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Scouting Week 6 Tri-Cities football

By Dave Oberhelman

Aurora Central Catholic (4-1, 0-1)

at Fenton (4-1, 0-1)

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

Last year: Did not play.

Last week: IC Catholic Prep 30, Aurora Central Catholic 23; Glenbard South 41, Fenton 0.

Outlook: Neither of these Metro Suburban West teams have played a common opponent, both took their first losses last week and both can qualify for the playoffs with a win in Bensenville. The ACC football website says this is the first time Fenton and the Chargers have played each other, at least since 1968. Fenton unofficially mustered 127 yards of offense against West favorite Glenbard South, getting but 23 yards rushing by 230-pound converted linebacker Matt Lucas; lanky back Kyle McPherson was held to 2 yards on 4 carries. ACC coach Brian Casey hopes the Chargers can match Fenton's physicality starting on the offensive line with Jeff Kus, Mikey Malawski, Chris Nilo, Jairo Varela and Jacob Ishmael. Back Brandon Babler had another good game, breaking a long run and scoring on a kickoff return, Casey seeks more oomph from the run game. "We're creating more open space by throwing the ball, but we're still a power-running team," he said. "We want to be able to run the ball when we want to."

Next week: Glenbard South (3-2, 1-0) at Aurora Central Catholic, Oct. 10; Fenton at Riverside-Brookfield (3-2, 1-0), Oct. 10.

Batavia (4-1, 3-0)

at West Chicago (3-2, 2-1)

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

Last year: Batavia 48, West Chicago 7.

Last week: Batavia 21, St. Charles North 7; West Chicago 28, Larkin 22.

Outlook: Former St. Charles East and Metea Valley head coach Ted Monken is in the process of turning around West Chicago, 3-2 for the first time since 2003. Progress will be measured against a Batavia team that has won 22 straight Upstate Eight River Division games. Though Tyler Holl and Nick Bernabei made 11 and 10 tackles respectively and Brett Bowman made 3 key interceptions last week, St. Charles North minimized Batavia's dominant defense; linebacker Jake Hlava went sack-free the first time this season. West Chicago has players up front - Alex Maltese, Lawrence Caputo and Frank Ficarra among them - but lacks Batavia's depth and, let's face it, winning experience. Batavia quarterback Kyle Niemiec looked good in his first wire-to-wire start last week, but coach Dennis Piron suggested Evan Acosta probably should have gotten some snaps. The Bulldogs will target West Chicago backs Danny Lazzerini and Parrish Benton, dual-threat quarterback Peyton Seidler and perimeter-based receiver Alex Mitchell, who has 8 touchdowns on 16 receptions.

Next week: Batavia at Elgin (0-5, 0-3), Oct. 10; West Chicago at Geneva (5-0, 3-0), Oct. 10.

Fenwick (3-2, 1-0)

at Marmion (4-1, 1-0)

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

Last year: Did not play.

Last week: Fenwick 31, DePaul College Prep 0; Marmion 1, St. Francis de Sales 0 (forfeit).

Outlook: It'll be interesting to see how the aftermath of Marmion's "bye week" plays out against this Chicago Catholic League Green Division foe coached by Gene Nudo, who led Driscoll to its first state title in 1991 before embarking on a successful Arena League career. Marmion has prior experience against Fenwick, and Cadets coach Dan Thorpe said the Friars run the same stuff as before - an I-formation out of which Iowa-bound Benet transfer Jake Beneventi throws to Will Lattner, grandson of former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lattner. Last time he was in a game, a 37-7 loss to Providence, Marmion running back-linebacker Lucas Warren got banged up. Better now, he'll be counted upon to tackle Fenwick's fast Pat Donahue and provide the power running he's shown all season. But the Cadets can't be one-dimensional, and quarterback Rusty Joyce will be asked to keep Fenwick honest. The speed of Cadets such as Jordan Glasgow could be a difference maker. "We have to be able to run the ball and throw the ball," Thorpe said.

Next week: St. Ignatius (1-4) at Fenwick, Oct. 10; De La Salle (1-4, 0-2) at Marmion, Oct. 10.

Geneva (5-0, 3-0)

at St. Charles East (2-3, 2-1)

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

Last year: Geneva 35, St. Charles East 21.

Last week: Geneva 56, Elgin 6; St. Charles East 24, Streamwood 6.

