Oswego senior defensive back/receiver Mariano Velasco, who caught nine touchdown passes and also had six interceptions, four returned for touchdowns, in helping lead the Panthers to the Class 8A state championship, is the Record Newspapers Player of the Year.

Join hosts Matt Rodewald and Steve Soucie as they recap the Illinois high school football state championship games for Class 8A-5A

Oswego junior linebacker Cam Loghmani walked into the postgame interview room carrying the Class 8A runner-up trophy, and briefly put it in the center of a table. He could indeed hold it high. The Panthers, in defeat, put a fitting capper on a memorable run to the Class 8A final.

There was almost no flashiness in the final game of the IHSA football season as Mount Carmel and Oswego found themselves embroiled in a defensive struggle with the Caravan claiming their 17th state title with a 20-3 win.

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The Oswego football team played Mount Carmel Saturday to decide the IHSA Class 8A state championship in Huskie Stadium at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.

Oswego coach Brian Cooney was a senior linebacker on the 1992 state championship team, that school's first, and was on the coaching staff for the 2003 champions. Now he's leading his alma mater into the Class 8A championship game against Mount Carmel. "It mirrors a little bit."

Mount Carmel was an expected team in the Class 8A final, its opponent however, Oswego, would classify as a surprise. Steve Soucie previews Saturday's Class 8A title game.

Join hosts Steve Soucie, Russ Hodges and Josh Welge as they preview the Illinois high school football state championship games

Gianni Casurella does not need to be reminded that Oswego is the surprise participant in this Saturday’s Class 8A final. Doubt is his fuel. "A fire in my soul every day." Oswego's senior defensive tackle is a huge reason behind that defense's dominance during the playoff run.