-1Medium
Colfax (Ridgeview)294.52-7Small
Deer Creek-Mackinaw337.52-7Small
Downs (Tri-Valley)343.54-5Small
Dunlap1288.57-3Large
Dwight253.53-6Small
East Moline (United)1666.51-8Large
East Peoria10000-9Medium
El Paso-Gridley3652-7Small
Elmwood4562-7Medium
Eureka504.58-3Medium
Fairbury (Prairie Central)5669-3Medium
Farmington4298-3Medium
Galesburg12842-7Large
Geneseo827.54-5Medium
Heyworth257.53-6Small
Kewanee557.57-4Medium
Kewanee (Wethersfield)289.512-1Small
Knoxville35811-1Small
LaSalle-Peru1217.55-5Medium
LeRoy236.53-6Small
Lewistown213.55-5Small
Macomb586.50-9Medium
Manilus (Bureau Valley)3410-9Small
Mendota5541-8Medium
Metamora9824-5Medium
Minonk (Fieldcrest)337.512-1Small
Minooka2688.511-1Large
Moline20615-5Large
Monmouth522.54-5Medium
Monmouth (United)275.52-7Small
Morris847.57-3Medium
Morton9277-3Medium
Normal (Community West)1646.57-3Large
Normal (Community)21078-3Large
Normal (University)611.53-6Medium
Oneida (ROWVA)439.52-7Medium
Orion342.55-5Small
Oswego27519-2Large
Oswego (East)25975-5Large
Ottawa1353.51-8Large
Ottawa (Marquette)159.57-3Small
Pekin1875.56-4Large
Peoria13749-2Large
Peoria (Manual)621.51-8Medium
Peoria (Notre Dame)782.56-4Medium
Peoria (Richwoods)12393-6Large
Peru (St. Bede)281.51-8Small
Plainfield (South)2543.55-5Large
Plano7082-7Medium
Pontiac6613-6Medium
Port Byron (Riverdale)327.54-5Small
Princeton51711-2Medium
Princeville2307-3Small
Rock Island1626.58-3Large
Rock Island (Alleman)4355-5Medium
Sciota (West Prairie)3873-6Small
Seneca4405-5Medium
Sherrard468.51-8Medium
Spring Valley (Hall)426.57-4Medium
Stanford (Olympia)672.53-6Medium
Streator9072-7Medium
Taylor (Ridge (Rockridge)358.54-5Small
Toulon (Stark County)255.53-6Small
Tremont3066-4Small
Washington13296-4Large
Yorkville1763.58-3Large

Region 3 (Southwest)

SchoolEnrollment2019 RecordGroup
Athens29610-3Small
Auburn3918-4Small
Beardstown43410-1Medium
Camp Point (Central)2439-2Small
Carlinville4426-4Medium
Carrollton2109-3Small
Carthage (Illini West)3394-5Small
Chatham (Glenwood)139212-1Large
Concord (Triopia)218.52-7Small
Gillespie3704-5Small
Greenfield233.58-3Small
Hamilton (West Hancock)372.52-7Small
Hardin (Calhoun)198.52-7Small
Havana2875-5Small
Hillsboro5091-8Medium
Jacksonville995.54-5Medium
Jacksonville (Routt)1302-7Small
Jerseyville (Jersey)8352-7Medium
Lincoln8314-5Medium
Litchfield407.50-9Small
Mendon (Unity)218.55-5Small
Mount Sterling (Brown County)189.55-5Small
New Berlin444.54-5Medium
Nokomis309.57-3Small
Pana40310-2Small
Petersburg (PORTA)476.53-6Medium
Piasa (Southwestern)477.53-6Medium
Pittsfield3261-8Small
Pleasant Hill2220-9Small
Pleasant Plains421.52-7Medium
Quincy1788.54-5Large
Quincy (Notre Dame)4079-4Small
Riverton413.50-9Medium
Rochester77013-1Medium
Rushville3476-4Small
Springfield14627-3Large
Springfield (Lanphier)12281-8Medium
Springfield (Sacred Heart Griffin)1065.088-4Medium
Springfield (Southeast)1220.52-7Medium
Staunton5172-7Medium
Taylorville7695-5Medium
Virden (North Mac)433.55-5Medium
White Hall (North Greene)236.55-5Small
Williamsville46714-0Medium
Winchester (West Central)181.52-7Small

