The Jay Cutler era was a disappointment and the Mitch Trubisky experience a failure. But neither dubious episode epitomizes the Bears’ desperate search for a quarterback like this one: In 1997, the Bears traded for the worst quarterback in the NFL in search of their franchise quarterback.

It’s true. Rick Mirer’s 56.6 passer rating in nine starts with the Seahawks in 1996 was the lowest in the NFL. The NFL’s co-offensive rookie of the year in 1993, Mirer’s star had dropped so precipitously that he was benched in favor of John Friesz at midseason before regaining the starting job and slumping to the finish. The Seahawks were 2-7 with Mirer starting that season and 5-2 with Friesz and Stan Gelbaugh.

But in Mirer — a former No. 2 overall pick from Notre Dame — the Bears saw hope. And they didn’t just take a flier on a former promising quarterback; they paid a hefty price. They not only traded their first-round pick in the 1997 draft — the 11th overall selection — but they signed Mirer to a three-year, $11.4 million contract, and vice president of operations Ted Phillips reportedly wanted to sign Mirer to a four-year deal. And with Erik Kramer coming off an injury, they promised Mirer the starting job.

What were the Bears thinking?

”All I did [was], I met with [Mirer]. I talked to [then-Seahawks coach] Tom Flores,” then-coach Dave Wannstedt recalled. ”What they were doing at Seattle was play-action pass, running the ball, and he could do that. He was an athlete. But as far as the contract and what was given up [in the trade] and what he was paid, I was not involved in that.

”Did I think that he could bring something to our team? Absolutely. I liked him as a person. I thought his personality was good. I thought that he would fit in. That’s how the whole thing evolved.”

The Bears’ hope that Mirer could recapture the magic of his rookie season — when he set NFL rookie records for most attempts (486), completions (274) and passing yards (2,833) despite a mediocre 67.0 passer rating that ranked 24th in the NFL — evaporated almost instantly as he struggled to grasp their offense under coordinator Matt Cavanaugh, let alone master it.

Quarterback Rick Mirer wasn’t exactly a hit with the Bears. Sun-Times

By the fourth preseason game, Kramer was named the Week 1 starter. Mirer ended up playing in seven games, with numbers that tell the tale: 51.5% completions, no touchdowns and six interceptions for a 37.7 passer rating. In his three starts, he posted ratings of 51.1, 38.4 and 53.6 before he was benched at halftime of a 20-17 loss to the Saints that left Wannstedt’s Bears 0-6.

(At that point, Mirer’s performance was such an embarrassment that Wannstedt had no choice but to replace him. Although, had he stayed with Mirer, the Bears almost surely would have finished with the worst record in the NFL and had a chance to select Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning in the 1998 draft. Instead, the Bears finished 4-12 — one game worse than the 3-13 Colts.)

”I think it was because we weren’t good enough in other areas to take the pressure off him,” Wannstedt said. ”We put him in a situation where he was expected to do more maybe than what we really were hopeful that he’d have to do. We just weren’t good enough around him.”

The dysfunction that infected the Bears’ front office after the death of owner George Halas in 1983 and the departures of general managers Jim Finks in 1984 and Jerry Vainisi in 1987 played a role in the Mirer failure. The Bears had no GM at the time, relying on personnel director Rod Graves, president Michael McCaskey and Wannstedt to make personnel decisions.

In fact, after Mirer was cut by vice president of player personnel Mark Hatley on the eve of the 1998 season, Wannstedt pinpointed the problem.

”Having a nonexistent pro personnel department at the time,” Wannstedt said in August 1998. ”In trying to get as much background on a player as you possibly can in a month’s time, it didn’t give us a chance to be as thorough as we needed to be.”

The Bears finally created a director of pro personnel position in 1998 — three months after the Mirer trade — when Hatley hired Rick Spielman (now the Vikings’ GM). At the time, however, Graves was handling the work of three or four personnel people, and that led to mistakes.

Mirer himself acknowledged during training camp in 1998 that his 1993 rookie performance misled NFL teams into thinking he was a better quarterback than he was after being the No. 2 overall pick.

”I get more credit for what happened my rookie year . . . and I knew nothing, absolutely nothing,” Mirer said. ”I came in [to training camp with the Seahawks] 18 days late, got thrown in there and just played ball. There was no method to our madness.

”There wasn’t enough time for a young, first-time quarterback to understand all the intricacies of that offense, so they didn’t try to. I was told to be athletic and make plays. People don’t understand that. We were dropping back — there’s one receiver and there’s another. Otherwise, run around and make something happen.”

That scenario in Seattle and the Bears’ desperation for a quarterback became a perfect storm. Sometimes you want a quarterback so badly, it distorts your vision of reality.

”Yeah, that can happen, and that might have been a little part of it,” Wannstedt acknowledged in August. ”The Notre Dame connection. The personality. He checked all the boxes in that category. The kid wanted to win.

”I think you can fall into a little bit of a trap, and I’m sure that was an influence because we needed somebody with experience. We didn’t feel like we had time to bring in a rookie and groom him. So you wanted experience and you want a guy that’s going to be athletic and make some plays with his feet. And, obviously, it didn’t work out.”

***

The Mirer debacle is just one small chapter in the Bears’ search for a franchise quarterback.

Despite winning the NFL championship with Bill Wade in 1963 and the Super Bowl with Jim McMahon in 1985, the Bears’ dearth of quality quarterbacks since Sid Luckman is among the most dubious for any team in any position in sports.

Wade and McMahon are the only Bears quarterbacks voted to the Pro Bowl since 1957 (Trubisky was selected as an alternate in 2018). The Bears haven’t had a quarterback finish among the top 10 in passer rating, yards or touchdowns since Kramer in 1995, when he was fourth in rating (93.5), seventh in yards (3,838) and fourth in touchdowns (29).

Kramer set franchise records for yards and touchdowns that season that still stand (though the Bears finished 9-7 and didn’t make the playoffs). Yet his single-season passing mark (3,838) is eclipsed by every other NFL team and ranks 257th on the all-time list. Kramer’s single-season touchdown record (29) is tied for 157th.

Cutler’s franchise record of 23,443 passing yards is eclipsed by every NFL team but the Texans (who only have been in existence since 2002) and Buccaneers (1976). It ranks 55th in the NFL.

***

The Bears’ search for a franchise quarterback has been one of sports’ ultimate tales of woe. In 1970, the first year of the NFL-AFL merger, the Bears lost a coin flip with the Steelers for the No. 1 overall pick and the right to take Louisiana Tech quarterback Terry Bradshaw.