Outlook: Geneva coach Rob Wicinski didn't realize the Vikings are now No. 4 on The Associated Press Class 7A poll, tied with St. Rita. He does know, however, who his defense has to target this week in the Upstate Eight River. That's a no-brainer after St. Charles East running back Ramon Lopez took 45 handoffs for 320 yards against Streamwood. "We're going to try to do what we do best," said Saints coach Bryce Farquhar. "Hopefully control the ball most of the time and keep it out of their hands." He'll find it against Geneva, which continues to be led in tackles by nose guard Stephen Kemp, with 48. Of course, Streamwood and everyone else has keyed on Lopez since the Saints passing game, led by quarterback Aiden Wright, is still developing. Geneva will attempt to force the pass in two ways - contain Lopez and score quickly when quarterback Daniel Santacaterina is on the field. Helming an offense that has outscored opponents 196-73, the Northern Illinois recruit is as one with receiver Pace Temple, who is averaging 18.5 yards per catch and tacked on 3 more touchdown receptions last week. St. Charles East is a much better team than Elgin - the Saints beat the Maroons 40-0 - and Farquhar is hoping for a big pass rush by defensive linemen Jake McCann, Blake Fialka, Will Leite and Nick Lombardo after Streamwood did some things through the air last week. One never knows. "I've always struggled with their defense and their defensive coordinator (Brian Teresinski), and he's still there," Wicinski said.

Next week: West Chicago (3-2, 2-1) at Geneva, Oct. 10; Larkin (0-5, 0-3) at St. Charles East, Oct. 10.

Kaneland (2-3, 0-2)

at Sycamore (3-2, 0-1)

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

Last year: Sycamore 31, Kaneland 21.

Last week: DeKalb 37, Kaneland 34; Sycamore 42, Ottawa 0.

Outlook: For a coach whose team had lost a third straight game for the first time since 2007, Kaneland's Tom Fedderly sounded enthused and confident. Rallying from a 37-20 fourth-quarter deficit to DeKalb, the Knights scored on a 17-yard run by quarterback Jake Marczuk and a 61-yard Marczuk pass to Connor Fedderly. (The coach's son caught 12 passes for 294 yards, setting Kaneland's receiving yardage record while falling 1 shy of the mark for catches; Marczuk threw for 419.) "We were very happy with that effort, much happier than with Yorkville (a 41-25 Week 4 loss)," Tom Fedderly said. Kaneland's last four-game losing streak occurred in 1993 but realistically to extend its six-year playoff streak Kaneland needs to beat either Sycamore or Morris in Week 7, with LaSalle-Peru and Rochelle to end the regular season. The key here is to limit Sycamore's Dion Hooker, the fastest running back in the Northern Illinois Big XII East. "After the film that they have on us of the last couple of games, that's something we've got to improve on," said Fedderly, noting the Knights' defense forced punts on DeKalb's last two drives to allow the comeback.

Next week: Morris (2-3, 0-1) at Kaneland, Oct. 10; Sycamore at Yorkville (5-0, 2-0), Oct. 10.

Larkin (0-5, 0-3)

at St. Charles North (3-2, 1-2)

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

Last year: St. Charles North 48, Larkin 20.

Last week: West Chicago 28, Larkin 22; Batavia 21, St. Charles North 7.

Outlook: Regardless of last week's loss St. Charles North is in a good spot. The North Stars gave Batavia its closest game since the Bulldogs' 23-12 win over Glenbard North in Week 2, but coach Rob Pomazak is not about to let off the gas pedal. The North Stars, after all, seek their first playoff berth since 2009, with their toughest part of the schedule behind them. One might say a great way to put Larkin on the skids would be to build an early lead, yet behind quarterback David Hibbler, receiver A.J. Hunter and running back Cameron Tomlin the Royals rallied from a 20-0 deficit against West Chicago. Despite the loss to Batavia, St. Charles North defenders Carson Schmitt, Zach Woeste, Nick Zamecnik, Quinn Calcagno, Ben Theile, Brendan McCarthy, Jordan Bergren and particularly linebacker Jack Callaghan all had stellar games. As physical a group as Larkin's faced, they should provide enough cushion for quarterback Nathan Didier and running back Eric Lins.

Next week: Larkin at St. Charles East (2-3, 2-1), Oct. 10; St. Charles North at Streamwood (1-4, 1-2), Oct. 10.

Neuqua Valley (3-2, 3-0)

at West Aurora (1-4, 1-2)

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday.

Last year: Did not play.

Last week: West Aurora 34, Bartlett 28; Neuqua Valley 69, East Aurora 27.