Region 4 (St. Louis Area)

SchoolEnrollment2019 RecordGroup
Alton20083-6Large
Alton (Marquette)4145-5Medium
Belleville (Althoff)3823-6Small
Belleville (East)2517.53-6Large
Belleville (West)21123-6Large
Bethalto (Civic Memorial)3827-3Medium
Breese (Central)5805-5Medium
Breese (Mater Dei)40810-2Small
Cahokia905.57-3Medium
Carlyle319.5NoneSmall
Chester3207-3Small
Collinsville1904.50-9Large
Columbia67710-1Medium
Dupo279.53-6Small
East St. Louis126214-0Large
Edwardsville23658-3Large
Freeburg6474-5Medium
Granite City18093-5Large
Greenville530.57-3Medium
Highland9087-4Medium
Madison1691-7Small
Mascoutah10699-4Medium
Nashville40512-2Small
O’Fallon24083-6Large
Red Bud373.55-5Small
Roxana550.55-5Medium
Sparta342.52-7Small
Trenton (Wesclin)386.52-7Small
Troy (Triad)1114.57-4Medium
Waterloo841.51-8Medium
Wood River (East Alton)552.54-5Medium

Region 5 (Southern)

SchoolEnrollment2019 recordGroup
Albion (Edwards County)284.53-6Small
Anna-Jonesboro5122-7Medium
Benton555.59-2Medium
Carbondale9898-2Medium
Carmi (White County)3554-5Small
Carterville593.53-6Medium
Centralia9083-6Medium
Christopher406.53-6Small
DuQuoin4359-2Medium
Eldorado3535-5Small
Fairfield424.510-1Medium
Harrisburg543.50-9Medium
Herrin7454-5Medium
Johnston City339.54-5Small
Marion1082.58-2Medium
McLeansboro (Hamilton County)375.55-5Small
Metropolis (Massac County)587.51-8Medium
Mount Vernon1170.50-9Medium
Mt. Carmel488.59-2Medium
Murphysboro72911-3Medium
Pinckneyville425.51-8Medium
Salem691.57-3Medium
Sesser-Valier310.55-5Small
Vienna5590-9Medium
West Frankfort5045-4Medium

Region 6 (East Central)

SchoolEnrollment2019 recordGroup
Arcola219.59-3Small
Argenta-Oreana283.59-2Small
Arthur2976-4Small
Bismarck-Henning334.59-2Small
Bridgeport (Red Hill)2701-8Small
Casey-Westfield280.56-4Small
Catlin (Salt Fork)2735-5Small
Cerro Gordo2603-6Small
Champaign (Centennial)1415.50-9Large
Champaign (Central)12544-5Large
Charleston804.53-6Medium
Clifton (Central)34411-1Small
Clinton5946-4Medium
Danville1496.56-4Large
Decatur (Eisenhower)10390-9Medium
Decatur (MacArthur)1100.55-5Medium
Decatur (St. Teresa)398.4811-2Small
Effingham72611-2Medium
Fisher190.58-3Small
Fithian (Oakwood)304.58-3Small
Flora3656-4Small
Georgetown (Ridge Farm)301.53-6Small
Gibson City-Melvin Sibley3209-2Small
Gilman (Iroquois West)290.51-8Small
Hoopeston516.50-9Medium
Lawrenceville3103-6Small
Macon (Meridian)2663-6Small
Mahomet-Seymour9384-5Medium
Maroa-Forsyth3869-2Small
Marshall404.53-6Small
Mattoon1042.52-7Medium
Monticello5116-4Medium
Mount Zion77910-1Medium
Moweaqua (Central A&M)23213-1Small
Newton458.55-5Medium
Niantic (Sangamon Valley)375.52-7Small
Oakland (Tri-County)254.55-5Small
Oblong/Palestine/Hutsonville3850-9Small
Olney (East Richland)737.57-3Medium
Paris599.58-2Medium
Paxton4729-3Medium
Rantoul7630-9Medium
Robinson4533-6Medium
Shelbyville3234-5Small
St. Joseph (Ogden)467.55-5Medium
Sullivan4890-9Medium
Toledo (Cumberland)2766-4Small
Tolono (Unity)550.59-2Medium
Tuscola305.58-3Small
Urbana1144.51-8Medium
Vandalia42611-1Medium
Villa Grove3635-5Small
Warrensburg-Latham2933-6Small
Watseka309.57-4Small
Westville387.54-5Small

