Football: Week 3 scouting, Lake County
By Joe Aguilar and Patricia Babcock McGraw
jaguilar@dailyherald.com and pbabcock@dailyherald.com
EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
Joliet Catholic (1-1, 0-0) at Carmel (1-1, 0-0)
When: 7:30 p.m., today
Last week: Joliet Catholic def. Wheaton North, 41-13; Carmel def. Phillips, 20-13.
Last year's result: Joliet Catholic won, 37-14.
Skinny: Carmel built a 20-0 lead after three quarters against Phillips on Chicago's South Side last Saturday, then had to hang on. The visitors didn't secure victory until Liam Griffin forced a fumble and Mark Curran recovered it late in the fourth quarter. The Corsairs got a big game from sophomore fullback Rondel Jamison, who rushed 27 times for 168 yards and scored his team's final touchdown. The Corsairs manufactured time-consuming, TD drives of 15 and 10 plays. They could use similar offensive series against JCA. "They have the same play style that we do - grind it out, run the football," Carmel quarterback Michael Huiras said of the Hilltoppers. "We got to keep going and build off the (Phillips) victory." Joliet Catholic dropped its season opener to Providence Catholic 21-10, before building a 34-0 lead by halftime against Wheaton North last week. JCA had all three phases contribute in the game, as the Hilltoppers recovered a muffed punt that led to points and also returned an interception for a touchdown.
- Joe Aguilar
NORTH SUBURBAN CROSSOVER
Lake Forest (2-0) at Wauconda (2-0)
When: 7:30 p.m., today
Last week: Lake Forest def. Grant, 57-25; Wauconda def. Roosevelt, 53-0.
Last year's result: Teams did not play each other.
Skinny: These two teams haven't played each other since 2008, when Lake Forest won a wild one, 65-52. Lake Forest is still piling up the points, while Wauconda has also shown in its first two games that it can move the ball downfield. Lake Forest opened the season with a 35-8 win over Chicago Dunbar before blowing out Grant, as senior running back Wes Janeck and junior quarterback Daniek Carollo led the way. Janeck rushed 10 times for 131 yards and 3 TDs, including one from 80 yards out. Carollo was 8-of-10 passing for 183 yards operating the Scouts' no-huddle spread. He threw 2 short TD passes and also ran for a score. LF also got 105 rushing yards on just 7 carries from junior Quinn Julian. Wauconda followed up its season-opening, 28-21 win over Woodstock North by routing undersized and undermanned Chicago Roosevelt, as QB Kevin Malisheski threw 3 TD passes and ran for a score in just one half of work. It was the first game on Wauconda's new artificial turf. Imasa Bowman returned a punt for a TD, and Josh Anderson scored on the second-half kickoff. "It was a fun evening," Bulldogs coach Dave Mills said. "For us, it was a nice night to break in the stadium and have some fun." Wauconda visits two-time defending NSC Prairie champ Lakes next Friday. "We got two big weeks coming up," Mills said. "We'll take one first, and then we'll worry about the other one."
- Joe Aguilar
NORTH SUBURBAN PRAIRIE
Round Lake (1-1, 0-0) at Antioch (1-1, 0-0)
When: 7:30 p.m., today
Last week: Round Lake lost to De La Salle, 57-20; Antioch def. Glenbard South, 24-20.
Last year's result: Antioch won, 41-6.
Skinny: It's been a busy week already for Antioch coach Brian Glashagel, whose wife, Sara, gave birth to the couple's first child, Cameron Walter. Now, Glashagel's football kids will look to win their second game in a row against a Round Lake team that has scored 41 points in its first two games. The Panthers dug too big of a hole against De La Salle last Friday night, however, as the visitors went into halftime up 57-6, after scoring 27 points in the opening quarter. Antioch junior running back Griffin Hill had a pair of TD runs - including a 99-yarder - against Glenbard South and finished with 114 rushing yards on just 11 carries. Alan Taylor had 21 carries for 96 yards for the Sequoits. Griffin's 99-yard touchdown run put Antioch up 10-7 in the third quarter, but Glenbard South's Andrew Wrona returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards to put the hosts back in front. Down 14-10 after three, the Sequoits rallied in the fourth thanks to TD runs of 40 yards by Taylor and 1 yard by Hill.
