Football: Scouting Week 6, Lake County

NORTH SUBURBAN PRAIRIE

Antioch (5-0, 2-0) at Lakes (4-1, 2-0)

When: 7:30 p.m., today

Last week: Antioch def. Wauconda, 28-12; Lakes def. Vernon Hills, 7-6.

Skinny: And then there was one. That will be the case after this game. The winner will be the one and only undefeated team left in the North Suburban Prairie, and thus sitting in the driver’s seat in the race for the division title. “This is it. This is a big game,” Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. “I don’t think there’s ever been as big of a game between us.” And there have been some big games between Antioch and Lakes, its sister school that split off of Antioch seven years ago. “We told the kids, ‘This is why you sign up to play football … games like this,” Lakes coach Luke Mertens said. “It’s always an exiting week when we play (Antioch). But the thing about this game is that if you win it, you control your own destiny (in the division).”

Lakes is coming off an equally emotional, 7-6 victory last week in which it survived a two-point conversion attempt by Vernon Hills in the final moments. A successful conversion would have given Vernon Hills the win, but a pass by the Cougars sailed out of the intended receiver’s reach. “I really credit our defense. I’m really happy with how we performed there,” Mertens said. “Their defense was tough, too. They did a great job of shutting us down.”

The Eagles managed just 108 total yards on Vernon Hills and scored their only touchdown on a punt return, but neither Mertens nor Glashagel considers that a commentary on the potency of the Lakes’ offense. “I’m not worried,” Mertens said. “I think it’s more just giving credit to a tough defense. Vernon Hills was really tough. There were things we can correct offensively, but they’re all correctable things.” Said Glashagel, whose team scored just 10 points against Vernon Hills in a Week 4 win: “Lakes struggled offensively against Vernon Hills, but who doesn’t? You’re not going to score a lot of points against Vernon Hills. I think Lakes is loaded and has a lot of talent and they can really run the ball.”

Direll Clark and Andrew Spencer have been running the ball well for Lakes. And top rusher Michael Pfeiffer is back after missing the first four games of the season with a knee injury. … Antioch also keeps its offensive focus on the ground. The Sequoits ride the shoulders of fullback Danny Arden, who is coming off 112 rushing yards against Wauconda. “Arden is a really impressive runner,” Mertens said. “He’s very physical and he’s tough to run down. This should be a really good game. Both teams like to run. But it’s going to be emotional and I think turnovers and special teams could end up playing a big role in this game.”

— Patricia Babcock McGraw

Grant (3-2, 2-1) at Vernon Hills (2-3, 1-2)

When: 7:30 p.m., today

Last week: Grant def. Round Lake, 48-13; Vernon Hills lost to Lakes, 7-6.

Skinny: The playoffs are still four weeks away. But, starting now, both Grant and Vernon Hills will be highly mindful of the postseason. This game has huge implications. For Grant, a loss would leave almost no margin of error for the rest of the season. The Bulldogs would have to win out to earn the six wins necessary for a guaranteed playoff berth. Conceivably, they could still qualify on points if they finished with only five wins. For Vernon Hills, a loss would make the points scenario the only possible playoff scenario. The Cougars would have to win out just to get to five wins and then hope that they have enough points to qualify.

“We can’t afford another loss and neither can they,” Grant coach Kurt Rous said. “We’re both fighting for our playoff lives.” … Grant and Vernon Hills come to the fight from opposite ends of the spectrum. Grant has won two straight games, including a comfortable 35-point win over Round Lake last week in which the offense was clicking on all cylinders. Vernon Hills, meanwhile, has lost two straight games, including a heartbreaker last week in which a failed two-point conversion in the final moments made the difference in a 7-6 loss to Lakes.

“It’s not just the one game like that, we’ve had three games like that this season. All three of our losses have been close,” said Vernon Hills coach Tony Monken, whose team has lost its three games by a total of five points. “We have to recognize and continue what we’re doing right, which is playing really good defense. But we also need to find a way to make plays offensively. That’s been the issue. We’re making small mistakes that have made it tough to put points on the board. It’s being able to execute and make a play when you have the opportunity. And when you’re playing good teams, you can’t afford to miss those opportunities.”

