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.

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Week 2 of Chicago Catholic League football delivered wild finishes, statement victories, breakout performances and a few surprising results.

Joe and Dan recap every CCL/ESCC game, including Mount Carmel’s dramatic 48–44 comeback victory over St. Joseph Regional, St. Rita’s last-minute 36–35 win against Glenbard West, Fenwick defeating crosstown rival Oak Park-River Forest and IC Catholic Prep improving to 2–0 with another impressive performance.

We also discuss Joliet Catholic’s surprising defensive victory over Sacred Heart-Griffin, DePaul Prep’s goal-line stand against Lane Tech, Nazareth’s bounce-back win over York, Loyola’s road victory at Cathedral and all the other major Week 2 results.

Plus, we highlight the weekend’s top players, examine the biggest early-season storylines and announce our Week 2 Zuko’s Dawg of the Week for an outstanding defensive performance.

Which Chicago Catholic League team impressed you most in Week 2? Let us know in the comments.

Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for weekly Chicago Catholic League football predictions, game recaps, player spotlights and high school football analysis.

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Chicago Catholic League football moves into Week 2, and Joe and Dan are back with another edition of Prognosticus!

We preview every Week 2 game involving a CCL team, break down the key players and matchups, and make our predictions for each game.

Among this week’s featured matchups:

🏈 Loyola Academy at Indianapolis Cathedral
🏈 Mount Carmel vs. St. Joseph Regional
🏈 St. Rita at Glenbard West
🏈 Nazareth Academy vs. York
🏈 Fenwick at Oak Park-River Forest
🏈 IC Catholic Prep vs. St. Mary’s South Side
🏈 Saint Ignatius vs. Chicago Hope Academy
🏈 DePaul Prep vs. Lane Tech
🏈 St. Laurence at Prospect
🏈 Providence Catholic vs. Kenwood

Can the CCL’s top teams bounce back from difficult opening-week losses? Which Week 1 performances were signs of what’s ahead—and which teams could surprise us in Week 2?

Watch or listen for our complete Chicago Catholic League football Week 2 preview, game-by-game predictions and players to watch.

Let us know your Week 2 picks in the comments—and tell us where Joe and Dan got it right or completely missed the mark!

Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for Chicago Catholic League football previews, predictions, recaps, player rankings and high school football discussion throughout the 2026 season.

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Week 1 of the 2026 Chicago Catholic League football season delivered major upsets, breakout performances and plenty of early-season questions.

Joe and Dan recap all 20 games involving CCL teams, including East St. Louis ending Mount Carmel’s winning streak, Lincoln-Way East edging Brother Rice by one point, IC Catholic Prep knocking off Nazareth Academy and Providence Catholic defeating St. Rita.

We also discuss impressive opening performances from Marist, Loyola Academy, Montini, Fenwick, Benet Academy, Notre Dame College Prep and other teams across all six CCL divisions.

Plus, we announce our first Dawg of the Week of the season: DePaul Prep defensive back George Farrell, who recorded three interceptions against Richards. The award continues in memory of Zuko—Forever the OG Dawg.

Finally, we look ahead to the complete Week 2 schedule and several important matchups, including Mount Carmel vs. St. Joseph Regional, Loyola vs. Indianapolis Cathedral, Nazareth vs. York, St. Rita vs. Glenbard West and Notre Dame vs. Morgan Park.

Which team impressed you most in Week 1? Which result surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments.

Follow THE Varsity Voices for Chicago Catholic League football recaps, predictions, player stories and high school football analysis throughout the 2026 season.

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The 2026 Chicago Catholic League football season is finally here—and so is the first Prognosticus episode of the year!

Joe and Dan preview all 20 Week 1 games involving the CCL’s 24 teams and make their official score predictions for every matchup. Which defending champion is most likely to stumble? Where could we see the first major upset? And who will take the early lead in the Prognosticus standings?

Featured matchups include:

• Mount Carmel vs. East St. Louis
• Loyola Academy vs. Warren
• Brother Rice vs. Lincoln-Way East
• Marist vs. Simeon
• St. Francis vs. New Palestine
• Nazareth Academy vs. IC Catholic Prep
• St. Rita vs. Providence Catholic
• Fenwick vs. Joliet Catholic
• Benet Academy vs. Lena-Winslow
• Marmion Academy vs. Racine Lutheran
• Notre Dame College Prep vs. Westinghouse
• And every other Chicago Catholic League Week 1 game!

For each matchup, Joe and Dan examine the biggest storylines, key players, decisive matchups and what each team must do to win before putting their predictions on the record.

Who has the best predictions? Which picks do you disagree with? Leave your Week 1 winners and upset selections in the comments!

Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for Chicago Catholic League football previews, predictions, game recaps, player coverage, recruiting news and high school sports analysis throughout the 2026 season.

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Our 2026 Chicago Catholic League Football preseason division previews conclude with the Orange and Green Divisions!

🏈 ORANGE DIVISION
Carmel Catholic • Fenwick • Providence Catholic • Saint Ignatius

🏈 GREEN DIVISION
Montini Catholic • Nazareth Academy • St. Francis • St. Rita

Joe and Dan break down all eight teams heading into the 2026 Illinois high school football season. Who are the players to watch? Which games could define the season? Which teams will exceed expectations — and who comes out on top in two very intriguing CCL divisions?

