Scouting Week 6 Fox Valley football
Marian Central (5-0, 2-0) at St. Edward (4-1, 1-1)
When: today at 7 p.m. at Greg True Field
On the air: WRMN 1410-AM and streaming live at wrmn1410.com, announcers Jeff Myers and Kyle Bault
Last year: Marian Central 27, St. Edward 7
Last week: Marian Central 50, Aurora Central Catholic 0; St. Edward 49, Walther Lutheran 21
Outlook: St. Edward is tasked with slowing the No. 2-ranked team in this week’s Associated Press Class 5A poll. First-place Marian Central has won eight straight games head-to-head against the Green Wave. Offense has been hard to come by during that stretch for St. Edward, which hasn’t scored more than 7 points in a game against Marian Central since a 20-17 victory in 2002. The offensive line will have to handle Marian’s twin 300-pound defensive tackles in order to have a chance at springing the upset in this Suburban Christian Conference Blue Division matchup.
“We’re not going to get a big push but we need to open up small holes, small creases for our running backs to run through,” St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said. “That could be enough to make some things happen. We’ve predominantly been a running team, but we’ll have to mix it up this week. (Quarterback) Bob French needs to have a big game for us.” French, a senior, has completed 38 of 71 attempts for 645 yards with an 8:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Marian Central quarterback Chris Streveler has thrown for 9 touchdowns and almost 900 yards. Marian played its final home game last week. The Hurricanes play their final four contests on the road at St. Edward, Wheaton Academy, Chicago Christian and Marmion.
Next: Montini at St. Edward; Marian Central at Wheaton Academy
Jacobs (5-0, 2-0) at Huntley (1-4, 1-2)
When: today at 7:15 p.m. at Harmony Road Campus
Last year: Jacobs 28, Huntley 12
Last week: Jacobs 28, Cary-Grove 20; Huntley 33, Dundee-Crown 14
Outlook: Huntley’s homecoming heats up with a meeting between budding rivals in the Valley Division of the Fox Valley Conference. Jacobs broke into the upper echelon of the Valley Division last week with a win against Cary-Grove. The Golden Eagles can’t overlook the Red Raiders, who are coming off their first victory of the season. Huntley running back Ethan Connor has rushed for 457 yards and 5 touchdowns on 53 carries.
“He’s a good back so we’ll have to wrap up and gang tackle him,” Jacobs coach Bill Mitz said. “And they have some speed at receiver so they can get it deep. Anything can happen. We have to be on our toes and be ready. They’re fighting for their playoff lives to continue their season.” Huntley will be without Jordan Hyatt, who injured a knee last week, as well as all-FVC linebacker Josh Symbal. Juniors Brandon Mabry and Josh Fish will start at linebacker. “It’s a huge game for us,” Huntley coach Matt Gehrig said. “It’s our homecoming. We have to come out and play our best game of the year. I think the guys are primed to do that.”
Next: Prairie Ridge at Jacobs; Cary-Grove at Huntley
McHenry (2-3, 1-2) at Cary-Grove (3-2, 0-2)
When: today at 7:15 p.m. at Al Bohrer Field
Last year: Cary-Grove 23, McHenry 20, OT
Last week: Crystal Lake South 45, McHenry 6; Jacobs 28, Cary-Grove 20
Outlook: These longtime Fox Valley Conference rivals have a history of playing close games. Cary-Grove has won 7 straight in the series but four of those wins were decided by less than a touchdown. “Our coaches were talking about how any game against McHenry is always close,” Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said. “Even back in the (McHenry coach Mike) Noll years or in the 1980s when Cary-Grove had good teams, they always played close games. Certainly, we would like to buck that trend.” The Trojans will be a bit short-handed. Talented senior linebacker Sam Babick will miss his second straight game with a knee sprain.
Babick, Cary-Grove’s leading tackler last year, is week to week, Seaburg said. Junior Brock Bussenger (6-foot-2, 185) is starting in Babick’s place. Junior running back Ryan Mahoney’s status remains questionable with an ankle injury. The offense has gotten a lift from the recent emergence of junior quarterback Quinn Baker. Despite playing in only 3 games, Baker already ranks ninth in area rushing with 373 yards and 5 touchdowns in 53 attempts. The Trojans remain tied for 10th in the Class 6A state rankings.
