Football

More than 30 people attended a meeting in Joliet organized by neighbors of a future JCA stadium, including two people with school connections who gave some insight into the project.

Tyler Nubin may be a breakout star in the National Football League, but at heart he didn’t feel that different from the kids flying around his old turf, the football field at St. Charles North.

In addition to the Watseka Tackling Disabilities camp coming up on July 26, Manteno hosted its first annual version of the camp on June 12, giving young athletes with disabilities an afternoon of football and fun.

Wilmington’s Kyle Farrell and Ryan Nelson, Coal City’s Landin Benson and Milford-Cissna Park’s Caleb Clutteur are all set to take place in the 2025 Shrine Game to wrap up their high school football careers.

In his sixth season both in the NFL and hosting his free football camp, Kankakee native and 2016 Bishop McNamara graduate Jonathan Ward has become a veteran leader in the locker room and community alike.

Kankakee native and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jonathan Ward returned home for his sixth annual football camp at Kankakee High School Saturday, June 14, 2025, one that included 7-on-7 flag football action for the first time.

A plan for an on-campus stadium at Joliet Catholic Academy will wait at least another month before going to the city for a vote.

Pittsburgh Steeler Jonathan Ward, a Kankakee native and 2016 Bishop McNamara graduate, will host his sixth annual skills camp at Kankakee High School next weekend.

Area basketball coach Alex Renchen will host his 815 Skills Camp next month.

Jyaire Hill, a 2023 Kankakee graduate now playing defensive back at Michigan, returned to Illinois to throw at the ceremonial first pitch at the Chicago White Sox game Tuesday as one of the latest CHISOX Athletes.

Offensive lineman Marques Easley, a 2024 Kankakee graduate, is transferring from Georgia to Purdue.

Deion Sanders insisted at Colorado’s pro day that Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders should go 1-2 in the NFL draft. He was talking about selections, not rounds

Read the transcript from our latest Bears Insider podcast: Who should the Bears draft at Number 10?

A pair of former area standout student-athletes are in the latest class of CHISOX Athletes, the Chicago White Sox's NIL program.

Josh Gesky, a two-time honorable mention All-Big Ten guard with Illinois and 2021 Manteno graduate, will host a youth camp in Manteno next month, with proceeds going to Lurie Children's Hospital.

The Joliet Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday tabled a vote on a proposed Joliet Catholic Academy on-campus stadium until June.

Joliet city staff is asking the zoning board vote scheduled for today on proposed JCA stadium be pushed back to June.

JCA officials say the school has held four community meetings in which stadium plans were discussed. The city's zoning board is slated to make final decision on permit on Thursday.

Resident near Joliet Catholic Academy says people need to know more before the school's sports stadium plans add more cars to the neighborhood.

Joliet Catholic Academy plans to build a stadium and other athletic facilities on the former Our Lady of Angels nursing home site.

Chicago Bears brass Wednesday made another public shift in where their new stadium could go, confirming that the team’s land in Arlington Heights is back in the mix.

Rich Zinanni, Fred LeSage, Irish O'Reilly, Jack Sikma, Ben Zobrist and Michelle Bartsch-Hackley are the six people with local ties that will be inducted into the new Illinois Sports Hall of Fame in June.

The Northern Illinois University football team held its first spring practice Thursday inside the Chessick Practice Center as they prepare for the 2025 season.

The IHSA announced three significant changes to its classification policy Tuesday. Starting next school year, the IHSA will go back to using fixed classification cutoffs, change its multiplier waiver process and adjust its “Success Adjustment Policy.”

Scores of local natives took college football fields across the country last season. Adam Tumino provides updates on several of the more notable names and their most recent accomplishments.

Agricultural students at Belvidere North High School learn a variety of skills, including how to raise and care for quail and chickens.

Northern Illinois University President Lisa Freeman, Vice President and Director of Athletics and Recreation Sean Frazier and Head Football Coach Thomas Hammock spoke during a press conference Tuesday announcing NIU football will be entering the Mountain West Conference starting with the 2026 season.

The Chicago Bears fell to the Seattle Seahawks 6-3 in their last home game Thursday night at Soldier Field in Chicago.

The Chicago Bears ran their losing streak to nine games Sunday with a 34-17 loss to the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Iowa commits Drew MacPherson and Ryan Fitzgerald was Loyola's "dynamic" duo one last time Saturday as the two helped the Ramblers win the Class 8A state championship Saturday.

The York and Loyola football teams squared off in the Class 8A state championship Saturday in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.

The Batavia and Mt. Carmel football teams battled for the Class 7A state championship Saturday in Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University in Normal.

DePaul defeated Mt. Zion 40-6 to win the Class 4A State championship on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at Hancock Stadium in Normal.

Montini defeated Monticello 49-8 to win the Class 3A State championship on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 at Hancock Stadium in Normal.

Lena-Winslow takes on Althoff Catholic for the 1A state football title, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University. Althoff won 52-14.

Chicago Christian takes on Maroa-Forsyth for the 2A state football title, Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University. Chicago Christian won 47-0.

With the fall high school sports season over, check out scenes from the last few months in the Sauk Valley.

The Chicago Bears ran their losing streak to five games with an overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Naperville Central hosted York football in a Class 8A state semifinal game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Naperville.

St. Rita hosted Mount Carmel football in a Class 7A state semifinal game on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Chicago.

Montini football hosted Wilmington in a Class 3A state semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in Lombard.

Cary-Grove faces Geneva in an IHSA Class 6A semifinal football game on Saturday, Nov. 23, at Geneva High School.

Nazareth hosted St. Francis football in a Class 5A state semifinal on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024 in La Grange Park.

Amboy and Milledgeville faced off for the 8-man football championship at Monmouth College Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Amboy rolled to a 42-14 win to take their second straight title.

The Chicago Bears record drops to 4-6 with a 20-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers Sunday afternoon at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Farmington defeated Dwight/Gardner-South Wilmington 42-7 on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at Dwight High School.

Cary-Grove vs. Belvidere North in an IHSA Class 6A quarterfinals football game on Saturday, Nov. 16, at Cary-Grove High School in Cary.

The Milledgeville Missles punched their ticket to the 8-man state championship game on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 with a 28-14 win over the Polo Marcos.

Batavia hosted Downers Grove North football in a Class 7A quarterfinal on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 in Batavia.

Montini Catholic defeated Princeton 24-7 during the Class 3A quarterfinal game on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024 at Bryant Field in Princeton. The Broncos will face Wilmington in the semifinals next week.