In 1979, they were reportedly ready to take Notre Dame’s Joe Montana in the third round when Finks — who is deservedly in the Hall of Fame — stepped in at the last minute and took running back Willie McClendon.

In 1997, the Bears (4-12) fell two losses short of the No. 1 pick in the 1998 draft and the chance to take Manning (or Washington State’s Ryan Leaf).

In 1998, the Bears (4-12) fell two losses short of the No. 2 pick in the 1999 draft and the chance to take Mount Carmel graduate Donovan McNabb.

In 2005, when Cal’s Aaron Rodgers was there for the taking, the Bears weren’t interested. They just had drafted Rex Grossman in the first round in 2003, and Grossman was pegged to start by new coach Lovie Smith.

Injuries, bad luck, bad timing and organizational dysfunction all have played a part in the Bears’ inability to find a quarterback who could lead — if not will — a proud franchise to sustained success built on offense.

Rookie Justin Fields — the Bears’ 2021 first-round draft pick (11th overall) from Ohio State — is the latest hope to end the drought. The excitement surrounding Fields has been off the charts. Outside of Cutler, who was coming off a Pro Bowl season when he was acquired in 2009, it’s hard to find a Bears quarterback who has elicited the anticipation of something special happening that Fields has.

But Bears fans conditioned to be disappointed will have to see it to believe it. In that spirit, here is a look at the Bears’ top ”franchise quarterback” candidates in the last 40 years:

Bears quarterback Jim McMahon works the crowd during Super Bowl XX.John Swart/AP

Jim McMahon (1982-88)

A first-round draft pick (fifth overall) from Brigham Young in 1982, McMahon was the right guy at the right time, even though he was never prolific. In seven seasons, his passer rating was 80.4, with 67 touchdowns and 56 interceptions. Even in 1985, when he finished seventh in the NFL in passer rating (82.6), he was 20th in passing yards (2,392 in 13 games) and 19th in touchdown passes (15).

But McMahon had the ”it” factor like no Bears quarterback since Luckman. That never was more evident than in 1985, when he came off the bench in the third quarter against the Vikings and threw three touchdown passes in a span of 6 minutes, 40 seconds to turn a 17-9 deficit into a 30-17 lead en route to a 33-24 victory.

In fact, in the heart of the Mike Ditka era — from Week 11 in 1983 through 1988 — the Bears were 41-6 (.872) when McMahon started. He also led two victories in relief, and he didn’t finish four of the losses because of injury. In the same span, the Bears were 22-11 (.667) when McMahon was out.

Unfortunately, McMahon’s aggressive — and borderline reckless — nature was costly. The only time he played in the postseason when he wasn’t coming off an injury was in 1985, when the Bears dominated the playoffs and won the Super Bowl. He was traded to the Chargers during the preseason in 1989.

Jay Cutler had a knack for bad luck, bad breaks and bad timing. Nam Y. Huh/AP

Jay Cutler (2009-16)

The celebration over the Bears’ acquisition of Cutler in a trade with the Broncos epitomized the desperation of Bears fans for a franchise quarterback.

The strong-armed Cutler was the best quarterback the Bears had in the Super Bowl era. At 26, he was coming off a Pro Bowl season in which he threw for 4,526 yards and 25 touchdowns. The Bears finally had a quarterback who could put actual fear in a defense.

But even though Cutler played eight seasons with the Bears, it never quite worked out. His fit of petulance that made him available in the first place (he was miffed that new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels attempted to acquire Matt Cassel) was an indication of a quirky, persnickety personality that created conflicts with coordinators and teammates and proved problematic with the Bears.

Cutler had a knack for bad luck, bad breaks and bad timing.

Linebacker Brian Urlacher suffered a season-ending dislocated wrist in the first half of Cutler’s first game with the Bears in 2009. When the Bears reached the NFC Championship Game in 2010, Cutler suffered a mysterious knee injury in the first half of a 21-14 loss to the Packers at Soldier Field. When he finally had a quarterback whisperer in Marc Trestman, the defense fell to 30th in the NFL in 2013 and 2014.

He was beset at various times by poor protection, a less-than-stellar receiving corps and coaching changes, but he also was his own worst enemy, with a knack for committing ill-timed turnovers.

And the one time he had almost everything going his way — in 2013, when Trestman was the head coach, with a full complement of weapons in Matt Forte, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery and Martellus Bennett and an offensive line that started the same five players for 16 games — Cutler still was only 13th in the league in passer rating (89.2), 17th in yards per game (238.3), 12th in completion percentage (62.1) and 10th in yards per attempt (7.4). And when he suffered an injury, journeyman Josh McCown outplayed him, with a 109.0 passer rating (12 touchdowns, one interception) in eight games.

Cutler broke Luckman’s franchise records for passing yards (23,443) and touchdowns (154) and nearly doubled Wade’s record of nine 300-yard games (16). But when he was cut after the 2016 season, his legacy was more one of regret than of celebration.

Rex Grossman’s 2006 season told the tale: he was an MVP candidate as the Bears started 7-0, but he couldn’t sustain it and developed the Good Rex/Bad Rex persona that he never could shake.Charles Rex Arbogast/AP

Rex Grossman (2003-08)

When the Bears drafted Grossman with the 22nd overall pick in 2003, they had no intention of starting him as a rookie and there was little to no debate. The Bears had signed established starter Kordell Stewart in free agency, and that was that.

Grossman was named the starter in 2004, when Smith replaced Dick Jauron. He showed flashes of being a franchise quarterback and still is the only Bears quarterback, other than McMahon, to play in the Super Bowl. But he lacked the durability and consistency to put it all together.

Injuries limited Grossman to three starts in 2004 and two in 2005. His 2006 season told the tale: Grossman was an MVP candidate as the Bears started 7-0, but he couldn’t sustain it and developed the Good Rex/Bad Rex persona that he never could shake.

Grossman had ratings of 148.0, 137.4, 114.4, 105.7 and 104.3 (a combined 14 touchdowns and one interception), but he also had ratings of 0.0, 1.3, 10.2, 23.7 and 36.8 (a combined one touchdown and 16 interceptions). With possession and a chance to take the lead early in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLI, he threw an interception that Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden returned 56 yards for a touchdown.

Grossman was benched in favor of Brian Griese three games into the 2007 season and was beaten out by Kyle Orton in 2008 before the Bears decided to move on and eventually traded for Cutler in 2009.