- Joe Aguilar
Lakes (2-0, 0-0) at Grant (0-2, 0-0)
When: 7:30 p.m., today
Last week: Lakes def. Woodstock North, 30-17; Grant lost to Lake Forest, 57-25.
Last year's result: Lakes won, 40-0.
Skinny: With junior running back Devyn Cedzidlo sidelined last week against Woodstock North, multitalented Jake Balliu stepped up for Lakes. The senior wide receiver, who had 12 receptions in the Eagles' season-opening win at Grayslake North, rushed 13 times for 141 yards and a TD. He also caught a touchdown pass from Jordan Mercure (10 of 15, 11 yards). "Jake has proved to be a gamer in all of his sports," Lakes coach Luke Mertens said of the three-sport athlete. "Performing the way he did on Friday night, despite not even being a running back, is just another example." Grant has yielded 99 points in its first two games under new head coach Vito Andriola. On the bright side, junior wide receiver Kemar Miller is showing big-play ability. Against Lake Forest, Miller returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and caught a 52-yard TD pass from Spencer Lhotka. "Grant has always been a tough matchup for us," Mertens said. "In addition to being of one of the biggest and most physical teams in our conference, there is a big rivalry between our schools given proximity and the fact that many of kids attended middle school together. This is going to be a great gauge as to where we are at as a team."
- Joe Aguilar
North Chicago (0-2, 0-0) at Vernon Hills (1-1, 0-0)
When: 7:30 p.m., today
Last week: North Chicago lost to Chicago Robeson, 22-8; Vernon Hills def. Larkin, 41-6.
Last year's result: Vernon Hills won, 6-0.
Skinny: Vernon Hills junior quarterback Connor McNamara had a breakout game against Larkin at Memorial Stadium in Elgin last Friday night, as the Cougars picked up their first win. The second-year starter completed 17 of 23 passes for 264 yards and 3 TDs, and also rushed 14 times for 96 yards and a score. Robby Nardini caught 6 passes for 57 yards, while fellow wide receiver Kiwanne Durant had 4 catches for 29 yards. As a team, the Cougars piled up 464 yards of total offense, and Drew Winegardner returned an interception for a touchdown. North Chicago was shut out by Waukegan 25-0 in its season opener, before falling to Robeson in Week 2. Former Warhawks star Johnny Johnson is in his first season as head coach at his alma mater.
- Joe Aguilar
Warren (1-1) at Stevenson (2-0)
When: 7:30 p.m., today
Last week: Warren lost to New Trier, 14-7; Stevenson def. Homewood-Flossmoor, 33-24.
Skinny: The schedule doesn't get any easier for top-rated Stevenson. North Suburban Lake Division games between Warren and Stevenson are always competitive. Last year, Stevenson had the upper hand, defeating Warren 21-7. "Stevenson is legit and they definitely deserve that ranking," Warren coach Bryan McNulty said. "They aren't weak anywhere. And they are exceptionally good at certain places." McNulty pointed to quarterback, where Stevenson is led by senior Willie Bourbon, who scored four straight touchdowns last week to help guide Stevenson to a win over Homewood-Flossmoor. "Bourbon is as good as you'll see," McNulty said. "He's just a really good athlete." McNulty would say the same about Stevenson wide receiver Cameron Green, who has committed to Northwestern. Green had 4 catches for 48 yards last week … Not that Warren doesn't have its own weapons. A good counter to Green is Warren senior receiver Caleb Reams, who has committed to Illinois. Reams had an 18-yard touchdown pass from emerging quarterback Jay Nickell last week. The Blue Devils also got 124 rushing yards out of Darrius Crump. McNulty says that the Blue Devils will need another big game from Crump. "We just have to worry about us and what we do," McNulty said. "Stevenson is who they are but we can't worry about them more than we worry about what we're doing."
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Libertyville (2-0) at Lake Zurich (1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m., today
Last week: Libertyville def. Lake Forest Academy 37-7; Lake Zurich lost to Cary-Grove, 24-7.