Grant made good on plenty of opportunities last week against Round Lake. The Bulldogs rolled up 623 total yards, including 530 on the ground. Running backs Jonathon Wells and Kyle Whitman combined for 6 touchdowns and 366 rushing yards. … Vernon Hills wasn’t able to get its normally potent running game going last week against Lakes, but quarterback Steve Nelson stepped up and threw for 180 yards and the Cougars’ only touchdown, a 10-yard connection with Sam Maloof in the waning moments.

— Patricia Babcock McGraw

Wauconda (1-4, 0-3) at North Chicago (1-4, 1-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Wauconda lost to Antioch 28-12; North Chicago lost to Lake Forest 56-12.

Skinny: It’s a must-win game for both teams, as the loser will officially be eliminated from playoff contention. Former Brigham Young football teammates and longtime friends Dave Mills (Wauconda) and Glen Kozlowski (North Chicago) face each other for the third time since Kozlowski left Wauconda to coach North Chicago. Wauconda has beaten North Chicago each of the last two years, 34-26 last season and 41-12 in 2009. Wauconda quarterback Branden Rowe surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in passing for the season against Antioch. The senior transfer from Marian Central has thrown for 1,196 yards and 10 touchdowns.

“We have played parts of good games for the last three weeks,” Mills said. “We have just not completed the games.” The injury bug has hit Wauconda. Star wide receiver Jake Ziolkowski (32 catches, 8 TDs) broke his wrist last week against Antioch and is done for the season. Starting guard Christian Huff has been out two weeks and has not practiced all week. Nose tackle John Kamiakis (shoulder) is also out for the year. “All three players will be hard to replace, but that’s what needs to happen,” Mills said.

North Chicago is led by athletic sophomore Arnold Shead, who lines up at both quarterback and running back. He led the Warhawks on a game-winning drive in the final seconds at Round Lake in Week 4. “North Chicago has some explosive players, as they showed in their win over Round Lake,” Mills said. “The team that wins this game will be the team who limits their mistakes and takes advantage of the opposing team’s mistakes. It will be fun to see some familiar faces in Coach Kozlowski, Coach Humann and Coach Dolan. Both coaching staffs are work very hard at trying to get our teams to play better football. I am looking forward to seeing a friend and competiting in a game with we both love.”

— Joe Aguilar

NORTH SUBURBAN CROSSOVER

Round Lake (1-4) at Zion-Benton (1-4)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Round Lake lost to Grant 48-13; Zion-Benton lost to Warren 48-6.

Skinny: Both teams yielded 48 points last week and looking for a much-needed victory, as the winner keeps alive its postseason hopes. Quarterback/linebacker Anthony Burton and running back/linebacker Daniel Vega have been two bright spots for Round Lake on both sides of the ball. Burton has rushed for 468 yards (6.3 average), while Vega has scored a team-leading 4 touchdowns, including one on a kickoff against Grant last Saturday. ... Zion-Benton has lost four straight since a season-opening win against Deerfield. During its four-game slide, the Zee-Bees have allowed an average of 35 points per contest.

— Joe Aguilar

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

Carmel (3-2, 3-1) at St. Patrick (3-2, 2-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Carmel lost to Wayzata (Minn.) 33-27 at the University of Dubuque; St. Patrick lost to Marian Catholic 42-35.

Skinny: It’s another long bus ride for the Corsairs, who opened the season at Joliet Catholic and last week traveled to the University of Dubuque in Iowa. The Corsairs lost both of those games, against JCA and Wayzata (Minn.) respectively, but will try to bounce back against coach Dan Galante’s Shamrocks, who opened the season with three straight wins but have since dropped two straight.