Region 7 (Will/Kankakee Counties)

SchoolEnrollment2019 RecordGroup
Bolingbrook35118-4Large
Bradley-Bourbonnais2042.54-5Large
Braidwood (Reed-Custer)4741-8Medium
Crete-Monee163710-1Large
Frankfort (Lincoln-Way East)2902.514-0Large
Herscher5483-6Medium
Joliet (Catholic)1062.68-4Medium
Joliet (Central)31751-8Large
Joliet (West)3290.54-6Large
Kankakee1219.59-2Medium
Kankakee (Bishop McNamara)564.38-4Medium
Lockport3707.54-5Large
Manteno664.55-5Medium
Momence331.51-8Small
Naperville (Neuqua Valley)36809-2Large
New Lenox (Lincoln-Way Central)21472-7Large
New Lenox (Lincoln-Way West)1901.55-5Large
New Lenox (Providence)1621.958-4Large
Peotone511.56-4Medium
Plainfield (Central)20681-8Large
Plainfield (East)2244.55-5Large
Plainfield (North)2311.56-4Large
Romeoville1904.51-8Large
Wilmington465.510-2Medium

Region 8 (DuPage County)

SchoolEnrollment2019 recordGroup
Addison (Trail)1980.53-6Large
Aurora (Central Catholic)573.51-8Medium
Aurora (Christian)235.55-5Small
Aurora (East)38794-5Large
Aurora (Marmion)10607-4Medium
Aurora (Metea Valley)28701-8Large
Aurora (Waubonsie Valley)2607.54-5Large
Aurora (West)3694.52-7Large
Bartlett2456.58-2Large
Batavia19149-3Large
Bensenville (Fenton)14802-7Large
Burlington (Central)1063.53-6Medium
Carol Stream (Glenbard North)22167-4Large
Carpentersville (Dundee-Crown)24670-9Large
Darien (Hinsdale South)14953-6Large
Downers Grove (North)2195.56-5Large
Downers Grove (South)26765-5Large
Elmhurst (IC Catholic)526.3510-2Medium
Elmhurst (York)27704-5Large
Geneva1929.50-9Large
Glen Ellyn (Glenbard South)11656-4Medium
Glen Ellyn (Glenbard West)234710-1Large
Hampshire16122-7Large
Hinsdale (Central)27768-2Large
Lisle4825-5Medium
Lisle (Benet)2193.686-4Large
Lombard (Glenbard East)2255.58-2Large
Lombard (Montini)1073.338-3Medium
Maple Park (Kaneland)13288-3Large
Naperville (Central)2827.54-5Large
Naperville (North)27072-7Large
Roselle (Lake Park)2593.53-6Large
South Elgin27039-2Large
St. Charles (East)24997-3Large
St. Charles (North)20034-5Large
Villa Park (Willowbrook)190011-2Large
West Chicago2042.51-8Large
West Chicago (Wheaton Academy)644.54-5Medium
Westmont442.52-7Medium
Wheaton (North)2098.54-5Large
Wheaton (St. Francis)73910-2Medium
Wheaton (Warrenville South)1995.58-4Large

