While the playing of high school football dates back to the early 1870s in the eastern part of the United States, the first interscholastic game in Illinois didn’t take place until Nov. 1, 1879, when Evanston High School defeated Northwestern Academy, according to the Illinois High School Association . As this 1915 photo taken by prolific Naperville photographer Charles Koretke shows, our city — with just 3,449 residents, according to the 1910 U.S. Census — seems to have fully embraced the game as evidenced by Naperville High School’s full roster of players. It’s hard not to cringe at their cursory nod to head protection and other protective gear but presumably the sport was not nearly as rough as it is today. (Naperville Heritage Society)

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