Outlook: Last week West Aurora earned its first Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division victory against the 2011 league champion. "Winning a game no one expected us to win," as Blackhawks coach Nate Eimer put it. Neuqua Valley has won the Valley the last two seasons and after a somewhat alarming 0-2 start the Wildcats are starting to click. The Blackhawks must face Indiana State-bound quarterback Broc Rutter, a diverse ground game and the best linebacking corps Eimer said he's seen this year. Regarding diversity, West Aurora seeks more. T.J. Jackson, Drake Spears, DaQuan Cross and quarterback Johnathan Doyle have all surpassed 200 yards rushing. Doyle had his first 100-yard passing game last week, going 9-for-9, 8 to Phil Mallory. Eimer will further explore that dimension and hope to limit big plays including on special teams; Neuqua returned two kickoffs for touchdown last week. "It's going to be a challenge, there's no doubt about it," Eimer said.

Next week: Neuqua Valley at Bartlett (2-3, 1-2), Oct. 10; West Aurora at Waubonsie Valley (5-0, 3-0), Oct. 10.

St. Rita (4-1)

at Aurora Christian (4-1)

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday.

Last year: Did not play.

Last week: Providence 41, St. Rita 27; Bishop McNamara 34, Aurora Christian 28.

Outlook: Aurora Christian comes off its first loss, in which the Eagles made five red zone trips that resulted in only 6 points. Now comes the team tied with Geneva at No. 4 in Class 7A. Aurora Christian, No. 5 in 3A, may have missed a shot at its first CCL White title last week but has no time to sulk. St. Rita loads 250-plus linemen on both sides of the ball, a quarterback in C.J. Weydeman who has 166 yards rushing out of a read-option offense, 500-yard running back Tyre Lee and receiver Brandon Gaston, who the Chicago Tribune reported had 160 yards receiving against Providence. Aurora Christian counters with usual suspects Nick Edlund at running back, Jacolby Maxwell at receiver, outside linebacker Jeremiah Wright and quarterback Austin Bray, who will pull out all the stops. Of being an underdog, Beebe said: "I love it. There is a part of me that loves when people say, you can't."

Next week: St. Joseph (3-2) at St. Rita Oct. 10; Aurora Christian at St. Laurence (2-3, 1-1), Oct. 10.

Burlington Central (3-2, 3-0) at Marengo (4-1, 2-1)

When/where: today at 7 p.m. at Rod Poppe Field

Last year: Burlington Central 27, Marengo 0

Last week: Burlington Central 32, Genoa-Kinston 12; Marengo 41, Harvard 6

Outlook: The Rockets have won 3 straight since an 0-2 start. They enter Week 6 tied for first place in the Big Northern East with Johnsburg. Both are 3-0, a game ahead of Marengo and Genoa-Kingston. Central shut out the Indians last season, but Marengo has made major offensive changes since. "Totally different. They've gone to the spread," Central coach Rich Crabel said. "They've beefed up their (coaching) staff and have some nice assistant coaches helping them. We'll have to take care of a lot of different things defensively. Their quarterback throws a nice ball and their running back is really fast." Marengo junior Jarrell Jackson took third in the 100-mter dash at the Class 2A state track and field meet last spring (10.92 seconds). He has rushed for almost 400 yards and 5 touchdowns. Marengo quarterback Ethan Walsweer has thrown 9 touchdowns. Central counters with strong running back of its own in Jason Berango. The 5-foot-8, 175-pound junior last week rushed 19 times for 209 yards, highlighted by a 71-yard touchdown run. For the season, he has 547 yard and 8 touchdowns in 79 rushing attempts (6.9 avg). Two-way player Trevor Davison has carried 53 times for 323 yards and 5 scores. "(Berango) was injured a bit early in the season but he came through that well," Crabel said. "We knew he would have to get some time because Trevor has been playing both ways. Berango has good speed to go with good field vision. (Offensive coordinator Brett) Porto has a nice rotation with those kids and with Brad Sorensen seeing the field as well." Sorensen scored last week on a 20-yard run. He also intercepted a pass on defense and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown.

Next week: Richmond-Burton (3-2) at Burlington Central; Marengo at Johnsburg (4-1)

St. Francis (3-2) at St. Laurence (2-3)

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

The quick hit: Quinn Calcagno's near-state record 5.5 sacks paced a dominant 29-0 shutout of skilled Hales Franciscan. On offense, Will Purdom's 154 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns brings needed balance into this Chicago Catholic League crossover.

Wheaton Academy (4-1, 0-1) at Glenbard South (3-2, 1-0)

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

The quick hit: Tough to highlight an individual defensive performance from Glenbard South's win over Fenton, but lineman Dave Kornblith and defensive back Jimmy Ebbole were standouts. Scott McLean continues to step up in every phase for Wheaton Academy.

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