Region 9 (Lake/McHenry Counties)

SchoolEnrollment2019 recordGroup
Algonquin (Jacobs)2145.53-6Large
Antioch1317.58-3Large
Barrington2978.56-4Large
Cary-Grove17189-3Large
Crystal Lake (Central)1526.56-4Large
Crystal Lake (Prairie Ridge)1446.512-2Large
Crystal Lake (South)14935-5Large
Deerfield1628.510-3Large
Fox Lake (Grant)1815.56-4Large
Grayslake (Central)13841-8Large
Grayslake (North)1478.55-5Large
Gurnee (Warren)409213-1Large
Harvard6984-5Medium
Highland Park2017.54-5Large
Huntley3020.59-2Large
Johnsburg6414-5Medium
Lake Forest1641.57-5Large
Lake Villa (Lakes)13536-4Large
Lake Zurich18938-4Large
Libertyville1926.55-5Large
Lincolnshire (Stevenson)41074-5Large
Marengo6968-3Medium
McHenry22093-6Large
Mundelein19912-7Large
Mundelein (Carmel)1241.52-7Large
North Chicago7545-5Medium
Richmond-Burton69514-0Medium
Round Lake21401-8Large
Vernon Hills1367.55-4Large
Wauconda13534-5Large
Waukegan4613.50-9Large
Woodstock10092-7Medium
Woodstock (Marian)6774-5Medium
Woodstock (North)935.54-5Medium
Zion-Benton25833-6Large

Region 10 (Suburban Cook County)

SchoolsEnrollment2019 recordGroup
Arlington Heights (Hersey)18799-2Large
Arlington Heights (St. Viator)836.54-5Medium
Berwyn-Cicero (Morton)81961-8Large
Blue Island (Eisenhower)18035-5Large
Buffalo Grove1986.54-5Large
Burbank (Reavis)17866-4Large
Burbank (St. Laurence)853.55-5Medium
Calumet City (T.F. North)14054-5Large
Chicago Heights (Bloom)29483-6Large
Chicago Heights (Marian Catholic)1002.55-5Medium
Country Club Hills (Hillcrest)114710-2Medium
Des Plaines (Maine West)20278-2Large
Dolton (Thornridge)11922-7Medium
Elgin2576.55-5Large
Elgin (Larkin)20851-8Large
Elgin (St. Edward)3707-4Small
Elk Grove Village1926.52-7Large
Elmwood Park910.56-4Medium
Evanston33723-6Large
Evergreen Park839.55-5Medium
Franklin Park (Leyden)3346.54-5Large
Glenview (Glenbrook South)3019.54-5Large
Harvey (Thornton)1793.58-3Large
Hillside (Proviso West)2207.50-9Large
Hoffman Estates1882.54-5Large
Hoffman Estates (Conant)2331.56-4Large
Homewood-Flossmoor2740.510-2Large
LaGrange (Lyons)3990.54-5Large
LaGrange Park (Nazareth)1273.813-1Large
Lansing (T.F. South)18106-4Large
Lemont1382.58-3Large
Maywood (Proviso East)2004.52-7Large
Melrose Park (Walther Christian)2761-8Small
Midlothian (Bremen)1415.56-4Large
Mt. Prospect (Prospect)21518-3Large
Niles (Notre Dame)2575.68-3Large
Norridge (Ridgewood)8533-6Medium
Northbrook (Glenbrook North)19994-5Large
Oak Forest13070-9Large
Oak Lawn (Community)1774.51-8Large
Oak Lawn (Richards)160110-2Large
Oak Park (Fenwick)1189.56-5Medium
Oak Park (River Forest)33324-5Large
Orland Park (Sandburg)29342-7Large
Palatine26064-5Large
Palatine (Fremd)2640.58-3Large
Palos Heights (Chicago Christian)339.56-4Small
Palos Heights (Shepard)1734.56-4Large
Palos Hills (Stagg)2271.51-8Large
Park Ridge (Maine East)1842.50-9Large
Park Ridge (Maine South)2398.57-3Large
Rich (Township)2955NoneLarge
Riverside-Brookfield16176-4Large
Rolling Meadows191212-1Large
Schaumburg21323-6Large
Skokie (Niles North)2044.53-6Large
Skokie (Niles West)2460.50-9Large
South Holland (Thornwood)17635-5Large
Streamwood1971.52-7Large
Summit (Argo)18700-9Large
Tinley Park1074.52-7Medium
Tinley Park (Andrew)21397-3Large
Westchester (St. Joseph)355.51-8Small
Wheeling17220-9Large
Wilmette (Loyola)3346.28-4Large
Winnetka (New Trier)39624-5Large