Like Rex Grossman before him, Mitch Trubisky was dogged by inconsistency and a lack of instinct for the position.Jeff Haynes/AP Images for Panini

Mitch Trubisky (2017-20)

The draft-night trade that brought Trubisky to Chicago hovered over his ill-fated Bears tenure like a dark cloud.

Not only did GM Ryan Pace trade three draft picks to move up one spot — from No. 3 overall to No. 2 — to get Trubisky, but his fixation on him overlooked two better quarterbacks: Clemson’s more proven Deshaun Watson and Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes, who quickly became a sensation with an MVP and Super Bowl ring in his first three seasons.

Though missing out on Mahomes and Watson was almost immediately regrettable, Trubisky showed flashes of being an eventual hit in 2018, when Matt Nagy replaced John Fox as head coach. Trubisky threw six touchdown passes against the Buccaneers, had six 100-plus passer ratings and made the Pro Bowl as an alternate.

But, like Grossman before him, Trubisky was dogged by inconsistency and a lack of instinct for the position. He struggled to read defenses, most of his good games came against subpar defenses and he lost his knack for running that made his 2018 season promising.

He was benched in 2020, regained the job and led an offensive surge that carried the Bears into the playoffs. By then, however, Nagy and the Bears had seen enough, and Trubisky was let go and signed with the Bills as a backup for 2021.

Jim Harbaugh had toughness, heart and resilience. But in a Mike Ditka offense built around the run, he never developed into anything more than a complementary piece.Sun-Times

Jim Harbaugh (1987-93)

The Bears selected Harbaugh as their quarterback of the future — in the first round of the 1987 draft out of Michigan — when they were still riding the high of the Ditka era.

By the time he became the full-time starter in 1990, the championship window was closing rapidly. Harbaugh had toughness, heart and resilience. But in a Ditka offense built around the run, he never developed into anything more than a complementary piece.

Harbaugh’s best chance for success came in 1990, when the Bears were 10-2 and Harbaugh was fifth in the NFC in passing (88.2 rating, 10 touchdowns, four interceptions). But he was playing through injuries — a fractured rib, a bruised sternum, a strained hamstring — and the wear and tear caught up with him when he suffered a separated shoulder against the Lions in Week 15 that ended his season.

With Harbaugh at quarterback in 1991, the Bears went 11-5 and lost to the Cowboys 17-13 in the playoffs. That was pretty much it. The wheels came off in 1992, when Ditka berated Harbaugh after his audible led to a pick-six in a dreadful 21-20 loss to the Vikings.

By the time Wannstedt took over the next season, Harbaugh was still the starter, but he had no future in Chicago. He finished with a 35-30 record and 74.2 passer rating (50 touchdowns, 56 interceptions).

”Jim had no help,” Wannstedt said of that 1993 season. ”There were issues with management and Jim. And fans — I remember our very first preseason game, they introduced the offense, and there was a percentage of fans at Soldier Field that booed our offense with Jim. . . . It could have been Aaron Rodgers and it would have been a tough situation because we just didn’t have the supporting cast around him that we needed.”

Erik Kramer wasn’t flashy, but he was efficient and unflappable.Charles Bennett/AP

Erik Kramer (1994-98)

A free-agent signing in 1994 (three years, $8.1 million), Kramer had the best season of any Bears quarterback in the Super Bowl era in 1995. He set franchise records for passing yards (3,838) and touchdown passes (29) that still stand today. He was fourth in the NFL in passer rating (93.5).

Kramer wasn’t flashy, but he was efficient and unflappable. He was just the guy Wannstedt was looking for in a long-term quarterback.

”Absolutely,” Wannstedt said. ”Erik Kramer could do everything that we asked him to do.”

Unfortunately, after starting all 16 games in 1995, Kramer couldn’t stay healthy. He suffered a season-ending herniated disc in his neck in Week 4 in 1996. He was on pace for more than 3,600 passing yards midway through the 1998 season before suffering a shoulder injury that eventually ended his season.

”Injuries, injuries, injuries,” Wannstedt said. ”If Erik stays healthy, we’ve got a chance.”

After Wannstedt was fired following the 1998 season and replaced by Jauron, Kramer was the Bears’ No. 1 quarterback heading into training camp. But he was cut on the eve of camp, clearing a path for first-round rookie Cade McNown to battle for the starting job. And Kramer left with an ominous warning:

”If you’re a parent and your 14-year-old kid comes home with a straight-A report card, that doesn’t mean you give him the keys to the car.”

Cade McNown had talent and gumption and a playmaker’s knack, but he lacked the maturity and polish needed to put it all together.Steve Nesius/AP

Cade McNown (1999-2000)

Unable to get quarterbacks who went 1-2-3 overall in the draft (Tim Couch, McNabb and Akili Smith), Hatley traded down from No. 8 to No. 12 to take McNown, a punky QB from UCLA.

McNown got off to a bad start with a 10-day holdout that dented his chances to win the starting job. (As it turned out, he held out for ”voidable years” that he never would see).

It was all for naught, anyway. McNown had talent and gumption and a playmaker’s knack, but he lacked the maturity and polish needed to put it all together. He had his moments as a rookie — three touchdown passes in relief of an injured Shane Matthews against Washington and four touchdown passes to Marcus Robinson in a start against the Lions — but he was ill-prepared, and it showed.

McNown began the 2000 season as the starter and was mostly mediocre before suffering a separated shoulder at midseason. When he returned against the 49ers in Week 15, his miserable, uninterested performance in a game in which the Bears never crossed midfield all but sealed his fate. He was traded to the Dolphins the next preseason but never appeared in another NFL game.

Unlike the MitchTrubisky pick, which was panned by many analysts from the minute it was made, the selection of Justin Fields was heralded as a masterstroke. John Amis/AP

Justin Fields (2021-)

Just when it looked like the misevaluation of Trubisky was going to define his tenure in Chicago, Pace made a sudden bold move in the 2021 draft that invigorated the franchise. He traded a first-round draft pick in 2022 to move up from No. 20 to No. 11 overall to take Fields.

Unlike the Trubisky pick, which was panned by many analysts from the minute it was made, the selection of Fields was heralded as a masterstroke. While Fields was the fourth quarterback taken in the draft — behind Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars), Zach Wilson (Jets) and Trey Lance (49ers), who went 1-2-3 — he was rated in their class by many draft analysts and behind only Lawrence by some of them.

And Fields came with better credentials than Trubisky did in 2017: a 20-2 record at Ohio State and a standout performance in a victory against Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinals.

The Bears immediately put Fields on an apprenticeship program, planning for him to sit and learn behind veteran Andy Dalton in 2021, just as Mahomes sat behind Alex Smith when Nagy was with the Chiefs in 2017.