Skinny: The offenses for Libertyville and Lake Zurich are coming off very different weeks. While the Wildcats got many opportunities and found the end zone often, Lake Zurich struggled to move the ball. And an efficient and productive Cary-Grove offense did a nice job of keeping the Bears' offense off the field altogether. "We just didn't get many opportunities," Lake Zurich coach Dave Proffitt said of his offense, which managed just 50 rushing yards and 148 total yards against Cary-Grove. "The one good thing about that game is that we now have a pretty good measuring stick. We know that we have to work on everything." Lake Zurich's one offensive highlight came when Ben Klett hauled in a 66-yard pass from quarterback Joey Lindstrom … Libertyville, meanwhile, rolled up the yardage against Lake Forest Academy. Quarterback Riley Lees accounted for 305 total yards alone. "We were able to really move the ball on offense," Libertyville coach Mike Jones said. "(Lees) played really well and that's important because everything goes through him. Our receivers also did really well. The nice thing is, it's not just one guy. We've got five or six really good receivers we can go to."…Rightfully so, one of Lake Zurich's biggest concerns is Libertyville's passing game. "Their quarterback is really good because he makes good decisions and he has a decent arm and he knows when to throw it," Proffitt said. "They're explosive and they can really stretch your defense."
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Zion-Benton (1-1) at Mundelein (0-2)
When: 7:30 p.m., today
Last week: Zion-Benton def. Waukegan, 14-12; Mundelein lost to Highland Park, 38-21.
Skinny: Mundelein is still looking to pick up its first win of the season after a turnover-plagued loss to Highland Park. The Mustangs had 5 turnovers last week, 3 of which led directly to Highland Park scores. The carelessness had Mundelein coach George Kaider questioning his team's mental toughness, especially at practice. "We were just undisciplined at practice last week," Kaider said. "We've got to get a lot better and work harder to compete against Zion-Benton."…Running back Robert Hamilton will look to jump start the Mustangs again. He scored twice for Mundelein last week, once on a 92-yard kickoff return and once on a 71-yard run from scrimmage. "All I can say is great things about Robert," Kaider said. "He gets to full speed so fast."… Zion-Benton opened the season with a 35-12 loss to Deerfield. The Zee-Bees are under the direction of first-year coach Bob Moynihan.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Hampshire (1-1) at Grayslake Central (0-2)
When: 7:15 p.m., today
Last week: Hampshire lost to Grayslake North, 42-31; Grayslake Central lost to Prairie Ridge, 56-0.
Skinny: The Grayslake Central offense has struggled to start the season, with only one trip to the end zone thus far. Last week, the Rams were shut out convincingly by Prairie Ridge. Their only touchdown came in the season opener against Fenton on a 17-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Luke Shepherd to Noah Comerford. The Rams struggled to simply move the ball last week. Shepherd completed only 3-of-9 passes for 21 yards. And the rushing game gained minimal yardage … Meanwhile, Hampshire is coming off a 28-14 loss to Central's crosstown rival Grayslake North. Like Grayslake Central coach Jason Schaal, Hampshire coach Mike Brasile is in his first season. He's updated the Whip-Purs' offense to a fast-paced spread attack.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Cary-Grove (2-0) at Grayslake North (1-1)
When: 7:15 p.m., today
Last week: Cary-Grove def. Lake Zurich, 24-7; Grayslake North def. Hampshire, 42-31.
Skinny: After suffering a lopsided (37-14) defeat to rival Lakes in Week 1, Grayslake North rebounded with a win and with the kind of offensive output that it is known for. Grayslake North quarterback Merrick Gentile rolled up 4 touchdowns, three rushing and one passing. He hooked up with Eli Atwater for a 48-yard touchdown pass. Meanwhile, Grayslake North Titus Booker, who was kept out of the end zone in Week 1, scored on touchdown runs of 39 and 4 yards … Cary-Grove is coming off a monster win over North Suburban Conference perennial power Lake Zurich. Sophomore running back Tyler Pennington had a big day for the Trojans. He rushed for 164 yards on 25 carries. Quarterback Jason Gregoire passed for a touchdown last week (5 yards), but passing isn't in the cards much for Cary-Grove. Gregoire attempted a total of only 8 passes.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw