Column: Steve Millar’s 3 takeaways from Week 3 of the high school football season in the Southland

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In some ways, Week 3 was a bit calm after the chaos of the first two weeks of the high school football season. It felt like we settled in for the long haul.

There weren’t too many upsets, and the teams that have established themselves at the top of the area pretty much held serve, if you’ll allow me a tennis reference during the U.S. Open.

However, there were still statements made, surprise teams emerging and breakout performances.

And here’s a reminder of a very strange fact. The five Southland teams that are 3-0 — we’ll go through them all below — virtually clinched a playoff spot before Labor Day. Wild.

Here are my takeaways from Week 3.

Oak Lawn gets revenge and South Suburban Red looks quite interesting

Oak Lawn was one of the biggest feel-good stories of the 2025 season. The Spartans, who had won just two combined games between 2022 and 2024, won seven of their first eight last fall before Reavis spoiled the party in Burbank.

The Rams beat Oak Lawn 42-0 in Week 9 before St. Laurence dismissed the Spartans 49-19 in a Class 6A playoff opener, making for a somewhat bitter end to a fun season.

The Spartans got their payback Friday night on the Rams, rolling to a 48-14 win behind 214 yards rushing and three touchdowns from senior fullback Jayden Schlosser.

Oak Lawn (3-0, 1-0) is averaging 55.3 points a game. The schedule hasn’t been great — Wheeling and Thornridge, the Spartans’ opponents from the first two weeks, are a combined 1-5 — but last season might have just been the start of what Oak Lawn is building.

And the Spartans’ success has me intrigued about how this South Suburban Red season is going to play out.

Certainly, Richards remains the favorite as usual. But the Bulldogs (1-2, 1-0) have had some struggles offensively and had to sneak by Evergreen Park 20-13 in Week 3. That competitive loss shows the Mustangs should be capable of playing with anyone in the conference.

I’m interested to see what Shepard (2-1, 1-0) brings to the table the next two weeks against Evergreen Park (2-1, 0-1) and Oak Lawn.

All these teams look like they could be pretty evenly matched, which should make things fun.

Playoff-bound already in New Lenox … and elsewhere

With the playoff expansion, where 48 teams will qualify in each of the eight classes instead of 32, it is very likely that every team with three wins will make it to the postseason.

That means they can already celebrate all over New Lenox at both Providence and Lincoln-Way West. I saw the Celtics up close Friday night and was thoroughly impressed by their performance in a 27-0 win over Joliet Catholic.

Providence’s defense, which had given up some big plays in the first two weeks, was lights out. Meanwhile, senior running back Broden Mackert and junior running back Brayden McKay continue to make big plays, with McKay returning the opening kickoff for a TD.

Across town, the Warriors cruised to 3-0, having outscored their opponents by a combined 90-13. The competition really ramps up down the stretch for Lincoln-Way West, but I think the Warriors are certainly ready to hold their own.

Lincoln-Way East, Sandburg and Oak Lawn are also 3-0 and headed to the postseason.

Of course, it’s way too early to be celebrating playoff qualifiers. But here we are. These five teams will now turn their attention toward trying to earn an opening-round bye into the final 32 of their respective classes.

They’re well on their way.

Most eye-opening score

Tinley Park 50, Argo 0.

This one isn’t necessarily a shocking score. The Argonauts are struggling.

But Tinley Park’s performances so far this season make it worth giving the Titans a look.

After finishing 1-8 last season, Tinley Park is 2-1 under first-year coach James Washington and is averaging 43 points.

The Titans were competitive in a 41-31 season-opening loss to Grayslake Central and then smashed Romeoville 47-6.

Senior quarterback Randy Ludke can play. He’s thrown for 633 yards and eight TDs and ran for four more scores. Senior Noah James already has 15 catches.

The Titans’ progress will certainly be tested Friday night when they host rival Oak Forest. The Bengals beat Tinley Park 43-7 last season.