Time will tell whether that plan will hold up. Fields has looked the part of a quarterback of the future in early camp practices, showing off a strong arm, quick feet and a sudden burst as a runner. There’s a long way to go, but Fields already has provided the franchise and Bears fans with more hope for a franchise quarterback than they’ve had in a long time.

FRANCHISE CAREER PASSING LEADERS

Jay Cutler’s Bears franchise record for career passing yards (23,443) is lower than the record of all but two NFL franchises — the Texans (who joined the NFL in 2002) and the Buccaneers (1976):

Tom Brady, Patriots 74,571

Drew Brees, Saints 68,010

Brett Favre, Packers 61,655

Dan Marino, Dolphins 61,361

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers 60,348

Philip Rivers, Chargers 59,271

Eli Manning, Giants 57,023

Matt Ryan, Falcons 55,767

Peyton Manning, Colts 54,828

John Elway, Broncos 51,475

Matthew Stafford, Lions 45,109

Joe Flacco, Ravens 38,245

Jim Kelly, Bills 35,467

Joe Montana, 49ers 35,124

Jim Hart, Cardinals 34,639

Tony Romo, Cowboys 34,183

Russell Wilson, Seahawks 33,946

Warren Moon, Oilers/Titans 33,685

Fran Tarkenton, Vikings 33,098

Donovan McNabb, Eagles 32,873

Ken Anderson, Bengals 32,838

Cam Newton, Panthers 29,041

Len Dawson, Chiefs 28,507

Joe Namath, Jets 27,057

Derek Carr, Raiders 26,896

Mark Brunell, Jaguars 25,698

Joe Theismann, Washington 25,206

Jim Everett, Rams 23,758

Brian Sipe, Browns 23,713

Jay Cutler, BEARS 23,443

Matt Schaub, Texans 23,221

Jameis Winston, Buccaneers 19,737

FRANCHISE LEADERS: SINGLE-SEASON PASSING YARDS

Erik Kramer’s Bears single-season record of 3,838 passing yards, which he set in 1995, is the lowest single-season franchise mark in the NFL. It ranks 257th on the NFL’s all-time list:

Peyton Manning, Broncos 5,477

Drew Brees, Saints 5,476

Tom Brady, Patriots 5,235

Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers 5,129

Jameis Winston, Buccaneers 5,109

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs 5,097

Dan Marino, Dolphins 5,084

Matthew Stafford, Lions 5,038

Matt Ryan, Falcons 4,944

Eli Manning, Giants 4,933

Kirk Cousins, Washington 4,917

Tony Romo, Cowboys 4,903

Kurt Warner, Rams 4,830

Deshaun Watson, Texans 4,823

Dan Fouts, Chargers 4,802

Andrew Luck, Colts 4,761

Daunte Culpepper, Vikings 4,717

Warren Moon, Oilers/Titans 4,690

Rich Gannon, Raiders 4,689

Jared Goff, Rams 4,688

Carson Palmer, Cardinals 4,671

Aaron Rodgers, Packers 4,643

Josh Allen, Bills 4,544

Steve Beuerlein, Panthers 4,436

Blake Bortles, Jaguars 4,428

Joe Flacco, Ravens 4,317

Jeff Garcia, 49ers 4,278

Russell Wilson, Seahawks 4,219

Brian Sipe, Browns 4,132

Carson Wentz, Eagles 4,039

Joe Namath, Jets* 4,007

Erik Kramer, BEARS 3,838

* 14-game season

Read More

The Sun-Times’ Bears experts make their predictions for 2021:

RICK MORRISSEY

Record: 8-9

The Bears have the third-toughest schedule in the league, not the best news for a team hoping to improve on back-to-back 8-8 seasons. They’re hoping their defense has a bounce-back year, and they’re hoping either Andy Dalton or rookie first-round pick Justin Fields can prove Mitch Trubisky had been the problem all along. But it’s not as though either quarterback has a lot of talented targets around him. And the offensive line remains a major issue. Do you really want to expose the rookie to that? If general manager Ryan Pace gets fired after the season, he’ll have no one to blame but himself.

RICK TELANDER

Record: 12-5

You might say predicting the Bears to win 12 games, which they have done only three times in the last three-plus decades, is like picking up a piece of gravel and seeing a cut diamond. Of course, there are 17 games this season, so winning an extra one isn’t as big a deal. But I feel a glow coming from this team, a little firelight in the dark, like the quarterback situation. I like Ol’ Red. I like the untested youngster. Call it a feel. A good one. Good enough to feel big heat.

PATRICK FINLEY

Record: 9-8

The Bears’ quarterback play will get all the attention — and it should. The city hasn’t seen a star at the position since 20 years before Sears Tower was built. But the Bears will be only as good as their defense. It wasn’t as brutal as it felt last season — the unit finished ranked eighth in the NFL by Football Outsiders’ DVOA formula — but it never stole a victory. It will need to this season. In the last two seasons, only seven teams have fewer takeaways than the Bears’ 37. If new coordinator Sean Desai can fix that, the Bears can climb out of their two-year .500 rut. If not, it might be time for a change.

JASON LIESER

Record: 9-8

A good defense paired with a bad offense makes the Bears a middling team. They’ll beat bad opponents and get clobbered by good ones. Speaking of which, the NFL couldn’t have stuck them with a more unfortunate season opener than visiting the Rams and the reigning No. 1 defense in prime time. Anyway, throw in a surprise here or there and the possibility that they turn Fields loose, and the Bears will meander to 9-8. The NFC isn’t particularly deep this season, so that mediocre record might get them in the playoffs.

MARK POTASH

Record: 8-9

The Bears’ line issues set a bad tone for an offense that has much to prove besides at quarterback. With a defense that should improve under Desai, the Bears have a significant upside if they get their offense straightened out. But there are just too many unknowns heading into the season. Dalton should be an upgrade over Trubisky and Nick Foles. Fields figures to play at some point, but if it’s because of an offensive implosion, it’s unlikely the talented rookie will be able to provide anything more than hope for 2022 with a late-season audition.

Read More

The day Aaron Rodgers finally landed in Green Bay, someone asked Bears inside linebacker Roquan Smith what he thought about the Packers quarterback ending his cold war — at least temporarily — against the team brass.

“I like playing against him,” Smith said. “He’s a good guy. I’m a competitor, so I like going against the best.”

