Providence Catholic lost to St. Francis during the high school football state championship game in Illinois. However, the Celtics believe they were wronged by the referees.
A penalty that was not called against the Spartans in the closing moments of the fourth quarter might’ve proved to be the difference between a win and a loss— or overtime.
This controversial high school football officiating decision could go either way. The victors agree that the pass went beyond the line of scrimmage from out of the pocket. The losers contend there was not a receiver anywhere in the area to catch the desperation heave.
St. Francis defeated Providence Catholic.
St. Francis High School is located in Wheaton, Illinois. It enrolls approximately 700 students in Grades 9-12. Providence Catholic High School is located in New Lenox, Illinois. It enrolls approximately 800 students in Grades 9-12. They are separated by about 35 miles to the west of Chicago.
The Spartans and Celtics both compete on the Class 5A level of high school football competition.
St. Francis finished the regular season at 7-3 to earn the No. 9 seed in the playoffs. Providence Catholic also finished the regular season at 7-3 to earn the No. 5 seed in the playoffs.
Despite their lower seeding, they both advanced to the state championship game at Illinois State University on Tuesday night. It was an instance classic in the cold and snow!
However, the final moments of the fourth quarter are marred by controversy.
Illinois high school officials did not call intentional grounding.
The Celtics held a three-point point lead, 35-32, with just 21 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Spartans had the ball on second-and-goal
Senior quarterback Brock Phillip, who had to leave the game with a cramp just a few plays prior, took the snap from the shotgun at the five-yard-line. He tucked the ball to try and run up the middle for six.
There was nowhere to go.
Providence Catholic clogged his running lane before he could reach the end zone. It appeared as though the defense stopped him in the backfield for a loss of two or three yards.
However, Philip threw the ball away — underhand — at the last second for what was ruled on the field as an incompletion.
A clean sack would’ve kept the clock running because St. Francis did not have any timeouts. An intentional grounding penalty would’ve pushed the offense back 10 yards for third and fourth downs.
The Celtics lobbied for the latter but the officials decided to pick up their flags after a brief discussion. The Spartans scored the state championship-winning touchdown two plays later.
Snow game thriller! St. Francis (@SFHS_Spartans) beats Providence for the 5A state title in Illinois.
— MaxPreps (@MaxPreps) December 3, 2025
A wild ending as seen on the @NFHSNetwork pic.twitter.com/yKaiBoMmY7
Providence Catholic believes Philip’s desperation heave should’ve been ruled as intentional grounding because there was not a receiver in the area. St. Francis contends he was out of the pocket and got the ball past the line of scrimmage to avoid the penalty. Here’s another look:
This pass was ruled incomplete for St. Francis with 17 seconds remaining down 35-32 with no timeouts left. Providence Catholic was furious it wasn’t ruled intentional grounding. St. Francis scored two plays later on 4th and goal to win the IHSA Class 5A championship. pic.twitter.com/8w4mQV7x06
— John Hough (@JohnHough__) December 2, 2025
Illinois high school football officials obviously sided with the Spartans. They won the Class 5A state championship because their quarterback avoided a sack and intentional grounding to stop the clock.