Scouting Joliet Catholic at St. Viator

Joliet Catholic (4-1, 2-1) at St. Viator (4-1, 2-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Forest View Educational Center

Last week: Joliet Catholic d. Nazareth 57-0; St. Viator d. St. Patrick 42-21

Outlook: Last year's 31-28 loss at Joliet Catholic was the closest Viator has come to beating the perennial state power in 25 tries. The Hilltoppers, the state's top-ranked 5A team, rebounded from their 31-28 loss to Carmel by taking a 43-0 halftime lead last week. "They're a good team but we've got nothing to lose," said Viator coach Chris Kirkpatrick, whose team was ranked 10th in 6A this week. "We're going to try to put pressure on them in every aspect and whatever we do, we're going to go down fighting and fight hard doing it." And it will be a big battle for the defensive crew of LB Mike Krzoska, Justin Johnson, Ryan Romanesko and Cosimo Cannella against the Hilltoppers' triple-threat option attack of backs in Illinois-bound Josh Ferguson (10 carries, 243 yards, 4 TDs last week; 1,596 yards and 22 TDs last year), junior Malin Jones (1,286 yards, 22 TDs last year) and sophomore Ty Isaac. "You have to try to keep them from breaking it," Kirkpatrick said. One of the big reasons for Viator's success has been a plus-12 in turnovers with only 4 giveaways behind dual-threat QB Cameron Korab (1,059 total yards, 13 TDs), WR Nick Frett (20 catches, 308 yards, 4 TDs) and RB Jimmy Menges (330 yards, 5 TDs). "I'd just like the kids to play a complete game and see what happens," Kirkpatrick said.