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Scouting Week 3 Tri-Cities area football games

By Dave Oberhelman

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

Aurora Central Catholic (2-0)

at Chicago Christian (1-1)

Game time: 7:15 p.m. Friday.

Last year: Aurora Central Catholic 38, Chicago Christian 6.

Last week: Aurora Central Catholic 29, Lisle 14; Chicago Christian 14, Hope 0.

Outlook: Here's something: In its opener, Chicago Christian lost 56-34 to Westmont (which allowed 63 points in a loss to Plano last week) as Westmont back Quintin Brown ran for 307 yards and 4 touchdowns plus an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdowns. So, while Brown weighs about 20 pounds more than Aurora Central Catholic's 165-pound Brandon Babler, the Chicago Christian defense might be susceptible to athletes. Babler is one of those. Helping the Chargers explode to an early start against Lisle - ACC has outscored its first two foes 29-0 in the first half - on the first play he scored a 48-yard touchdown on a great call, a play-action pass off a fake of one of ACC's usual jet sweeps. Babler finished with 66 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns and 69 yards receiving and 2 more touchdowns. How does Chargers quarterback Matt Rahn get him the ball? "Every way possible," said coach Brian Casey. A wildcat may be next because when Babler carries the pigskin good things happen. But Casey also sees athleticism on the side of Chicago Christian in this Metro Suburban Conference crossover. Knights quarterback Christian Bolhuis is a strong-armed veteran and the coach's son. Running back Colby Roundtree also is a three-year starter and wonderfully named running back Luke Rattler is a downhill force. Casey said for ACC to succeed it'll need to be on the line of scrimmage and on the edge and that includes offensively with receivers Mario May, Jake Staudacher and Colin Baillie. Junior all-SCC linebacker Ben Ariano was up to his old tricks last week with 16 tackles and will be called upon again, bolstered by the return of Roman Padilla from injury. Last week ACC did leave points on the field, and Lisle won the second half on the scoreboard so Casey is looking for improvement. "We have some things to clean up," he said.

Next week: Guerin (1-1) at Aurora Central Catholic, Sept. 19; Chicago Christian at Wheaton Academy (2-0), Sept. 19.

Aurora Christian (2-0)

at Lake Forest Academy (0-2)

Game time: 2 p.m. Saturday.

Last year: Did not play.

Last week: Aurora Christian 49, Urban Prep-Bronzeville 6; Libertyville 37, Lake Forest Academy 7.

Outlook: Finally, an opponent the Aurora Christian brain trust has film on. It didn't much matter the first two games against Senn and Bronzeville, but Eagles coach David Beebe sounds like it might in the shadow of Halas Hall. Lake Forest Academy, not a member of the Illinois High School Association, has been outscored 78-10 in its first two games but those games against larger Libertyville and Highland Park have been closer than the scores indicate. And the Caxys has some guys. Two-way tackle Wesley Annan, listed on MaxPreps as 6-5 and 275 pounds, has 25 Division I offers and is rated the No. 14 senior recruit by Rivals.com. Beebe said the Caxys' four-man defensive front also brings 6-7, 240-pound lineman Thomas Shaffer, who has an offer from Illinois, and that 6-3, 240 defensive end-tight end Daniel Joseph is just as good. He tabbed 6-foot-2 senior receiver Dejon Brissette as a player the Eagles need to stop out of Lake Forest's spread offense. "They're going to be geared up for us so we've got to match their intensity," said Beebe, the team's defensive coordinator when Aurora Christian beat Lake Forest Academy 48-8 in 2009. But the Caxys also must keep up on the scoreboard, and Aurora Christian, No. 5 in Class 4A, made that tough for the Chicago Catholic League foes it outscored 91-12. In two games quarterback Austin Bray already has passed for 599 yards and 12 touchdowns, tailback Nick Edlund on the receiving end of 7 of those scoring throws. The passing game has made it acceptable for the Eagles to coast with just 140 yards rushing. It's possible they'll need more of that this week, but it's imperative the offensive line of Brock Whalen, Matt Ward, Jake Smith, Ross Krantz and Sean Kuhn protects Bray. "I think more than ever Austin's got to get rid of the ball quickly and our offensive line has got to be sound - which I think they can, but this is their biggest test so far," Beebe said.

Next week: Aurora Christian at St. Ignatius (1-1), Sept. 19; DePaul College Prep (1-1) at Lake Forest Academy, Sept. 20.

Geneva (2-0, 0-0)

at Streamwood (0-2, 0-0)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Last year: Geneva 55, Streamwood 6.

Last week: Geneva 22, Richards 19; Dundee-Crown 41, Streamwood 39.

