The 2024 IHSA state football playoffs began the first weekend in November with 256 teams in the field. Now eight have been crowned champions.

Six Chicagoland prep football programs, including two from the city, claimed Illinois High School Association state championships over Thanksgiving weekend in Normal. The state football championship games were held Friday and Saturday in each of the IHSA’s eight classes at Hancock Stadium on the campus of Illinois State University.

Iowa-bound quarterback Ryan Fitzgerald finished 12-for-21 with 160 yards and three TDs to lead Loyola (12-2), which took the lead for good late in the second quarter on a 16-yard TD pass from Fitzgerald to Drew MacPherson (195 total yards and three TDs).

The 2024 IHSA state football playoffs began the first weekend in November with 256 teams in the field. Now eight have been crowned champions.

The Journal Star each week spotlights the top-performing teams and players from weekend playoff games. This week, we take a look around the state with the top performers from the eight Illinois state championship games.

The IHSA moved to eight classes in 2001 and for the first time ever Saturday, Nov. 30 at Hancock Stadium in Normal, two double-digit seeds are meeting for the Class 8A state championship. No. 12 Loyola Academy (11-2),

Dierre Hill Jr. put on a historic show for those in attendance on Nov. 29 at Hancock Stadium in Normal. The senior running back for the Althoff Catholic Crusaders scored a state title game record seven touchdowns in Althoff's 57-14 win over Lena-Winslow in the Class 1A state championship.

Belleville Althoff completed its dominating run through the Class 1A bracket by beating Lena-Winslow 57-14 in the first of Friday's four games at Normal.