Region 11 (Chicago)

SchoolEnrollment2019 recordGroup
Chicago (Agricultural Science)7176-3Medium
Chicago (Amundsen)1196.57-2Medium
Chicago (Back of the Yards)1053.54-4Medium
Chicago (Bogan)7763-4Medium
Chicago (Brooks)850.53-5Medium
Chicago (Brother Rice)2352.98-5Large
Chicago (Carver)489.56-3Medium
Chicago (Catalyst/Maria)5475-2Medium
Chicago (Christ the King)338.52-7Small
Chicago (Clark)5415-4Medium
Chicago (Curie)2927.55-4Large
Chicago (De La Salle)9083-6Medium
Chicago (DePaul)444.53-6Medium
Chicago (Dunbar)496.56-3Medium
Chicago (Goode)8822-6Medium
Chicago (Harlan)427.56-3Medium
Chicago (Hope Academy)220.57-3Small
Chicago (Hubbard)17673-5Large
Chicago (Hyde Park)7875-4Medium
Chicago (Juarez)1666.51-7Large
Chicago (Julian)570.51-6Medium
Chicago (Kennedy)1668.53-4Large
Chicago (Kenwood)1500.58-2Large
Chicago (King)618.54-4Medium
Chicago (Lake View)13453-6Large
Chicago (Lane)40622-6Large
Chicago (Leo)2623-6Small
Chicago (Lincoln Park)2219.55-4Large
Chicago (Lindblom)10733-5Medium
Chicago (Marist)2701.88-5Large
Chicago (Mather)14616-3Large
Chicago (Morgan Park)12385-4Large
Chicago (Mount Carmel)2041.0514-0Large
Chicago (Noble/Bulls Prep)1142.57-1Medium
Chicago (Noble/Comer)7986-2Medium
Chicago (Noble/ITW Speer)1053.57-1Medium
Chicago (Noble/Johnson Prep)8238-0Medium
Chicago (Orr)328.56-3Small
Chicago (Payton)10258-1Medium
Chicago (Perspectives Leadership)13604-5Large
Chicago (Phillips)575.59-2Large*
Chicago (Prosser)1385.51-6Large
Chicago (Raby)656.72-6Medium
Chicago (Schurz)1772.51-7Large
Chicago (Simeon)13277-2Large
Chicago (Solorio Academy)11674-5Medium
Chicago (St. Ignatius)1428.55-5Large
Chicago (St. Patrick)12893-6Large
Chicago (St. Rita)116110-4Medium
Chicago (Steinmetz)1309.50-8Large
Chicago (Sullivan)6705-4Medium
Chicago (Taft)3047.55-4Large
Chicago (Urban Prep/Bronzeville)6814-6Medium
Chicago (Urban Prep/Englewood)5844-5Medium
Chicago (Vocational)8824-4Medium
Chicago (Von Steuben)17303-5Large
Chicago (Washington)14210-7Large
Chicago (Westinghouse)1171.52-6Medium
Chicago (Whitney Young)1885.54-4Large