You feel it the second you pull into the parking lot at 77th and Western. There’s this specific, heavy Chicago air—a mix of South Side grit, diesel fumes, and the kind of tension that only exists in the Catholic League Blue. St Rita HS football isn’t just a weekend activity for the kids in those red and black jerseys. It’s a legacy that’s been bruising ribs and breaking spirits for over a century.
Honestly, if you aren't from Chicago, it’s hard to explain the stakes. People talk about Texas high school football like it’s the only place where the sport matters, but they’ve clearly never seen a CCL showdown in late October when the wind is whipping off the lake and every tackle feels like a car crash.
St. Rita of Cascia High School has been doing this since 1905. Think about that. They were running plays before the forward pass was even a common thing. They’ve won state titles in 1970, 1978, and 2006. But the hardware, while impressive, isn't really the point. The point is the culture. It’s a "next man up" mentality that feels less like a cliché and more like a survival tactic.
The Brutal Reality of the CCL Blue
Let’s be real for a second. The Chicago Catholic League (CCL) Blue division is a meat grinder. You’ve got St. Rita, Mount Carmel, Loyola Academy, and Brother Rice. Every single week is a playoff game. There are no "cupcake" Saturdays. If you take a play off against a team like Loyola, you aren't just losing a game; you're losing your spot in the rankings and your pride in the neighborhood.
Most years, St Rita HS football plays one of the toughest schedules in the entire country. Not just the state. The country. They don't shy away from it. Head coach Todd Kuska, who led the program for decades before stepping down recently, built a system based on physicality. Now, under the leadership of guys like Dominic Tangorra, the mission hasn't changed. They want to run the ball down your throat. They want to play suffocating defense. They want to make you wish you were anywhere else but on that field.
It’s a specific brand of football. It isn't always flashy. You won't always see 500 passing yards and "air raid" schemes that look like a 7-on-7 drill in California. It’s gritty. It’s mud on the jerseys. It’s a three-yard run that feels like a victory because the linebacker had to sell his soul just to make the stop.
Legends and the "Mustang Way"
When you talk about St Rita HS football, you’re talking about names that resonate far beyond 77th Street. Look at Mike Golic. Yeah, that Mike Golic. The ESPN personality and former NFL defensive tackle? He’s a Mustang. His brother Bob? Also a Mustang. The Golic family is basically royalty in those halls.
But it’s not just the big names. It’s the guys who go on to play at Western Illinois, or NIU, or Ivy League schools. It’s the kids who stay in the neighborhood and become firemen and cops and then send their own sons back to Rita to play for the same jersey they wore. That’s the real engine behind the program. You aren't just playing for yourself. You’re playing for the guy who wore your number in 1984.
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The Rivalries that Define the South Side
The Brother Rice game. That’s the one. "The Battle of 77th and Pulaski." It doesn't matter if both teams are 0-8 or both are 8-0. The atmosphere is electric. It’s a civil war. Families are literally split down the middle. One brother goes to Rita, the other goes to Rice. They don’t speak for the week leading up to the game.
Then you have Mount Carmel. The Caravan. The rivalry between St. Rita and Mount Carmel is perhaps the most storied in Illinois history. It’s a clash of titans. It’s the North Side vs. South Side (well, South Side vs. even further South Side, usually). These games often determine who wins the CCL Blue and who has the best path to a 7A or 8A state championship.
Why the 2020s Have Been a Rollercoaster
Success at St. Rita is measured in trophies, and the last few years have been a mix of incredible highs and frustrating "almosts."
Take the 2021 season, for example. The Mustangs made it all the way to the 7A state championship game. They were dominant. They had a backfield that could vanish defenders. But they ran into a buzzsaw in Wheaton North. Losing that game 35-6 hurt. It lingered. But that’s the thing about this program—they don't rebuild. They reload.
In 2023 and 2024, we saw a shift. The landscape of Illinois high school football is changing with the transfer portal (yes, even in high school now, which is wild) and the rise of "super teams." Yet, Rita stays remarkably consistent. They rely on their neighborhood kids and their specialized coaching. They might not always have the five-star quarterback who’s headed to Alabama, but they always have five offensive linemen who look like they eat gravel for breakfast.
The Defensive Identity
If you want to understand St Rita HS football, watch the linebackers. The school has a tradition of producing "sideline-to-sideline" tacklers. Guys who are undersized by NFL standards but play with a level of violence that makes recruiters take notice.