Next: Cary-Grove at Huntley; McHenry at Johnsburg
Prairie Ridge (5-0, 2-0) at Crystal Lake South (5-0, 3-0)
When: today at 7:15 p.m. at Ken Bruhn Field
Last year: CL South defeated Prairie Ridge 34-20 in Week 4 of the regular season; Prairie Ridge defeated CL South 37-10 in a Class 6A state quarterfinal
Last week: Crystal Lake South 45, McHenry 6; Prairie Ridge 29, Crystal Lake Central 0
Outlook: The stakes in this neighborhood brawl have risen along with the lofty state rankings of each Crystal Lake high school. Prairie Ridge is the No. 1 team in Class 6A; the Gators are ranked No. 4 in Class 7A. It’s a clash between teams with superior defenses. The Gators’ veteran unit limits opponents to 97.2 yards per game. Each team has allowed only 2 offensive touchdowns this season. The Prairie Ridge offense is led by quarterback Nick Nissen, who has thrown for 9 touchdowns and over 700 yards.
Running back Jordan Getzelman and fullback Connor Greenwald have combined to rush for over 800 yards and 12 touchdowns. “They are No. 1 in the AP poll in 6A for a reason,” CL South coach Chuck Ahsmann said. “They are one of the most skilled teams I have ever seen around here. It’s hard as a defense to stop everything they have. It’ll be a great game. They’re our crosstown rivals. Our guys have grown up playing their guys as freshmen, sophomores and juniors so they are very familiar with each other. It’s like playing your brother almost.”
Next: Crystal Lake South at Dundee-Crown; Prairie Ridge at Jacobs
Woodstock North (3-2) at Dundee-Crown (0-5)
When: today at 7:15 p.m. at the D-C Bowl
Last week: Huntley 33, Dundee-Crown 14; Woodstock North 33, Woodstock 14
Outlook: This is Dundee-Crown’s first game against Woodstock North, which joined the Fox Valley Conference in 2009. The Chargers will try to snap their 22-game losing streak without starting quarterback Garrett Ryan, who is out after separating his shoulder last week against Huntley. Junior cornerback Ben Sprouse will get the nod behind center. He’ll rely on the D-C running game, which features senior Ardian Asani (42 carries, 221 yards, 4 TDs) and sophomore Cody Lane (26-212-4).
The Dundee-Crown defense has forced 11 turnovers this season, however, the Chargers have allowed an average of 401 yards per game. “We haven’t played defense all year and that’s what my teams usually do,” D-C coach Vito Andriola said. “We’ll go out and hopefully play a full game. We got pushed around in the first half against Huntley last week, but we did better in the second half.”
Next: Grayslake Central at Woodstock North; Crystal Lake South at Dundee-Crown
Johnsburg (0-5, 0-3) at Hampshire (0-5, 0-2)
When: today at 7:15 at Hampshire Athletic Field
Last meeting (2003): Johnsburg 38, Hampshire 7
Last week: Grayslake North 49, Hampshire 22; Grayslake Central 47, Johnsburg 6
Outlook: Longtime Hampshire fans remember the rivalry with Johnsburg, which likewise jumped from the Big Northern Conference to the Fox Valley. The Skyhawks made the move to the FVC in 2004-05. The last time these teams met in a Big Northern Conference game was in 2003, when Jake Goebbert was the starting sophomore quarterback for the Whip-Purs. For Hampshire to gain its first victory of the season and first victory within the Fox Division of the Fox Valley Conference, the Whips have to guard against Johnsburg’s multiple looks.
“We’ve seen them line up in I-formation and run the ball down your throat and they are also able to spread you out,” Hampshire coach Dan Cavanaugh said. “They have a quarterback (Jon Torgersen) who throws the ball well so we have to watch out. Our guys work hard in every practice and we feel like we’re getting better. We feel like we’ve been moving the ball well. ” Senior running back Chase Lundry is the area’s sixth-leading rusher with 475 yards and 5 touchdowns on 79 carries (6.0 avg.). The Whip-Purs have been vulnerable defensively, allowing an average of 382 yards per game.
Next: McHenry at Johnsburg; Hampshire at Woodstock
Bartlett (3-2, 2-0) at South Elgin (2-3, 2-1)
When: Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at South Elgin Stadium
On the air: WEPS-FM 88.9 with Mike Knezevich; for live streaming video produced by South Elgin’s Beacon Academy, go to useducationtv.com and click on Illinois on the broadcast map. Then click on South Elgin.
Last year: Bartlett 42, South Elgin 23
Last week: Bartlett 42, Lake Park 0; Neuqua Valley 35, South Elgin 21
Outlook: Seats won’t last so get yours early. Multiple sets of portable bleachers were placed on the visitors’ side of South Elgin’s new stadium this week to accommodate the expected throng from Bartlett, which has quickly become South Elgin’s main rival. “Streamwood was our main rival when we first started,” Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. “Then it was Lake Park. But South Elgin is the big rivalry now. Half the town of Bartlett goes there (to South Elgin). If you live north of Stearns Rd. and west of (Ill. Route) 59, you go to South Elgin. These kids grow up together.” Bartlett has won two of the three previous meetings in what has become District u-46’s best-attended rivalry game. “It’s important to the kids from both schools,” South Elgin coach Dale Schabert said. “It’s bragging rights. It’s going to be a tough one. The kids are very familiar with each other. So are the coaches. I’ve been coaching against Meaney and (offensive coordinator Mark) Williams since I was at Larkin and they were at Elgin in the mid 1980s.”
