July 06, 2025
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Princeton moves up, St. Bede drops one spot in final AP Poll

By Kevin Hieronymus

Princeton is now ranked No. 5 in Class 3A heading into the postseason. (Mike Vaughn)

Princeton moved up one spot in the final AP football poll that was released today while St. Bede dropped one position.

The Tigers (8-1) made the move from No. 6 to No. 5 (94 points) in this week’s Class 3A rankings heading into first-round playoff openers. PHS will meet unranked Poplar Grove North Boone (5-4) at 7 p.m. at home Friday.

IC Catholic (8-1), which started the season ranked in 2A, claimed 13 of 15 first-place votes to remain No. 1 with 146 points. Byron (9-0) got one first place vote and 132 points to remain at No. 2. Tolono Unity (9-0) went from No. 5 to No. 3 while Williamsville (8-1) picked up one first-place vote and 106 points at No. 4.

Two ranked teams in 3A, Wilmington (No. 1) and Farmington (No. 5), are now ranked in 2A for the postseason.

St. Bede (7-2) beat 3A Mendota in its last game, but still fell one spot in 1A to No. 9 with 32 points. Carrollton (8-1) received one first-place vote and 129 points, to edge 1A newcomer Athens (8-1), which received 10 first-place votes and 128 points. Athens was previously ranked No. 6 in 2A.

Ottawa Marquette (8-1) also fell one spot in 1A to No. 8 with 34 points.

With its first loss of the year to Newman, Kewanee fell from No. 4 to No. 8 in 4A. Other area teams receiving recognition are Fulton, sixth in 1A, Erie-Prophetstown (2) and Newman (1), receiving votes in 2A,