The defensive scheme is usually built on pressure. They don’t sit back in a zone and wait for you to make a mistake. They force the mistake. They blitz from angles you didn't know existed. They play "Heimerdinger" style ball—named after the legendary coach—where the goal is to break the opponent's will by the third quarter.
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The Recruiting Pipeline
Is St. Rita a factory? Sorta. But it’s a factory with a soul.
Big-time programs like Notre Dame, Iowa, and Wisconsin are constantly sniffing around the hallways. They know that a kid coming out of the St. Rita program is already "college-ready" in terms of toughness. They’ve been coached hard. They’ve played in high-pressure games. They know how to study film.
- Notable Alumni:
- Mike Golic (NFL/Media)
- Bob Golic (NFL/Pro Bowler)
- Dennis Kelly (NFL Offensive Lineman)
- Ryan Donahue (All-American Punter at Iowa)
- Bruce McCray
What it Takes to Wear the Jersey
It’s not for everyone. Honestly. You have to be okay with getting yelled at. You have to be okay with 6:00 AM lifts when it's -5 degrees outside and the heaters in the gym are barely whistling.
There’s a certain "Rita Guy" archetype. He’s usually pretty humble off the field. He’s polite to his teachers. He’s active in the school community. But the second he puts on that helmet, something flips. It’s a switch. It’s that South Side chip on the shoulder. People look down on the South Side sometimes, and the football team is the primary way the school says, "We’re still here, and we’re still better than you."
Looking Ahead: The Future of Mustang Football
The 2025 and 2026 seasons are pivotal. With the coaching transitions and the restructuring of some of the Chicago leagues, St. Rita is at a crossroads. Can they maintain their status as a top-five team in the state every year?
The talent is there. The "lower levels"—the freshman and sophomore teams—are usually stacked. That’s the secret sauce. While other schools are struggling to get kids to come out for football, Rita’s numbers stay high. The pride is still there.
Wait. Let’s talk about the stadium for a second. Playing at Doyle Stadium is an experience. It’s tight. The fans are right on top of you. When the "Ritamen" start chanting, it echoes off the brick walls of the school. It’s intimidating. If you’re a 16-year-old kid from a suburban school coming into that environment for a playoff game, you’ve already lost three points before the kickoff.
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Navigating the Modern Era
One thing most people get wrong about St Rita HS football is thinking they are "old school" to a fault. Sure, they value the run game. But they’ve adapted. They use HUDL for advanced analytics. They have state-of-the-art strength and conditioning programs. They’ve embraced the modern era of sports science while keeping the 1950s work ethic. It’s a weird, effective hybrid.
The school also emphasizes the "student" part of student-athlete. You don't play if your grades slip. Period. The administration is incredibly tight with the athletic department. They want these kids to graduate and go to college, whether they play football there or not.
Actionable Insights for Players and Parents
If you’re a parent considering sending your son to St. Rita for football, or if you're a player looking to make the roster, keep these things in mind:
- Prioritize Strength: Don't wait for freshman year. Start a functional strength program early. Mustangs win in the trenches.
- Understand the Commitment: This isn't a "show up and play" situation. It’s year-round. If you aren't ready for summer camps and winter lifting, you’ll struggle to see the field.
- Visit the Campus: Go to a game. Not just a big one. Go to a random Thursday night freshman game. Watch how the coaches interact with the kids. See if the culture fits your personality.
- Academic Foundation: Get your study habits right in 7th and 8th grade. The transition to a college-prep curriculum like St. Rita's while playing varsity sports is a massive jump.
- Multi-Sport Mindset: St. Rita actually loves multi-sport athletes. Many of their best football players are also stars on the wrestling mat or the baseball diamond. It builds a different kind of toughness.
St Rita HS football isn't going anywhere. Through coaching changes, economic shifts in the city, and the changing face of the sport, the Mustangs remain a constant. They are the heartbeat of South Side sports. Whether they are hoisting a state trophy or grinding out a 7-6 win in the rain, they do it with a specific kind of class and a whole lot of violence. That’s just the Mustang way.
To truly understand the program, you have to look at the alumni walkway. You see the names of men who played decades ago alongside kids who graduated last year. It’s a continuum. It’s a brotherhood that genuinely doesn't end when the final whistle blows. If you’re lucky enough to wear the red and black, you’re part of something that started long before you were born and will continue long after you're gone.
Keep an eye on the Friday night scores. If St. Rita is playing, you can bet it’s going to be the most physical game in the state that night. Guaranteed.