Outlook: Entering Upstate Eight Conference River Division play, Geneva seeks its first 3-0 start since just a couple seasons ago, 2011. The Vikings, up to No. 7 in The Associated Press Class 7A poll, dealt defending Class 6A runner-up Richards as quarterback Daniel Santacaterina threw for 306 yards and the Vikings ran for 56. "If you'd told me that we'd rush for 50 yards and beat this team I'd have said no way," Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. "We won and I'm extremely happy with that but on the other note I'm not very happy with how the run game is going." This game should provide room to fix it. Streamwood operates with a four-man defensive front, same as what Geneva practices against, so that should help. The Vikings lack injured running back Liam Burns but still have Justin Nebel and Justin Taormina, who led the Vikings last week with 36 yards rushing on 11 carries. Wicinski said there was plenty of competition this week on the offensive line, focusing on fundamentals. Defensively the goal is to work angles on the ball and in pursuit, and harass running back Tae Reetz and 6-foot-5, 220-pound quarterback Max Draper. Streamwood obviously can score, and Reetz ran for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns last week. On the year Draper is unofficially 49 of 73 for 626 yards, 5 touchdowns, with his favorite target senior receiver Noah Polich with 21 catches for 315 yards. Those are Pace Temple numbers. Defensively the Vikings have shined starting on the line with the one-two of Steven Kemp and Matt Loberg, who abused Richards with 3 sacks. Nate Donati led Geneva in tackles with 12. More good news was Week 1 injuries to linebacker Wyatt Shodeen and safety Chris Barger cleared up allowing them to play, and lineman Jack McCloughan was running this week in practice. After a great start, Geneva won't accept a backslide. "We need to go in there and get off the ball, take care of business," Wicinski said.

Next week: Geneva at St. Charles North (2-0), Sept. 19; Streamwood at Larkin (0-2), Sept. 19.

Larkin (0-2, 0-0)

at Batavia (1-1, 0-0)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Last year: Batavia 46, Larkin 14.

Last week: Vernon Hills 41, Larkin 9; Batavia 23, Glenbard North 12.

Outlook: No matter how gifted, no team can ever take another for granted. Perhaps that's what happened last season when Larkin tied Batavia 7-7 after one quarter and took a brief 14-7 lead over the future 6A champs on a 90-yard interception return. On the other hand, the athletes Larkin has can bust something open at any moment. "It's a great challenge when you have to defend speed and defend playmakers," Batavia coach Dennis Piron said earlier this week, Batavia's homecoming week. They include quarterback Elijah Hernandez and receivers Deshawn Steward and A.J. Hunter. What Larkin hasn't displayed much of thus far is defense. McHenry racked up 510 yards and 61 points against the Royals in Week 1 and Vernon Hills added 447 yards and had a running clock going in the third quarter. And eventually, last year Batavia pulled out to a 46-14 win over the Larkin. Batavia's games against Glenbard North - the series ended last Friday with the Bulldogs winning all three - have always been close. With Glenbard North getting banged up this was a comfortable one despite some pressure applied late. Linebacker Jake Hlava enters the Larkin game cruising downhill after tackling 9 Panthers including 3.5 sacks and 3 quarterback hurries. "I think Coach (Matt) Holm sort of let him loose this week," Piron said. His defensive player of the week, though, was lineman Jon Wall, with 10 tackles, 9 of them solo stops. This is a team that could have 14 different defensive players of the week. While Zach Garrett ran for 88 yards and a touchdown it seems Piron would like to slightly pick up the ground game and part of that is Blake Crowder getting back to full strength. "I think we made good improvement going into Week 2 and there are lots of ways I'd like to see the same thing happen this week," the coach said.

Next week: Streamwood (0-2) at Larkin, Sept. 19; Batavia at St. Charles East (0-2), Sept. 19.

Marmion (2-0, 0-0)

at St. Francis (2-0, 0-0)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Last year: Marmion 26, St. Francis 20.

Last week: Marmion 38, Ottawa 7; St. Francis 42, Plainfield South 0.