We cover:

• Team-by-team preseason outlooks
• Key players to watch
• Biggest games on the schedule
• Over/Under win predictions
• Bold predictions
• Orange & Green Division contenders
• Our picks for how each division shakes out

The Green Division is especially loaded. Montini enters 2026 after winning back-to-back IHSA state championships, while Nazareth, St. Francis and St. Rita make this one of the most intriguing four-team divisions in the Chicago Catholic League.

And in the Orange, Carmel, Fenwick, Providence and Saint Ignatius each enter the season with something to prove.

This is the final stop on our preseason tour. Next up — the predictions become results and Friday night football is back!

Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices for Chicago Catholic League football coverage throughout the 2026 season.

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The countdown to kickoff continues!

In this episode of THE Varsity Voices: Chicago Catholic League Sports Talk, Joe and Dan preview two of the most intriguing divisions in Illinois high school football—the Blue Division and White Division of the Chicago Catholic League.

The Blue Division features perennial state powers:

🏈 Mount Carmel
🏈 Brother Rice
🏈 Marist
🏈 Loyola Academy

The White Division may be the league's most competitive race featuring:

🏈 DePaul Prep
🏈 Joliet Catholic Academy
🏈 IC Catholic Prep
🏈 St. Laurence

During this episode we discuss:

✅ Key players to watch
✅ Biggest storylines entering the season
✅ Must-watch games
✅ Over/Under win predictions
✅ Bold predictions for every team
✅ Which programs are poised to surprise the Chicago Catholic League this season

Who wins the Blue?

Who emerges from the White?

Which bold prediction will actually come true?

Join the conversation and let us know your predictions in the comments!

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The countdown to kickoff continues!

In this episode of THE Varsity Voices: Chicago Catholic League Sports Talk, Joe and Dan preview two more divisions in one of the nation's premier high school football conferences—the Chicago Catholic League Red and Purple Divisions.

We break down each team's outlook for the 2026 season, discuss impact players, analyze the biggest games on the schedule, make our over/under win predictions, and finish with our bold predictions that we'll revisit once the season begins.

🏈 Red Division
• Leo Catholic
• Saint Viator
• De La Salle Institute
• Marian Catholic

🏈 Purple Division
• Benet Academy
• Notre Dame College Prep
• Marmion Academy
• Saint Patrick

✔ Team-by-team breakdowns
✔ Key returning players
✔ Biggest games on each schedule
✔ Over/Under win predictions
✔ Bold predictions
✔ Season storylines to watch

Which team will exceed expectations?
Who wins each division?
Which prediction do you think we'll regret?

Leave your predictions in the comments!

Subscribe for weekly coverage of Chicago Catholic League Football and Illinois High School Football, including game previews, interviews with coaches and players, rankings, recruiting, and in-depth analysis throughout the season.

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Welcome to the very first episode of THE Varsity Voices Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Flag Football Podcast!

To kick off our inaugural season, we're joined by Benet Academy Head Coach Joe Cabay to discuss the exciting growth of girls high school flag football in Illinois and what fans can expect from the Redwings this season.

Coach Cabay shares insights on:

🏈 How Benet Academy is building its flag football program

🏈 What makes girls flag football unique and exciting

🏈 The skills that separate great flag football players

🏈 Team culture, player development, and coaching philosophy

🏈 Expectations for the upcoming GCAC season

🏈 Why the future of girls flag football has never been brighter

Whether you're a player, parent, coach, alumni, or simply interested in the fastest-growing high school sport in America, this conversation is the perfect introduction to the Girls Catholic Athletic Conference Flag Football Podcast.

THE Varsity Voices is your home for comprehensive Girls Catholic Athletic Conference (GCAC) Flag Football coverage, including interviews with coaches and players, game previews, rankings, analysis, and weekly recaps.

Subscribe to THE Varsity Voices Media Network for weekly interviews, team previews, player spotlights, game analysis, rankings, and coverage throughout the GCAC flag football season.

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Who has the best mascot in the Chicago Catholic League?

Is a Corsair tougher than a Viking? Could a Spartan take down a Crusader? Does a Hilltopper automatically win because they're already standing at the top of the hill? And what exactly is a Caravan anyway?

In this offseason episode of THE Varsity Voices: Chicago Catholic League Sports Talk, Joe and Dan take a fun and unique look at all 24 Chicago Catholic League school mascots. We dive into the history and meaning behind each mascot before putting them to the ultimate test.

In this episode, we:

• Explore the origins and meanings of all 24 CCL mascots
• Conduct our Chicago Catholic League Mascot Draft
• Rank the toughest, coolest, and most unique mascots
• Debate which mascot would dominate in a Battle Royale
• Discuss which mascot best represents Chicago Catholic League football
• Have a little fun with one of the greatest high school sports conferences in the country

Whether you're a Crusader, Caravan, Hilltopper, Corsair, Viking, Spartan, Bronco, or Shamrock, there's something for every Chicago Catholic League fan in this one.

Let us know in the comments:

• Which CCL mascot would you draft first?
• Who wins the Mascot Battle Royale?
• Which mascot has the best history?
• Which mascot deserves a redesign?

Subscribe for weekly coverage of Chicago Catholic League football and high school sports throughout Illinois.

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