The Bears can’t actually like facing Rodgers, who has beaten them 21 times in 26 meetings. After this season, though, they might not have to worry about him. As Rodgers enters what might be his final season with the Packers, here’s how the NFC North — led as always by the Bears’ rival — shapes up:

Packers

Few stars have had an offseason as melodramatic as Rodgers. An hour after the Packers chose to kick a field goal in the NFC title game rather than let Rodgers try for a touchdown, the quarterback said that “a lot of guys’ futures, they’re uncertain — myself included.” The next month, he was named NFL MVP. Then came a stint hosting “Jeopardy!” and word was he wanted the job. Hours before the start of the NFL Draft, reports surfaced that Rodgers wanted out of Green Bay.

Rodgers didn’t show up to OTAs or mandatory minicamp and kept the Packers — and their fans — guessing about whether he’d be there when training camp started. He returned, but only after reworking his contract. In a candid news conference, Rodgers said he contemplated retirement during the offseason. He wasn’t upset over money, he said, but, rather, his bosses’ refusal to give him more input into team decisions.

“I think we can all understand, you know, Green Bay isn’t a huge vacation destination,” he said. “People are coming here to play with me, play with our team, knowing that they can win a championship here, and the fact that I haven’t been used in those discussions was one I wanted to change moving forward.”

That leaves Rodgers with at least one more season in Green Bay, even though his contract runs through 2022. Whether he becomes Michael Jordan in “The Last Dance” — the image he tweeted when camp started — depends on factors beyond the Packers’ passing attack.

They re-signed running back Aaron Jones to a four-year, $48 million contract after he finished the season with the fourth-most rushing yards in the NFL. They lost one of his most consistent blockers, though, when Corey Linsley, perhaps the NFL’s best center, signed a five-year, $62.5 million deal to play for the Chargers.

No one caught more touchdown passes than Davante Adams’ 18 last year, and only one receiver had more catches than his 115. Head coach Matt LaFleur’s job will be to continue to develop other pass-catching options beyond him.

The Packers’ defense finished 13th in points allowed and ninth in yards allowed last season but crumbled in the NFC title game — namely, when they allowed a 39-yard touchdown heave from Tom Brady to Scotty Miller at the end of the first half. After the 31-26 loss to the Buccaneers, the Packers fired defensive coordinator Mike Pettine and replaced him with Joe Barry. The Packers hope a different voice will spark the defense — their personnel remains mostly the same as it was last year.

Pettine, meanwhile, became a Bears senior defensive assistant.

The Packers play among the league’s toughest schedules — the Steelers are the only other team to play 10 2020 playoff qualifiers this season — but if Rodgers can come close to putting together another MVP-worthy season, the Packers are the favorite to win the NFC North.

Next year, though, might be a different story.

Vikings

The Vikings took losses all preseason for their handling of the coronavirus. In July, offensive line coach Rick Dennison refused to get vaccinated and had to be demoted to senior offensive advisor. In August, the team put three unvaccinated quarterbacks — including starter Kirk Cousins — on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

When he was activated off the list, Cousins said he was thinking about putting plexiglass around his seat in meeting rooms.

The whole thing was frustrating to head coach Mike ZImmer.

“I don’t know if it’s misinformation,” he said. “It’s their belief, so whatever they’ve heard or read or been told. Maybe they don’t believe what [NFL top doctor] Dr. [Allen] Sills and the NFL are telling them either. I shouldn’t say it, but some of the things they read is just, whew, out there.”

The Vikings have made the playoffs in odd years dating to 2015, and there’s some reason for optimism this time around. Edge rusher Danielle Hunter had 14 1/2 sacks in 2018 and ’19 before missing all of last season because of a neck injury. He’s back, as is defensive tackle Michael Pierce, a big-money acquisition last season who sat out because of coronavirus concerns.

The Vikings will have to improve on a unit that last year ranked as one of the NFL’s worst run defenses. Healthy edge rushers will help on passing downs — and the Vikings hope former Cardinals star Patrick Peterson will also. At 31, the cornerback is looking to prove he can still play at a Pro Bowl level.

On offense, new coordinator Klint Kubiak has two stars with which to work with: running back Dalvin Cook, who ranked second in the NFL in rushing last year, and second-year receiver Justin Jefferson, who was fourth in receiving yards. As usual, the Vikings’ offensive line is a major question mark, though the team hopes first-round tackle Christian Darrisaw can be the answer for a decade.

Lions

New head coach Dan Campbell is a walking football caricature. He drinks two 40-ounce coffees with two shots of espresso every morning. In his introductory news conference, he gave a speech that would have seemed ridiculous even in a movie.

“When you knock us down, we’re going to get up,” he said. “On the way up, we’re going to bite a kneecap off, all right, and we’re going to stand up, and then it’s going to take two more shots to knock us down. And on the way up, we’re going to take your other kneecap, and we’re going to get up and it’s going to take three shots to take us down. When we do, we’re going to take another hunk out of you. Before long, we’re going to be the last one standing. That’s going to be the mentality.”

This year, they’ll need it, as they’ll get knocked down a lot.

Campbell is the face of the franchise now that quarterback Matthew Stafford is gone. New Lions general manager Brad Holmes agreed to Stafford’s trade request and dealt him to Holmes’ former team, the Rams, for quarterback Jared Goff and three draft picks. Goff is 42-20 as a starter the last four seasons, but his four-year, $134 million contract is an albatross. The Lions probably will give him two seasons at the helm.

Two years after playing in the Super Bowl, Goff will lead one of the NFL’s most inept offenses, particularly after the Lions lost receiver Kenny Golladay in free agency. First-round pick Penei Sewell, a tackle, might be their best offensive player as a rookie. The Lions figure to finish as one of the NFL’s worst teams.

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Two people were shot and wounded in a drive-by Sunday morning in East Garfield Park on the West Side.

A man and woman, 33 and 55, were standing outside about 5:18 a.m. in the 300 block of South Sacramento Boulevard when a dark sedan drove by and someone inside opened fire, Chicago police said.

The man was shot in the head, and the woman in the left thigh, police said.

The man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition, police said. The woman was taken to the same hospital, where her condition was stabilized, police said.

No one was in custody as of Sunday morning.

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A male shot at Chicago police officers early Sunday morning in Little Village on the West Side, police said.

Officers were responding to a call of shots fired about 1:40 a.m. in the 2700 block of West 25th Street when they observed a male drinking on the public walkway, police said.

When officers tried to approach him, he drew a handgun and opened fire, police said.

The male attempted to flee but was apprehended and placed into custody, police said. A weapon was recovered at the scene.

No officers were injured and police didn’t return fire, police said. Charges were pending.

