Scouting Week 6 in Tri-Cities football
By Dave Oberhelman
doberhelman@dailyherald.com
Aurora Central (3-2, 1-1)
at Guerin (2-3, 1-1)
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday.
Last year: Aurora Central 39, Guerin 8.
Last week: Marian Central 50, Aurora Central 0; St. Francis 58, Guerin 19.
Outlook: This begins a three-week span in the Suburban Christian Conference Gold Division — Guerin, Walther Lutheran, Wheaton Academy — where Aurora Central needs to make hay to earn its first playoff berth since 1997. The Chargers are at a place coach Brian Casey believed they’d be. “We take care of these three and we’re set,” he said. “It’s a position we knew we had to be in, if not better, at this point.” If Aurora Central can stop the long play between Guerin quarterback Tom Kelly and receiver John Dabe — and can contain Gators running back Justin Williams, which is where ever-present ACC linebacker Nick Holzer comes in — they should roll into Week 7 with four wins.
Between Immaculate Conception quarterback Demetrius Carr and Marian’s Chris Streveler, Casey feels Kelly won’t offer anything more than what the Chargers have already seen — until Week 9 against Aurora Christian’s Anthony Maddie. “Guerin hasn’t shown the ability to put together the big drive,” Casey said. He also believes the Chargers should control the line of scrimmage. Left guard Izzy Rosa returns from an injury to join the offensive line of A.T. White, Joe Cisneros, Alex Karafiat and Luke Faltz, and defensive end Jake McCarthy should return to bolster the defense. Kyle Clechenko has the ability to hit Luke Dickerson deep against Guerin, which also will be stretched sideline to sideline by running backs Steven Amoni, Brian Bohr, Marcus Jefferson (out last week with a hip pointer) and Clechenko and Dickerson.
ACC didn’t dent the scoreboard last week against SCC Blue leader Marian Central despite a couple decent offensive drives early. However, Casey was more impressed than he in the prior week against Immaculate Conception. “Our kids competed, they played hard,” Casey said. “They weren’t intimidated, they just got beat by a better football team.”
Next week: Aurora Central at Walther Lutheran (1-4, 0-2), Oct. 8; Chicago Christian (0-5, 0-2) at Guerin, Oct. 8.
Walther Lutheran (1-4, 0-2)
at Aurora Christian (4-1, 2-0)
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday.
Last year: Aurora Christian 45, Walther Lutheran 20.
Last week: St. Edward 49, Walther Lutheran 21; Montini 55, Aurora Christian 14.
Outlook: Still tied with Immaculate Conception in the Suburban Christian Conference Gold Division, Aurora Christian hosts its old nemesis from the Private School League. Walther Lutheran had the Eagles’ number until 2007, when Aurora Christian beat the Broncos for the first time. “There’s still those feelings left,” said Aurora Christian coach Don Beebe. Walther Lutheran’s sole win this season came in Week 2 against Phillips, 41-32, the lowest point total coach Bruce Tuomi’s Broncos have allowed. That doesn’t bode well against the Eagles, ranked fifth in Class 4A, who average 39.4 points. Last week St. Edward earned 460 yards of offense against Walther, 301 yards on the ground.
Quarterback Joe Lomnicki had some success against St. Ed and players like Glynn Chatmon, Najee Toomer and Sean Cotton — a dangerous kick returner — are all athletes, but the lines pack less of a punch than in Walther’s glory days. Aurora Christian has never hosted Walther on the Eagles’ home turf, which makes it important for Eagles like outside linebackers Ryan Suttle and Ryan McQuade to protect the perimeter. “They can move the ball, and our defense is going to have to do a whole lot better than it did last Friday,” Beebe said. He said that in a mildly threatening tone after Aurora Christian was “humbled,” he said, by a top-flight opponent. Beebe was pleased with how offensive lineman R.J. Morris battled Montini’s Iowa-bound Jaleel Johnson, and the same went for defensive back Brandon Mayes hounding Nebraska recruit receiver Jordan Westerkamp. Otherwise ... “It just wasn’t our team,” Beebe said.
He was less piqued with the dropped passes and poor tackling than by the attitude because whether against Montini or Guerin, “you can’t flip it on and off.” Perhaps it was just Montini, an opponent Beebe likened to “a bad golf hole — you just can never par the stupid hole.” Regardless, the coach is looking for an array of people like Quienten Boston, Tyler Glassman and Jonah Walker, back from injury, to mix it up on the defensive line against Walther and spell players like Morris, Nick Larson and Josh Kok from two-way duty. “In a lot of ways I think it was a good thing for us because it was a wake-up call,” Beebe said. “We needed to be challenged.”