Outlook: Good to know in a season of changing conferences some things stay the same, like these old Suburban Christian Conference foes facing each other in the Chicago Catholic Green. Some things do change, like formerly run-heavy St. Francis under new head coach Mike Fitzgerald. After two games in the spread the Spartans have thrown for 385 yards and 5 touchdowns while the ground game, headed by quarterback Clint Bobowski and running back Steven Fassnacht, has gained 314 yards with 7 touchdowns. "We haven't given up the big plays," Marmion coach Dan Thorpe said, "but we haven't faced the passing attack that we'll face this week, and they're executing." The Spartans have played relatively mistake-free with a nice push from center Cole Cunningham, guards John Vargyas and Mike Riley and tackles Kevin Killian and Spencer Stibbe. Defensively the Spartans have allowed 248 total yards, a unit headed by Quinn Calcagno and Riley at defensive ends, linebackers Tom Petrando and Nate Zito and safeties Jack Ahern and Mike Shaw. Marmion coach Dan Thorpe can also throw out a "pretty darn good" defensive front four. Ends Tim Clohecy and Malcolm Confer and tackles Luke Juriga and Neil Peterson have occupied bodies to allow linebackers Lucas Warren, Kyle Jordan and Wade Gunderson run to the ball. Warren has been running, period. The 225-pound junior fullback followed his 63 yards rushing against Plainfield Central with 145 yards and 4 touchdowns on 11 carries last week. Without throwing the ball much - 50 yards in the opener, Rusty Joyce and John Tate combining for 83 yards last week - Marmion has run for 508 yards. Not counting a Week 1 sack nine players got the ball in the opener and 10 against Plainfield North - all without Jordan Glasgow, who could make his offensive return against St. Francis. "It's a team mentality," Thorpe said. It'll have to be defensively against St. Francis, too.

Next week: Marmion at Providence (2-0), Sept. 19; Brother Rice (1-1) at St. Francis (1-0), Sept. 19.

Rich Central (1-1)

at Kaneland (2-0)

Game time: 7:15 p.m. Friday.

Last year: Did not play.

Last week: Rich Central 48, Kenwood 0; Kaneland 49, Marshall 6.

Outlook: Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly said this is the first time the Knights will have faced Rich Central, a nonconference foe out of Olympia Fields. The Olympians beat up Kenwood but in their opener lost 36-20 to a Plainfield East squad that last week topped West Aurora 14-7. Rich Central's spread offense will use the whole field, getting the ball to speedy 5-foot-5 Davonta Drakes while quarterback D.J. Taylor also likes to run. On the line offensively and defensively the Olympians have some big boys including Marcus Chapman Jr., Jordan Harris and 6-3, 280 J.R. Robinson. X's and O's wise it's nothing that will shock Kaneland. "We've seen some four-man fronts before, we've seen some spread offenses before, but they are pretty fast," Fedderly said. Team speed, however, is one of Kaneland's strengths, and when they need somebody to blast off the line they can go to 276-pound Andrew Kray. After the landslide win over Marshall Fedderly likewise was thrilled with cornerbacks Isaiah Baerenklau and Kyle Diehl, who intercepted his second pass in as many games. Offensively Jake Marczuk had player-of-the-week numbers: 21-of-27 passing for 221 yards, 4 touchdowns, no interceptions. Receiver Connor Fedderly had his best game with 10 catches for 120 yards and Mitch Groen and Tyler Paulson caught 5 and 4 balls, respectively. A name to watch is junior Giovanni Regalado, who ran for 68 yards and may be the man until Isaac Swithers returns from a lower-body injury. After two games Fedderly likes the attitude. "I really like how hard these guys practice, I like how we prepare," he said. "I really like how there's no egos on this team and these guys give us a really good effort every day we see them. That's really fun for a coach to have a team like that."

Next week: Rich Central at Rich South (1-1), Sept. 20; Kaneland at Yorkville (2-0), Sept. 19.

St. Charles East (0-2, 0-0)

at Elgin (0-2, 0-0)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Last year: St. Charles East 42, Elgin 16.

Last week: Jacobs 49, St. Charles East 20; Huntley 63, Elgin 8.

Outlook: Someone gets happier here. The visiting Saints look to avoid their first 0-3 start since 2011. "We're going into the game and it's really a must-win for us at this point in time," said St. Charles East coach Bryce Farquhar, awaiting his first victory as a varsity head coach. The Saints' offense was more effective than in Week 1, their 347 yards about 60 more than Jacobs earned, with Ramon Lopez shaking loose for 155 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns with two other runs that would have put him over 200. Jake Asquini, who didn't play last year, netted 56 reception yards. Though Kyle Cook threw for most of them, Farquhar said he'll be moved into the secondary to shore that unit up, with Aiden Wright making the start at quarterback against Elgin. (Also expected to be in at left tackle is Jake Rosenfeldt, subbing for injured Brennan Bosch.) While Farquhar is pleased with defensive line play headed by Blake Fialka and Will Leite, he hopes Cook can bulk up the secondary. "We've given up a lot of long passing plays and it's a point of emphasis to eliminate those things," the coach said. That may be an area Elgin will attack, since quarterback Terrance Miller-Allen seems to be the spark for whatever offense the Maroons have generated to date. He passed for 159 yards last week with a 33-yard touchdown to big 6-6, 235-pound receiver Elijah Bonds. Four other Elgin receivers caught 2 passes and Miller-Allen connected with seven overall. In Elgin's 36-22 loss to Dundee-Crown in Week 1, Miller-Allen ran for 64 yards and 2 touchdowns and threw for 146 yards with another touchdown. A pass rush paired with outside contain is good idea. "Our key right now," Farquhar said, "shoring up exactly what we do defensively."