St. Pats has been prolific on offense, even in its losses, averaging 42.2 points in its five contests. Carmel’s option attack averages 31 points per game. Against Wayzata, Corsairs quarterback Brian Brennan threw his first touchdown pass of the season, connecting with Alex Young from 12 yards out. Michael Panico returned a kickoff for a touchdown for the second time in three weeks. Jordan Kos (570 yards, 6 TDs), Brennan (397 yards, 3 TDs) and Panico (394 yards, 6 TDs) lead the Corsairs’ rushing attack.

— Joe Aguilar

NORTH SUBURBAN LAKE

Lake Zurich (4-1, 2-0) at Libertyville (3-2, 1-1)

When: 7:30 p.m., today

Last week: Lake Zurich def. Mundelein, 41-7; Libertyville lost to Stevenson, 13-0.

Skinny: There’s a logjam atop the North Suburban Lake Division and Lake Zurich is hoping to stay the course, if not pull away from the pack by extending its winning streak, which is currently at three straight games. There are two other teams that are undefeated in Lake Division play: Stevenson (3-0) and Lake Forest (2-0). The good news for Lake Zurich is that Stevenson and Lake Forest face off tonight.

The Bears are coming off a thorough victory over Mundelein in which the offense rolled up 379 yards in a balanced attack. Quarterback Zach Till finished with 161 passing yards, completing 9 of 17 attempts. He also passed for 2 touchdowns, both to Jack Lynn. Meanwhile, the Bears rushed for 218 yards, spreading the wealth around a handful of runners. Mike Shied led the way with 78 yards and a touchdown. Connor Schrader added 60 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns.

But perhaps more impressive than Lake Zurich’s balanced offense was its defense, which held Mundelein scoreless until midway through the fourth quarter when a running clock had already gone into effect. The Bears limited Mundelein to just 2 rushing yards in the first half. Stinginess has been a theme this season for the Lake Zurich defense, which has given up just 34 points in five games. That ranks second in Lake County behind the 33 points allowed by Grayslake Central…Lake Zurich’s defensive prowess isn’t good news for Libertyville, which failed to get on the scoreboard last week against Stevenson. The Wildcats were held to just 132 total yards and had a couple of promising drive thwarted by penalties or turnovers. … Libertyville went with a rotation at quarterback last week, starting with junior Jack Deichl and finishing with senior Hutch Herchenbach.

— Patricia Babcock McGraw

Mundelein (0-5, 0-3) at Warren (1-4, 1-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Mundelein lost to Lake Zurich 41-7; Warren def. Zion-Benton 48-6.

Skinny: Warren delivered in a must-win situation last week on its homecoming, as running back Davonte Willcox rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown, and junior quarterback Adam Reuss enjoyed his best passing game (13 of 17, 179 yards, 2 TDs). Senior wide receiver Mitch Munda had 6 receptions, including his fourth for a touchdown. Blue Devils junior linebacker Erik Johnson scored on a fumble recovery, intercepted a pass and notched a team-best 6 solo tackles, including one for loss. Senior linebacker Matt Miller (30 solos) and junior linebacker Ryan Sweeney (25 solos) lead Warren in tackles with 35 apiece, while junior Jonathan Whitfield has 4 interceptions.

Mundelein has allowed 189 points (most in the North Suburban Lake). Mustanfgs quarterback Gable Leppert has found a go-to receiver lately in 6-2 senior Drew Malcolm, who’s caught a touchdown pass each of the last two weeks.

— Joe Aguilar

Stevenson (4-1, 3-0) at Lake Forest (4-1, 2-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last week: Stevenson def. Libertyville 13-0; Lake Forest def. North Chicago 56-12.

Skinny: Stevenson sits alone in first place in the North Suburban Lake Division, a half game ahead of Lake Forest and Lake Zurich. Both teams are riding four-game winning streaks. “They are very well-coached, have great players, and we have a tremendous amount of respect for them,” Stevenson coach Bill McNamara said of coach Chuck Spagnoli’s Scouts. “They are solid in all phases of the game, and they will be a great challenge for our team.”