Next week: Aurora Central (3-2, 1-1) at Walther Lutheran, Oct. 8; Aurora Christian at Immaculate Conception (4-1, 2-0), Oct. 2.
Wheaton Academy (1-4, 0-2)
at Marmion (3-2, 1-1)
Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday.
Last year: Did not play.
Last week: Wheaton Academy 41, Chicago Christian 14; Marmion 28, Immaculate Conception 20.
Outlook: Marmion coach Dan Thorpe applauded players like Kevin Lin and Matt Smith for last week’s offensive line surge on a 75-yard drive, devised by Cadets assistant Andy Windisch and capped by Cody Snodgrass’ touchdown run, to keep Immaculate Conception at bay. (That is not a soft win; IC could vie for a state title at either 4A or 3A.) Marmion’s brawn up front and overall experience will be the advantage the Cadets bring into this Suburban Christian Conference Blue Division game. Wheaton Academy safety Kevin Mann, whose 10 tackles led the Warriors against Chicago Christian, and linebacker Peter Ferrill, last year’s tackles leader as a sophomore, are the sole returning starters.
The “returning starters” concept may be moot by midseason, but regardless, Marmion has the Warriors on experience. Wheaton Academy senior quarterback Drew Decker, kid brother of last year’s slinger Tommy, had his best day of the season last week, completing 12 of 18 passes for 232 yards and 3 touchdowns, each score to 6-foot-2 junior Matt Lindsay (who on defense made 6 tackles, forced 2 fumbles and broke up a pass). Coach Ben Wilson’s squad also got big plays by Joel Swick on a 49-yard touchdown run and a 93-yard interception return, but allowed Chicago Christian 194 yards rushing. Even with Marmion’s Garret Becker out with a hamstring pull the Warriors will be hard pressed to stop the Cadets’ shell-game ground game of Snodgrass, Kyle Kozak, Jake Ruddy and quarterback Charlie Faunce, who joined Becker with 83 yards rushing against IC. In the controlled passing game Faunce also enjoyed a nice evening — 4-of-7 passing for 53 yards with a TD strike to Ruddy.
“Our offense is starting to move the ball, and we’re throwing the ball,” Thorpe said. “We’re executing on offense.” He hopes his defense — hurt at middle linebacker with injuries to Mike Shares and now Becker — can limit Wheaton Academy’s spread offense. Thorpe didn’t like how Immaculate Conception extended drives on third-and-long situations. With Snodgrass moved to middle linebacker and others shifted around, the big boys on the line — Ryan Glasgow, Tyler Boyd, Blake Mickey and also rush end Dan Wedge — look to overpower the Warriors’ front to reach Decker. “We’ve got to put more pressure on the quarterback and get better defensive coverage,” Thorpe said.
Next week: Marian Central (5-0, 2-0) at Wheaton Academy, Oct. 8; Marmion at St. Francis (4-1, 1-1), Oct. 7.
Kaneland (5-0, 1-0)
at DeKalb (3-2, 0-1)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Last year: Kaneland 42, DeKalb 7.
Last week: Kaneland 35, Rochelle 14; DeKalb 49, LaSalle-Peru 33.
Outlook: Kaneland opened its defense of last season’s inaugural Northern Illinois Big 12 East championship with a rollicking win over steady, ground-based Rochelle. Now the Knights, propelled to No. 7 in the Class 6A rankings, visit a team that last week won on big plays. DeKalb — which has lost to Sycamore already in East play — answered LaSalle-Peru’s quick opening volley with Dylan Hottsmith’s 82-yard kickoff return, according to Daily Chronicle writer Eric Zulis.
Coach Marty Sanders’ Barbs’ five scoring plays totaled 287 yards, the Chronicle reported, capped by Brian Sisler’s 99-yard interception return to put LaSalle-Peru away. Hottsmith added a 72-yard touchdown run, and Devonte Ragsdale scored on both a 42-yard run and a 75-yard kickoff return. Thus, Kaneland’s special teams will be challenged — provided Knights kicker Matt Rodriguez allows the Barbs out of the end zone on their nice, new turf field. Headed by Sisler, also a dual-threat quarterback, DeKalb will attempt to get its speed into open space.
“Offensively they’ve got some weapons. They always do,” said Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly, who knows of weapons. Kaneland senior Quinn Buschbacher is perhaps the leader of the area’s big-play makers. He got the Knights on the board quickly against Rochelle with the first of his 23-yard-plus touchdowns, just what the doctor ordered against a Rochelle team without much vertical dimension. Drew David will threaten DeKalb’s multiple defensive fronts and varied coverages; against Rochelle the sophomore quarterback tossed 3 more touchdown passes, 1 to Buschbacher and 2 to Sean Carter.