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Moon Alert

After 3:45 a.m. Chicago time, there are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Sagittarius.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

You will enjoy studying because you have the focus and energy to sit down and learn something. Plus, you’re interested in unusual subjects and philosophies. Some of you will use your patience to wade through the details of making travel plans.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

You will take a calm, serious approach to anything related to shared property, wills, inheritances, taxes and banking matters. This is a good day to take care of these matters because you won’t overlook details. You will be precise and careful.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

This is an excellent day for a serious discussion with a friend or partner. You will welcome advice about something from anyone who is older or more experienced. You don’t feel like socializing because you’re happy with your own company.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

This will be a productive day for you because you have a strong sense of duty and obligation, which means you want to get things done. You might work on behalf of someone else. You might help them. Nevertheless, whatever you do, you will do with care and precision.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Increased responsibilities with children are a likelihood for many of you. This is also a good day to teach children. Some of you will benefit from today’s influence by using it to practice something and hone a technique either in sports or in the arts. Practice makes perfect!

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

A discussion with an older family member will benefit you because you can learn something. Or perhaps, this discussion is mutually beneficial because of the practical, emotional support it gives to someone? Be willing to care for someone older.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Today you will like to be alone with your thoughts. However, you also will enjoy the company of serious people. You want discussions to be about important topics because you’re not in the mood for frivolity. You will be careful and thorough in your approach to whatever you do.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

You will be thrifty and frugal with your money, which is why you might not want to spend money. If you do shop, you will likely buy long-lasting practical items. You might have a serious discussion with someone about finances.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Today the moon is in your sign dancing with stern Saturn, which will make you feel calm and reflective. You’re not in the mood to party or socialize. However, you will welcome the company of serious people, especially if they have some practical advice for you.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

This is an excellent day to do research of any kind, especially if you are looking for answers to old problems or solutions to something. Your mind will be persevering, careful and thorough in its efforts to wade through details and find what you’re looking for. You will be results-oriented.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

A discussion with someone older or more experienced can benefit you. Possibly, whatever this older person says might even affect your future goals? Be open to any advice that comes your way. Why not stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before you?

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Very likely, you will impress bosses, parents or someone in a position of authority because they see you as conscientious, careful and persevering. These are qualities they admire because they know you will get things done and you will do them with thought and care. Results count!

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actress, singer Jennifer Hudson (1981) shares your birthday. You have a great imagination. You are sincere and very alert. In discussion with others, you are expressive. You are impulsive but very hard-working. Nevertheless, you always have time for others. Good news! This is a year where your success will be acknowledged. Expect promotions, kudos and awards. This is a busy year, because others notice you and want your contributions.

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A woman was killed and four others were shot, including a 15-year-old girl, Saturday night in West Pullman.

The group was outside walking towards their vehicles about 9:40 p.m in the 300 block of East Kensington Avenue when someone inside another vehicle fired muliple rounds in their direction, Chicago police said.

A 42-year-old woman was shot in the arm and armpit and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead, police said. She hasn’t been identified.

A teen girl, 15, was struck in the arm and transported in fair condition to Comer Children’s Hospital, police said.

A 32-year-old man was shot in the face and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, police said. Another man, 38, was struck in the stomach and was taken to the same hospital in fair condition.

A third man, 22, was suffered gunshot wounds to the arm and leg and was transported to Roseland Hospital in fair condition, according to police.

No one is in custody as Area Two detectives investigate.

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Day Two of Pitchfork Music Festival came with unrelenting sunshine and high temperatures, as some festival-goers laid out blankets in the shade and others opted to stand in the sun while watching the day’s first performances at Union Park.

Scorching sets from Bartees Strange and local act Horsegirl made the afternoon feel even hotter, with both groups performing their own high-energy interpretations of indie rock.

Near the intersection of Ashland and W. Washington, two public transportation vessels sat repurposed — a CTA bus parked as a cooling station in anticipation of the day’s heat, and an L train car, converted into a Goose Island Beer Co. stand, where an exclusive festival collaboration beer with Saturday act Faye Webster was being poured.

Just as it had Friday, Pitchforkpushed a mobile notification about an hour before gates opened reminding fans of COVID-19 protocols, including recommendation for masks — which were present on attendees, but far from ubiquitous.

Jamila Woods performs at Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park on Saturday night.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

The festival also announced via its app that hip-hop heavyweight Jay Electronica had been dropped from the bill, without explanation. Scheduled to perform in his time slot was producer RP Boo, adding another local Chicago act to this year’s lineup.

But when fans weren’t packed in to see acts like Maxo Kream (who went shirtless in response to the sweltering heat), chilling in the shade or exploring the park, they were waiting in lines. Lines for the water refill station and stands selling alcohol, food and merch could be seen stretching fairly far back. During the dinner rush Friday night, wait times were long for a taste of local vendors like Cevapcici Chicago and Beat Kitchen.

Highly anticipated on Saturday were late-night sets by Jamila Woods and St. Vincent.

Here’s a look at some of Saturday’s sets:

St. Vincent, 8:30 p.m. Green Stage

Although St. Vincent performed with the Willis Tower blinking in the distance behind her, the singer and guitarist brought her own skyline anyway — a shadowy backdrop that stretched the width of the Green Stage for her Saturday night headlining slot at Pitchfork Music Festival.

The experimental indie rock artist provided a memorable performance on stage, featuring a revolving setpiece, costumes, choreography and more. It was all part of the fully-realized, high concept productions the 38-year-old — named Annie Clark — has become known for throughout her nearly 17-year career.

Clark’s commitment to an aesthetic is a notable characteristic of her St. Vincent project, for which she has created a taxonomy of album eras defined by fashion and sound — like her domme-style dress during 2017’s “MASSEDUCATION,” or the futuristic, spaceship-chic look of her 2015 self-titled album.

Her current aesthetic and sound for her latest album, “Daddy’s Home,” both draw heavily from the 1970s, as the music veers into funk and R&B and the fashion embraces feathery coats and hair. On Saturday, she sported a blazer emblazoned with the word “Daddy” on the back as she brought the album’s singles “Pay Your Way In Pain” and “The Melting of the Sun” into the live setting.

The new throwback direction also informed her opening song, a funk-inspired reinterpretation of “Digital Witness,” from her self-titled record.

Joining her on stage, in addition to her band, were three background singers — one of the best features of Clark’s performance. With nearly flawless harmonies and tight choreography, the three singers added significantly to each song on which they were present.

