# Week 5 High School Football Preview

> Five key matchups in Chicago's high school football season.
- Title: Week 5 High School Football Preview · Chicago Sun-Times
- Summary: Five key matchups in Chicago's high school football season. Providence fires coach after five seasons, Lincoln-Way East remains strong.
- Keywords: high school football, catholic league, lincoln-way east, glenbard west, lyons, st charles east, wheaton north, ihsa, week 5, football games, chicago high schools, providence
- Source: Chicago Sun-Times — https://chicago.suntimes.com/high-school-football/2026/09/17/previewing-week-5s-top-high-school-football-games
- Published: 2026-09-17T19:49:30.74+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: high school football, catholic league, lincoln-way east, glenbard west, lyons, st charles east, wheaton north, ihsa, week 5, football games, chicago high schools, providence
## Providence fires coach
Providence (4-0) fired popular coach Tyler Plantz after five seasons.

> Providence (4-0) has fired popular alum Tyler Plantz as head coach halfway through his fifth season with the Celtics unbeaten.
## Lincoln-Way East strong
Lincoln-Way East (4-0) wins without graduating passing leader.

> After graduating IHSA career passing leader Jonas Williams and a number of other talented seniors, Lincoln-Way East (4-0, 2-0 SouthWest Suburban) hasn’t skipped a beat.
## Glenbard West speed
Glenbard West runs fast with key players.

> Quarterback AJ Rayford and Keyonte Johnson both showed breakaway speed for Glenbard West (2-2, 1-1 West Suburban Silver) in last week’s 24-14 loss at Downers Grove North.
## Lyons rushing threat
Lyons' EJ Kuhlman leads rushing with multiple 100-yard games.

> Running back EJ Kuhlman, who set the program single-game rushing record last season, has been solid again this year for Lyons (4-0, 1-0).
## Kankakee challenges
Kankakee misses key player but remains competitive.

> Kankakee (3-1) hasn’t been seriously tested apart from a Week 2 loss against Lincoln-Way East.
## St. Charles East surge
St. Charles East aims for first playoff berth in five years.

> St. Charles East (3-1, 1-1) was 8-42 the previous five seasons and is chasing its first IHSA playoff berth and winning season since going 7-3 in 2019.
## Wheaton North rebound
Wheaton North improves after losing seasons.

> Wheaton North (4-0, 2-0) is having a nice bounceback after a couple of losing seasons.
## Nazareth struggles
Nazareth battles injuries and tough schedule.

> Nazareth (1-3) has battled injuries and a brutal schedule, beating York and losing to three ranked opponents: IC Catholic, Mount Carmel and Montini.
## Sandburg defense
Sandburg snaps Montini's streak but faces tough competition.

> Sandburg (3-1, 0-1), which snapped Montini’s 25-game winning streak earlier this season, is coming off a 35-13 loss to H-F.
## Lincoln-Way West return
Lincoln-Way West returns key player after injury.

> One positive was the return of quarterback Jacob Howard, who left a season-opening win against Belleville East with an injury.
## Key takeaway

Providence fires coach after five seasons, Lincoln-Way East remains strong.