DeKalb also must contend with sophomore back Jesse Balluff, who ran for more than 100 yards a third straight game. Rochelle was able to grind the ball downfield a couple times for scores despite cornerback Blake Bradford’s 10 tackles, 9 by Kory Harner. Both Carter and Tyler Fabrizius recovered 2 Hubs fumbles to stop other possessions, however, a key to Kaneland’s unbeaten record. DeKalb is less able to drive the ball 80 yards, so this may be another big-play battle for these teams. “I’m pretty excited to go check out that field,” Fedderly said.
Next week: Yorkville (4-1, 0-1) at Kaneland, Oct. 7; Morris (5-0, 1-0) at DeKalb, Oct. 7.
Burlington Cen. (3-2, 0-1) at Genoa-Kingston (1-4, 0-1)
When: today at 7 p.m.
Last year: Genoa-Kingston 28, Burlington Central 24
Last week: Richmond-Burton 9, Burlington Central 7; North Boone 39, Genoa-Kingston 14
Outlook: The Rockets are itching to get back on the field after last week’s loss to Richmond-Burton in the final minute. The Rockets will be a bit short handed against the Cogs, who switched divisions to the BNC East this season. Leading receiver Zach Ranney, a returning all-BNC East pick, left last week’s game in the second quarter with a noncontact foot injury the Rockets are calling a sprained foot.
Ranney is the area’s fifth-most productive receiver with 19 catches for 324 yards and 6 touchdowns. Senior fullback/defensive back Al Willett injured his wrist in practice this week. After X-rays, the wrist was casted and Willett was cleared to play. He’ll likely remain on defense but fellow fullback Chandler Crary will take more reps at fullback, coach Rich Crabel said. “They padded his wrist up and we did a dry run with it (Wednesday),” Crabel said. “He’s a vocal motivator on defense. He’s gutting it out and doing what he has to do.” The Burlington Central offense seeks its second shutout of the season against a Genoa-Kingston offense that has been shut out twice already this season. The Rockets are limiting opponents to just 185.4 yards per game. “Our main goal going into a game is to keep (the opponent) under 13 points,” Crabel said. “But if there’s a chance for a shutout, that’s what we’ll do. You never know for sure. A simple breakdown can cause a touchdown.”
Next: Burlington Central at Harvard; Genoa-Kingston at Richmond-Burton
St. Charles East (0-5, 0-3)
at Streamwood (5-0, 2-0)
Game time: 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Last year: St. Charles E. 45, Streamwood 14.
Last week: Batavia 43, St. Charles East 7; Streamwood 42, East Aurora 0.
Outlook: There are several reasons to believe St. Charles East will attain its first victory of the season. First, they’ve proven they can run the ball. Carter Reading has 332 yards on 54 carries, a 6.1-yard average with a big 179-yard game against Larkin. Quarterback Charlie Fisher has 142 yards on the ground, and the Saints have now folded in Joe Hoscheit at fullback for extra oomph. Second, Fisher has shown the ability to pass, with a 153-yard game against 5-0 Geneva. Dean Bowen, who started the season behind center, figures to get a couple more throws in the receiver corps that includes Kyle Lanthier and Jake Mazanke, with Reading out of the backfield. And third, while the Saints have gone winless against the likes of state-ranked foes Batavia, Geneva and Cary-Grove, and East’s opponents thus far have a cumulative record of 18-7, Streamwood’s first five foes are a combined 1-24.
The Sabres are no puppies, undefeated for a reason — again, mainly, three of them. Running back Alex Morrow is a hoss who unofficially has run for 756 yards and 11 touchdowns, with another score on an interception return. Morrow was rolling last season as a junior when he hurt his knee against the Saints. Quarterback Dalton Lundeen, good-sized at 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds, is a three-year starter, and he targets one of the fastest receivers in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division — Valley, too, for that matter — in 6-2, 189-pound Blake Holder. “We’re extremely respectful of Streamwood,” Fields said. “We know they’re having a great year and have got a lot of talent over there.” So defensive coordinator Brian Teresinski hopes to get a push on the line with nose tackle Nick Devor, defensive tackles Evan France, Jake Sheley, Peter Banks and Andrew Szyman, while linebackers Hoscheit and John Kelley and safety Tim Leibforth must play both run and pass.
Offensively the Saints, who have been outscored 152-51 and committed 10 penalties last week, must negate drive-halting mental errors and get an offensive line push; Nick Asquini, the 170-pound son of Saints baseball coach Len Asquini, has been moved from defensive to offensive line to help the cause. If it comes down to kicker Danny Muzzalupo, Fields likes those odds. St. Charles East is winless, but not down. “The biggest positive is they just don’t quit,” Fields said. “There’s not one ounce of that in this group.”