Some of the best moments of the night came when Clark dug into her back catalog to perform fan favorites like “Actor Out Of Work” — from 2009’s “Actor” — and “Cheerleader” — from 2011’s “Strange Mercy.” Those prompted passionate sing-alongs from the thousands of fans in attendance, and exhibited the artist’s undeniably inventive talent as a guitarist.

Also in the mix was a skit which served as Clark’s slight kiss-off to Pitchfork, which gave her latest record a less-than-glowing review. Pretending to talk to her sister on an old telephone, she asked the crowd to cheer. “You would only give them a 6.8?” she said with a slight smile, before asking the crowd to cheer again. “I know, I know, Best New Crowd,” she said, hanging up.

Georgia Anne Muldrow, Blue Stage, 6:30 p.m.

Georgia Anne Muldrow performs at the Blue Stage at Pitchfork Music Festival on Saturday night.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Los Angeles producer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Georgia Anne Muldrow began her Saturday evening set with an affirmation for the growing crowd in front of the Blue Stage.

“I see the best in you. I wish the best for you. I want the best for you!” she yelled into a mic, as a sequin cape sparkled behind her in the dusk of the evening.

As the crowd cheered back, she moved into her set, standing solo on the stage while producing beats, pounding synth keys, singing, rapping and stringing together words that rang like poetry.

The effect was a live, experimental mixtape that spanned her prolific, more than 15-year catalog, interspersed with improvisations. It all made for one of the weekend’s most provocative and captivating performances.

Muldrow’s latest work is an instrumental album titled “VWETO III,” a record “intended for movement,” as she described in a statement upon its release in May. “It’s to be played when you birth yourself back outside after a long introspective period to get the things you need,” she wrote.

That message felt like the ethos of her Saturday evening set, during which Muldrow dropped virtually nonstop freeform beats that kept the crowd moving on their feet.

In addition to her prowess as a producer, her voice was also an incredibly compelling focal point of her set. It unfurled over synth-heavy beats into a mic soaked in an echo effect. It reverberated as she belted through moments of blues and R&B, as she grooved to the edges of the stage. It commanded as she spit bars, reasserting herself as a profoundly talented emcee.

She left the crowd with a final affirmation: “One word — love yourselves more than you do!” she exclaimed, before blowing kisses into the crowd.

Faye Webster, Blue Stage, 5:15 p.m.

Faye Webster performs at the Blue Saga at Pitchfork music festival at Union Park on Saturday.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Backed by a four-piece band featuring what might have been the only pedal steel heard this weekend, Faye Webster gently rocked the sizable crowd gathered at the Blue Stage to see her Saturday.

The Atlanta-based singer-songwriter and guitarist eased into her evening set with mid-tempo selections from this summer’s “I Know I’m Funny haha” — a breezy, alternative-indie folk album infused with elements of rock and country.

Songs like the album’s title track encapsulated Webster’s ability as a lyricist and singer to balance themes of affection coupled with vulnerability, while cheekily cooing lines like, “I think your sisters are so pretty, got drunk and they forgot they met me.” On Saturday she dedicated the song to “all the sh—y men out there.”

As Webster’s tight, laid-back set moved along steadily, rock artist Ty Segall was ripping into his set on the Red Stage at full volume, sometimes drowning out Webster’s slightly subdued vocals.

“Right Side of my Neck,” arguably Webster’s most upbeat track, was a crowd-pleaser, with fans swaying and singing along to every word. The same was true when she and her band covered a song from the Nintendo Switch game, “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.”

One of the biggest responses from the crowd came during her final song “Kingston,” one of her most well-known singles, off 2019’s “Atlanta Millionaires Club.” As she does in the recording, Webster uttered the lines, “The day that I met you I started dreaming,” acapella, followed by her band kicking in. Live, the drop hit even harder, as fans cheered — moved by the subtle dynamics that make Webster’s sound so catchy.

Check back soon for more from Saturday’s Pitchfork sets.

Festival-goers sit in the grass and listen as Waxahatchee performs on the Green Stage at Pitchfork music festival at Union Park, Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

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Loyola quarterback Jake Stearney played a bit as a sophomore. The Ramblers blew out most of their opponents in the spring season, so Stearney took some snaps.

It was clear he had a bright future ahead of him and that the quarterback position was in good hands. It now appears that wasn’t giving Stearney enough credit.

No. 8 St. Rita focused on stopping Loyola’s ground attack on Saturday in Wilmette. That turned the game into a showcase for Stearney. The 6-3, 175-pound junior picked apart the Mustangs as the top-ranked Ramblers cruised to a 37-7 win.

“We executed really well,” Stearney said. “We got a little frustrated in the middle of the game but this was the biggest test we’ve had. This really shows what kind of team we have.”

Stearney was 20-for-27 for 301 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He connected with seven different receivers.

“Jake’s a special player,” Loyola coach John Holecek said. “If they are gonna blitz and commit to stop the run we have some answers for that. He’s going to keep improving. He’s poised in the pocket and has great scrambles. You can see he has speed when he takes it. He’s a Division I quarterback that we have for two years and he’s going to keep getting better.”

Senior Danny Collins was Stearney’s favorite target. He caught eight passes for 137 yards, including an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second half.

“Jake is phenomenal with his eyes,” Collins said. “He found me and I saw that no one was in front of me and I just ran as fast as I could. That could be the fastest I’ve ever ran. Week 1 I got caught by a kicker on a kick return. So I wasn’t going to get caught this time.”

Jack Fitzgerald, Marco Maldonado and Peter Gilroy each caught three passes for the Ramblers.

“We caught the ball,” Holecek said. “You didn’t see too many tips or drops. They are a high risk, high reward defense. They are trying to stop the run and blitzing a lot and we had to go to those choices. Jake is terrific, he can manage really well. Overall the offense has made a big step. That’s a heck of a defense.”

Loyola (3-0) jumped out to a 10-0 lead on a 10-yard touchdown run by Marco Maldonado (17 carries, 61 yards, two touchdowns) and a 24-yard field goal from Mike Baker.

St. Rita (1-2) scored on a trick play in the second quarter. Quarterback Tommy Ulatowski threw it to running back Kyle Clayton who found BJ Hall alone in the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown pass.

That cut the Loyola lead to 10-7, but it wouldn’t get any closer.

“It was just a calamity of errors,” St. Rita coach Todd Kuska said. “That’s a good football team and we would have our hands full under any circumstances. But we just made too many mistakes and had too many missed assignments.”

Mustangs running back/receiver Kaleb Brown is expected to miss another few weeks with the leg injury he suffered in Week 1. St. Rita was held to just 25 total rushing yards in the game. Ulatowski was 8 of 16 passing for 24 yards.