A win is critical to both teams. South Elgin already has 3 losses and still must play Geneva (5-0) and Waubonsie Valley (4-1). A win would keep Bartlett tied for first in the UEC Valley with Neuqua Valley. South Elgin put the ball in the air last week when leading rusher Adolfo Pacheco was held to 21 yards on 10 carries. Senior Zach Gross threw for 220 yards in that game after throwing for 295 yards in his previous four outings combined. The Bartlett defense prepped for such an air attack by picking off Lake Park quarterback Zach Gehant 4 times in a shutout last week. The Hawks get healthier this week with the return of junior defensive tackle Andrew Guerrero and fullback Nate Massey.
Next: Metea Valley at Bartlett; East Aurora at South Elgin
Waubonsie Valley (4-1) at Larkin (3-2)
When: today at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Field
Last year: Waubonsie Valley 56, Larkin 21
Last week: Larkin 22, Elgin 21; Waubonsie Valley 51, Metea Valley 0
Outlook: Larkin’s emotional victory over rival Elgin last week did more than secure bragging rights — it kept Larkin’s playoff hopes very much alive. The Royals know their playoff math. “We talked to the kids about it; we need to win two of our last four games to get us eligible,” Larkin coach Mike Scianna said. “We didn’t pinpoint which two games. We know Waubonsie Valley is a tremendous team. They are well coached and they have some really good kids. I hope we can build our program into something that resembles them down the road.”
Scianna would like his team to stay healthy in its homecoming game. The Royals lost all-conference center Terry Schabert to an ankle injury in last week’s game against Elgin. He’s wearing a boot. Center Quinton Jackson has been brought up to take Schabert’s place, though, as Scianna points out, “You don’t just replace a 315-pound, 6-foot-2 lineman” like Schabert. Junior Maurece Jackson enjoyed his best game as a Royal last week with 143 yards on 34 carries.
Next: Neuqua Valley at Waubonsie Valley; St. Charles North at Larkin;
Elgin (1-4, 0-3) at St. Charles North (0-5, 0-2)
When: today at 7:30 p.m.
Last year: Elgin 26, St. Charles North 19
Last week: Larkin 22, Elgin 21; Geneva 54, St. Charles North 7
Outlook: Losing to Larkin last week dimmed Elgin’s chances of making a repeat appearance in the state playoffs. “It’s a longshot, but it’s still possible with the amount of points we have,” said Elgin coach Dave Bierman, whose team would have to defeat unbeaten Batavia next week. “It’s not a good position to be in, but it’s not over.” Bierman said the Maroons have to be ready defensively for the North Stars’ double wing, double slot offense, which can run toss or counter from the same motion. The North Stars have a size advantage on the lines, but the Maroons have speed. St. Charles North runs an unusual variation of a 3-5 defense, according to Bierman. Elgin must cut down on turnovers.
The Maroons have turned the ball over 13 times and are last in the area in turnover differential (-6). “We need to do what we have to do,” Bierman said. “Obviously, it’s the same concerns like taking care of the ball. We also have to do a much better job of getting something out of our punt returns. We need to make fair catches instead of letting the ball bounce and back us up 10, 15, 20 more yards.”
Next: Elgin at Batavia; St. Charles North at Larkin
St. Charles East (0-5) at Streamwood (5-0, 2-0)
When: today at 7:30 p.m. at Millennium Field
Last year: St. Charles East 45, Streamwood 14
Last week: Streamwood 49, East Aurora 0; Batavia 43, St. Charles East 7
Outlook: The Sabres can go 6-0 for the first time since 1988 with an Upstate Eight Conference River Division victory over the Saints, who may be down but not out. “St. Charles East really comes off the ball hard on both sides,” Streamwood coach Cal Cummins warned. “They play hard but they have had what appear to be a lot of tough breaks.” Conversely, the schedule has favored the Sabres, who have not been challenged by their first five opponents. Those teams own a combined record of 1-24.
Nevertheless, the Sabres have beaten those teams soundly by a combined margin of 186-57. The defense is holding opponents to an average of 205.2 yards per game. Meanwhile, the explosive offense gains 399.8 yards per game, paced by senior running back Alex Morrow. He leads the area in rushing yards (756) attempts (99) and rushing touchdowns (11). Quarterback Dalton Lundeen has completed 37 of 63 attempts (59 percent) for 718 yards and 9 touchdowns. The left-handed senior has not been intercepted.
Next: Streamwood at Geneva; St. Charles East at Lake Park
Burlington Central (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. Central 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. He’ll miss this game with what 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 play 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