Next week: St. Charles East at Lake Park (1-4), Oct. 7; Streamwood at Geneva (5-0, 3-0), Oct. 7.
Elgin (1-4, 0-3)
at St. Charles North (0-5, 0-2)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Last year: Elgin 26, St. Charles North 19.
Last week: Larkin 22, Elgin 21; Geneva 54, St. Charles North 7.
Outlook: After facing a Geneva team that simply was better, this is a very winnable game for St. Charles North. Coach Dave Bierman’s Elgin Maroons, last year a playoff qualifier for the first time since 2001, graduated Upstate Eight Conference River Division defensive player of the year Jordan Dean and has slipped back some. They certainly worry North Stars coach Mark Gould, though. “Speed, that hurts us. We haven’t done a good job containing speed,” he said. Elgin senior Dennis Moore, who along with Dean scored on a punt return in last year’s game, is a quick safety-running back also unafraid to lower the boom; sophomore back Jaylen Clemons pierces the perimeter. In the Elgin-Larkin game for the Town Jug Moore ran for 127 yards and caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Sitter, a composed-looking sophomore.
Devin Gilliam is Sitter’s top target. Gould said Elgin’s defense packs a punch, with nice size and speed, yet Larkin was able to pass for 190 of the 349 yards the Maroons allowed. This may be a situation of which St. Charles North quarterbacks Collin Peterson and Ryan Fischbach can take advantage. The North Stars, however, have scored just one offensive touchdown since Week 2 — consistent junior George Edlund’s 2-yard touchdown run last week against Geneva, which followed a 72-yard kickoff return by special teams ace Ben Kaplan. Otherwise it’s been all field goals by Michael Schroeder. Peterson could perhaps exploit a seam with Kaplan, Zach Kirby or Oshay Hodges for points, if they can beat Moore and friends to the ball.
Defensively, in addition to preventing Sitter from becoming too comfortable in the pocket, the North Stars must contain Moore bouncing outside to the sideline where he can fly. Mainly, though, St. Charles North can combine run and pass for aggressive, sustained, mistake-free offensive drives for four quarters. “It’s finishing and putting a whole game together,” Gould said.
Next week: Elgin at Batavia (5-0, 2-0), Oct. 7; St. Charles N. at Larkin (3-2, 2-1), Oct. 7.
Wheaton North (4-1, 3-0)
at West Aurora (2-3, 0-3)
Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Last year: Wheaton N. 21, West Aurora 13.
Last week: Wheaton North 56, Glenbard East 12; Glenbard North 31, West Aurora 21.
Outlook: Whether one considers two tied scores against 5-0 Glenbard North or a 14-7 loss to Wheaton Warrenville South as moral victories, what West Aurora really needs is to beat one of the DuPage Valley heavies to legitimize its improvement. “We’re doing a lot of good things. We’re just not winning,” coach Nate Eimer said. There were several highlights to point at in last week’s loss — Cole Childs catching 9 passes for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns, and quarterback Richie Renner going 12-of-18; Shon Enoch with 129 yards rushing behind an offensive line push and two fullbacks in the “Bulldozer” formation; linebacker Brandon Warren and nose tackle Javonta Black each making 8 tackles.
Still, after two West Aurora rallies Glenbard North was able to wear down the Blackhawks, who allowed 275 yards on the ground. Rather than another bruising foe, however, this week’s opponent looks to utilize speed much like the Blackhawks. Mikey Sammer ran for 118 yards last week, though one of his partners on the Falcons’ track team’s 400-meter relay, Patrick Sharp, has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. Junior quarterback John Peltz didn’t need to throw much against Glenbard East, so instead he ran for 4 touchdowns including an 80-yarder.
When he does pass there’s speedy Johnny Daniels, Coleton Hrgich, Brett Kohler and Micah Penn, who caught 7 passes for 175 yards in the Falcons’ sole loss, 33-24 against Geneva. This week, West Aurora’s Booker Ross (ankle) returns at a linebacker slot, which will help the Blackhawks track down some of these guys. “What it boils down to is we’ve got to get a lot of people to the football and tackle them when we get a chance. And if we do that we’ll be all right,” Eimer said. Aside from stifling turnovers, offensively the Blackhawks look to get the ball outside — Enoch’s 33-yard TD run was up the middle — after foes have contained that element. West Aurora has been all right. Now, to finish it off. “We’ve battled tough with three pretty dang good teams,” Eimer said of Glenbard North, Naperville Central and WW South. “We’ve found a way to get close. Now we’ve got to find a way to win one.”
Next week: Naperville C. (3-2, 2-1) at Wheaton North, Oct. 7; Naperville North (3-2, 2-1) at W. Aurora, Oct. 7.