The Mustangs picked up a big win in Kentucky last week and will be the favorites in the next few games until Brown returns.

Loyola’s schedule doesn’t let up. The Ramblers will be on the road at Brother Rice on Friday.

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Please send corrections or additions to [email protected].

Thursday, September 16

RED BIRD

Simeon vs. Hubbard at Gately

CHICAGO AVENUE

Tilden vs. Juarez at Rockne

LAKE STREET

Butler vs. Fenger at Gately

Corliss vs. South Shore at Eckersall

MADISON STREET

Chicago Academy vs. Senn at Lane

MICHIGAN AVENUE

Chicago Richards at Woodlawn

STATE STREET

Crane vs. Phoenix at Rockne

Rowe-Clark vs. Clemente at Lane

Friday, September 17

BIG SHOULDERS

Hyde Park vs. UP-Bronzeville at Eckersall

GREAT LAKES

Ag. Science at Goode

Catalyst-Maria vs. Comer at Gately

Johnson vs. Bogan at Stagg

HEARTLAND

North Lawndale at Speer

Prosser vs. Kennedy at Rockne

LAND OF LINCOLN

Lincoln Park at Lane

Taft vs. Phillipis at Gately

Westinghouse vs. Young at Rockne

PRAIRIE STATE

Orr vs. Raby at Lane

RED BIRD

Kenwood at Perspectives

SECOND CITY

Carver at Solorio

WINDY CITY

Mather vs. Von Steuben at Winnemac

MADISON STREET

Marine at Foreman

CCL-ESCC BLUE

Loyola at Brother Rice

Mount Carmel at Marist

CCL-ESCC GREEN

Benet at St. Rita

Nazareth at Notre Dame

CCL-ESCC ORANGE

Providence at Joliet Catholic

St. Laurence at Montini

CCL-ESCC PURPLE

St. Patrick at Marian Catholic

St. Viator at Carmel

CCL-ESCC WHITE

Fenwick at De La Salle

St. Ignatius at Marmion

DUKANE

Batavia at Lake Park

St. Charles East at Glenbard North

St. Charles North at Wheaton North

Wheaton-Warrenville South at Geneva

DUPAGE VALLEY

DeKalb at Metea Valley

Naperville Central at Waubonsie Valley

Neuqua Valley at Naperville North

FOX VALLEY

Burlington Central at Huntley

Cary-Grove at McHenry

Dundee-Crown at Crystal Lake South

Hampshire at Crystal Lake Central

Jacobs at Prairie Ridge

ILLINOIS CENTRAL EIGHT

Coal City at Herscher

Peotone at Wilmington

Reed-Custer at Manteno

Streator at Lisle

INDEPENDENT

Christ the King at Hope Academy

KISHWAUKEE I-8 BLUE

Harvard at Marengo

Johnsburg at Rochelle

Richmond-Burton at Plano

KISHWAUKEE I-8 WHITE

Sycamore at Ottawa

Woodstock at Morris

Woodstock North at Kaneland

METRO SUBURBAN BLUE

Bishop McNamara at Wheaton Academy

Elmwood Park at Aurora Central

Ridgewood at IC Catholic

METRO SUBURBAN RED

Chicago Christian at St. Francis

Riverside-Brookfield at Aurora Christian

St. Edward at Westmont

NORTH SUBURBAN

Mundelein at Stevenson

Warren at Lake Zurich

Waukegan at Libertyville

Zion-Benton at Lake Forest

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY

Antioch at Grayslake North

Grayslake Central at Wauconda

Lakes at North Chicago

Round Lake at Grant

SOUTH SUBURBAN BLUE

Lemont at Hillcrest

TF South at Tinley Park

SOUTH SUBURBAN RED

Eisenhower at Argo

Oak Lawn at Reavis

Shepard at Richards

SOUTHLAND

Bloom at Thornridge

Crete-Monee at Thornwood

Thornton at Rich Township

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN BLUE

Bolingbrook at Sandburg

Lockport at Homewood-Flossmoor

SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN RED

Lincoln-Way Central at Stagg

Lincoln-Way West at Bradley-Bourbonnais

UPSTATE EIGHT

Bartlett at West Chicago

East Aurora at Glenbard East

Elgin at Streamwood

Fenton at Glenbard South

South Elgin at Larkin

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD

Addison Trail at Proviso East

Downers Grove South at Willowbrook

Leyden at Morton

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER

Oak Park-River Forest at Lyons

York at Downers Grove North

NONCONFERENCE

Bremen at Evergreen Park

Champaign Centennial at Kankakee

Deerfield at Schaumburg

Evanston at Fremd

Glenbrook North at Hersey

Glenbrook South at Barrington

Highland Park at Wheeling

Hinsdale Central at Hinsdale South

Hoopeston at Watseka

Lincoln-Way East at Andrew

Maine East at Elk Grove

Maine South at Palatine

Maine West at Prospect

Minooka at Plainfield Central

Momence at Bismarck-Henning

New Trier at Conant

Niles North at Buffalo Grove

Niles West at Rolling Meadows

Oakwood at Dwight

Oswego at Romeoville

Oswego East at Joliet Central

Ottawa Marquette at Heyworth

Plainfield North at Plainfield South

Sandwich at LaSalle-Peru

Seneca at Georgetown-Ridge Farm

Vernon Hills at Hoffman Estates

West Aurora at Joliet West

Yorkville at Plainfield East

Saturday, September 18

BIG SHOULDERS

Brooks vs. King at Eckersall

Lindblom vs. Dunbar at Eckersall

HEARTLAND

Rauner at Steinmetz

PRAIRIE STATE

Back of the Yards vs. Clark at Rockne

Bulls Prep at Payton

RED BIRD

Curie vs. Morgan Park at Gately

SECOND CITY

Julian vs. Washington at Eckersall

Vocational vs. Harlan at Gately

WINDY CITY

Amundsen vs. Schurz at Lane

Sullivan vs. Lake View at Lane

CHICAGO AVENUE

Collins at Kelly

Gage Park vs. Little Village at Rockne

LAKE STREET

Bowen vs. Longwood at Gately

MADISON STREET

Roosevelt vs. Pritzker at Lane

MICHIGAN AVENUE

Dyett vs. Hansberry at Stagg

Englewood STEM vs. Chicago Military at Stagg

STATE STREET

Marshall vs. UIC Prep at Rockne

CCL-ESCC RED

DePaul Prep at Leo

WEST SUBURBAN SILVER

Proviso West at Glenbard West

NONCONFERENCE

Walther Christian vs. Oblong at Palestine

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