Marquette slid into the No. 7 spot on the AP top-10 preseason poll. The Crusaders are hoping to jump up the list as the season gets underway. | Photo provided
Marquette slid into the No. 7 spot on the AP top-10 preseason poll. The Crusaders are hoping to jump up the list as the season gets underway. | Photo provided
The Marquette Academy football team has already started strong — before the season has even begun.
The Crusaders have landed in the No. 7 spot in Class 1A of the Associated Press Illinois high school football poll in Class 1A, tallying 33 points.
Forreston took the No. 1 spot with 120 points, with Tuscola at No. 2 with 105 points and Lena Winslow at No. 3 with 61.
Other schools receiving votes included Heart of Illinois club LeRoy, Stockton and Kirkland Hiawatha.
Marquette has been a Class 1A semifinalist the last two seasons.
In Class 2A, Marquette rival Hamilton West Hancock is ranked No. 7 with 42 points. Downs Tri-Valley took No. 3 with 93 points, while defending champion Deer Creek-Mackinaw is at No. 4 with 89 points.
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley is No. 9 with 34 points.
Wilmington, which faces Ottawa in its opening week, is ranked No. 10 with 22 points in Class 3A, while St. Bede joins the "others receiving votes" category with 3 points.
Herscher is ranked No. 3 in Class 4A with 96 points, and Northern Illinois Big 12 Morris took No. 6 with 45 points.
Geneseo, Manteno and Coal City received 16, 4 and 3 points, respectively.
Sterling clocked in at No. 3 with 91 points, Rochelle took No. 6 with 48, and DeKalb is No. 7 with 31 points in Class 6A.
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