State Football Championships Return to DeKalb County

Sixteen high school football teams will battle for eight state titles Nov. 24-25 at Northern Illinois University’s Huskie Stadium when the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Football Championships return to DeKalb for the third time in five years.

The IHSA Destination DeKalb Committee expects to welcome 30,000 visitors to DeKalb County over the two days of the event. The final sixteen teams have won every game during the four-week playoffs to qualify for the finals in their respective classes, which are based upon their school enrollment.

Four titles will be decided each day with Classes 1A, 2A, 3A, and 4A being played Friday, Nov. 24, with games kicking off at 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m., respectively. The schedule will be repeated on Saturday, Nov. 25, for Classes 5A, 6A, 7A, and 8A.

The Spirit Zone, located on the west side of Huskie Stadium, features the heated main hospitality tent where community volunteers will greet and welcome visitors and fans. The tent will offer fans complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, and popcorn. Fans will also be able to test their skills at being an armchair quarterback, one of two sports-themed game inflatables for them to enjoy.

The Spirit Zone is the staging area for fans of all 16 participating teams. Each school will be provided a heated tent that can be decorated and set up to take care of the catering needs of its fans. The schools will also compete for the coveted Spirit Zone Award. Each class is judged on their overall spirit, which can consist of cheer, dance, and bands performing for the local judges along with best decorations and overall use of team colors and mascots.

Tickets are on sale now at http://ihsadestinationdekalb.com/tickets/ or are available at Huskie Stadium on game day. For more information on parking, hotels, and more visit http://ihsadestinationdekalb.com.

State football championship weekend, which alternates annually between Northern Illinois University and the University of Illinois, is expected to generate from $800,000 to $1 million to the DeKalb County economy.