Veteran Owen Williams, one of the best running back in the conference, is coming off a 6-touchdown game in a homecoming win over North Chicago. He rushed for 4 scores and had 2 TDs via catch. The Scouts also feature quarterback Jordan Beck. “Our defense will have to play well,” McNamara said. “Defensively, Lake Forest is physical and plays well as a unit. We will have to keep them off balance and execute in key situations. This will be a great matchup of two 4-1, potential playoff teams.” ... Stevenson got a big effort from running back Kevin Foley against Libertyville, as the senior carried the ball 31 times for 131 yards (both season highs).

— Joe Aguilar

FOX VALLEY FOX

Crystal Lake Central (3-2, 2-0) at Grayslake Central (5-0, 3-0)

When: 7:15 p.m., today

Last week: Crystal Lake Central lost to Prairie Ridge, 29-0; Grayslake Central def. Johnsburg, 47-6.

Skinny: To date, undefeated Grayslake Central has played just one team (Grant at 3-2) with a winning record. The road is about to get a lot more challenging, starting with a Crystal Lake Central team that the Rams have never beaten on any level in head coach Nick Goshe’s five-year tenure at Grayslake Central. After that, the Rams face Woodstock North and Grayslake North, both 3-2, as well as undefeated Crystal Lake South.

“We knew going in that we were going to have some tough tests toward the end of the season. So far, this (Crystal Lake Central team) is the best team we’ve played,” Goshe said. “They are 3-2, but the two teams they lost to are 5-0 and those games were dogfights if not the entire way, most of the way. (Crystal Lake Central) is very talented, very tough. They’re a wrestling school and you can tell that. Their kids are just very, very physical. They want to beat you up and run right through you.” … Running back Gage Harrah is the Tigers’ poster boy for that mentality. The speedy veteran is one of the most relentless rushers in the Fox Valley. But Harrah suffered a knee injury against Prairie Ridge and is expected to miss tonight’s game.

The Grayslake Central defense has a good track record so far of stopping just about everyone. The Rams have allowed just 33 points over five games for an average of 6.6 points per game. They’ve also recorded 2 shutouts. Interestingly, the next-best defense in the Fox Valley Fox is Crystal Lake Central. The Tigers have yielded a total of 57 points for an average of 11.4 points per game. “Scoring points on them is going to be at a premium,” Goshe said. “You will earn it if you score on them.”

— Patricia Babcock McGraw

Grayslake North (3-2, 2-0) at Woodstock (0-5, 0-3)

When: 7:15 p.m., today

Last week: Grayslake North def. Hampshire, 49-22; Woodstock lost to Woodstock North, 33-14.

Skinny: Don’t count on Grayslake North getting caught up in the fact that winless Woodstock is on tap. What the Knights are caught up on is the fact that this same Woodstock team contributed to them narrowly missing the playoffs last season. Woodstock got its only win last season against Grayslake North, 24-21 in Week 2. The Knights won 5 games last year and were playoff-eligible but didn’t have enough playoff points to make the cutoff. Had they won that Woodstock game, they would have been guaranteed a playoff spot with six wins.

“I highly doubt our guys are overlooking this team at all,” Grayslake North coach Steve Wood said. “They remember that losing to this team last year is why we didn’t get to the playoffs. We’ve already said to them, ‘Hey, this is what can happen when you do look past a team.’ We didn’t play well against them last year. We didn’t get off to a good start. They scored on the first play of the game, a 65-yard touchdown. That whole thing was a really good learning opportunity for us. After beating us last year, this team will be confident against us and it’s their homecoming and you never know what you’re going to get from a team on their homecoming.”

But Wood is expecting the Blue Streaks to make good use of brothers Donte Arnold and Kiki Benjamin. Both former players at Lakes, Arnold and Benjamin have teamed up to give Woodstock a potent passing game. Benjamin, who is coming off a thumb injury, is the quarterback and Arnold is his favorite receiver. … Speaking of the passing game, Grayslake North is coming off its most prolific offensive output in school history. Junior quarterback AJ Fish rolled up 419 passing yards, threw for 5 touchdowns and ran for a pair. His favorite target was senior Josh Cokefair, who caught 12 passes for 272 yards and 3 TDs.

— Patricia Babcock McGraw