Next week: Batavia (1-1) at St. Charles East, Sept. 19; Elgin at West Chicago (1-1), Sept. 19.

St. Charles North (2-0, 0-0)

at West Chicago (1-1, 0-0)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Last year: Did not play.

Last week: St. Charles North 14, Plainfield Central 9; DeKalb 54, West Chicago 20.

Outlook: Stalking the home sideline will be a familiar face even for North fans. Former St. Charles East head coach Ted Monken is in his first season coaching West Chicago. The Wildcats also are playing their first game in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division since shifting from the Valley last year, their first in the UEC for the charter member of the DuPage Valley Conference. While Monken's Wildcats seek their first River victory the North Stars look to go 3-0 for the first time since 2009. They sought their first 2-0 start since then, too, before beating Plainfield Central in a weather-induced grinder. Running back Dom Sidari scored his first touchdown of the year, quarterback Kyle Novotney followed with another first-quarter run and with less than 200 yards of offense the defense made it stand up. Four St. Charles North players registered 10 tackles or more - linebacker Carson Schmitt and linemen Dalton Young, Brendan McCarthy and defensive end Jordan Bergren, a herculean 15 stops, 2 sacks, 3 hurries and a blocked extra-point. Then there's guys like senior outside linebacker Ben Thiele, who North Stars coach Rob Pomazak said has solidified a position that was a question mark. St. Charles North's defense is big, strong, fast and physical, and that combination will test West Chicago up front. Wildcats quarterback Peyton Seidler played tight end last season but he's off to a fast and surprising start including last week's game of 254 yards passing with 3 touchdowns, all to Alex Mitchell. What flummoxed West Chicago was containing the unique talent that is DeKalb's Illinois-bound tailback Dre Brown, who ran for 214 yards and 5 touchdowns. Right now St. Charles North doesn't have one of those, so Pomazak hopes to continue developing behind juniors such as receivers Jayson Reckards and Brendan Joyce. Overall at this point? "We're excited about where we're at as a team," the coach said.

Next week: Geneva (2-0) at St. Charles North, Sept. 19; Elgin (0-2) at West Chicago, Sept. 19.

South Elgin (1-1, 0-0)

at West Aurora (0-2, 0-0)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Last year: Did not play.

Last week: Crystal Lake South 32, South Elgin 29; Plainfield East 14, West Aurora 7.

Outlook: West Aurora coach Nate Eimer had the Blackhawks practicing offense starting at the 20-yard line earlier this week after failing to capitalize three times within that distance against Plainfield East. They'll be challenged the full 100 yards against up-tempo South Elgin, which opened with 49 points against St. Charles East and lost last week on a 22-yard field goal in the last five seconds. "It'll be interesting because we're kind of the complete opposites," Eimer said. "We're going to pound the ball." In this early going the teams' quarterbacks couldn't be more different. West Aurora's Johnathon Doyle operates a Wing-T look that last week had him as the leading rusher, even ahead of the dynamic DaQuan Cross and bruising T.J. Jackson. South Elgin quarterback Hayden Nelson has good running backs in Kyle Ware and Shawn Griffin and also a phalanx of receivers including Andrew Kamienski, Derek Kumerow and Nick Menken. Nelson threw for 333 yards and 4 touchdowns in Week 1 then came back to earth with 143 yards last week. West Aurora's game against Plainfield East was a bookend jinx as Cross' apparent 83-yard touchdown return of the opening kick was called back by a penalty, and the last-gasp effort at the opponent's 5-yard line ended in a fumbled exchange. West can't afford that. Against this passing attack the loss to injury of cornerback Sean Anthony is hard to take, but Eimer was looking to get back linebackers Dylan Matrisciano and Chandler Behrens, offensive lineman Sam Deisher and defensive lineman Zack Vacca. This is West Aurora's first game in the Upstate Eight Conference's Valley Division. As in the DuPage Valley, mistakes will kill you. "We need to get back to playing turnover-free football, which is what we should be doing," Eimer said.

Next week: Neuqua Valley (0-2) at South Elgin, Sept. 20; West Aurora at Metea Valley (1-1), Sept. 19.

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