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Scouting Week 8 in the Fox Valley

Johnsburg (6-1, 5-0) at Burlington Central (5-2, 5-0)

When/where: today at 7 p.m. at Rocket Hill

Last meeting (2005): Johnsburg 41, Burlington Central 6

Last week: Johnsburg 42, Marengo 17; Burlington Central 34, Richmond-Burton 13

Outlook: The Big Northern East title will be decided in this matchup between the division's only unblemished teams. Resilient Burlington Central found a way to win last week with a revamped lineup that featured more two-way players than usual. Though linebacker Cole Roach and fullback Dan Le remain sidelined with injuries, coach Rich Crabel said leading rusher Jason Berango may return after sitting out last week due to an injury. Berango leads the Rockets with 596 yards and 9 touchdowns in 88 attempts. Otherwise, the roster of available players remains the same as last week. Adam Skirmont is expected to make his second straight start at quarterback. The 5-foot-9, 175-pound junior completed 9 of 18 attempts for 211 yards, including touchdown passes of 32, 82 and 33 yards. He was intercepted once. Skirmont also ran 7 times for 35 yards. “He's a good runner from that position, which is helpful,” Crabel said. “He understands the game so it wasn't a stretch for him to step right in there. He worked at quarterback all summer and always got reps.” Skirmont is also a full-time safety on defense and will be a critical part of stopping Johnsburg's spread offense.

Next week: Harvard (2-5) at Johnsburg; Burlington Central at Rockford Christian (0-7)

Hampshire (3-4, 1-3) at Crystal Lake Central (5-2, 2-2)

When/where: today at 7:15 p.m. Owen Metcalf Field

Last year: Crystal Lake Central 46, Hampshire 21

Last week: Prairie Ridge 28, Hampshire 20; Crystal Lake Central 33, Champaign Centennial 20

Outlook: Hampshire needs 2 wins to have a chance at its second straight playoff berth. The Whip-Purs have 31 playoff points entering Week 8, which should be enough to nail down an at-large bid if they can defeat CL Central on its Senior Night and Woodstock (1-6) in the regular-season finale. “This is Week 1 of our playoffs, and I like the fact that we're facing a 5-2 team in our first playoff game instead of a 9-0 team.” first-year coach Mike Brasile said. “Our guys are pretty fired up. We've competed with every team on our schedule except for Huntley, which got out of hand in the second half. We have some scrappy kids who keep fighting despite our injuries, which have been catastrophic.” The Whips will again compete without quarterback Nick Mohlman and running back Devontae Johnson, both injured. The Hampshire attack will rely heavily on 6-foot-2, 200-pound senior Mason Fleury. The running back leads the Whip-Purs with 418 yards and 6 scores on 92 carries. Last week he rushed 18 times for 123 yards and a touchdown and played both ways. Quarterback Matt Bridges completed 9 of 17 attempts for 113 yards and 2 interceptions. He ran for one score and threw for another.

Next week: Woodstock (1-6) at Hampshire; Grayslake Central (0-7) at Crystal Lake Central

Jacobs (4-3, 1-2) at Crystal Lake South (3-4, 2-1)

When/where: today at 7:15 p.m. at Ken Bruhn Field

Last year: Jacobs 26, Crystal Lake South 20

Last week: Cary-Grove 49, Jacobs 7; Huntley 38, Crystal Lake South 7

Outlook: Crystal Lake South would be a shoo-in for the IHSA playoffs with 41 playoff points, but the Gators have to beat rivals Jacobs and Cary-Grove in succession to reach 5 wins and make those points matter. “Our season's on the line now,” CL South coach Chuck Ahsmann said. “In order to get in the playoffs, you have to have 5 wins and we need them both. You have to take them one at a time. Jacobs and us have had close games for the history of Jacobs and South, it seems like. There has not been a blowout on either side very often, especially in the last 10 years. For whatever reason it's always a great game. (Coach Bill) Mitz has done a great job over there. I anticipate the same thing.” Jacobs is nearly as desperate for a win. The Golden Eagles, who dropped 2 straight to Huntley and Cary-Grove, play on the road for the first time since the season opener at Barrington. Jacobs didn't dwell on the loss to Cary-Grove last Friday. Instead, the Golden Eagles hit the practice field 10 hours later in helmets and shoulder pads and moved on in preparation for CL South. “We got back to the basics a bit in practice after we had two tough weeks,” Jacobs coach Bill Mitz said. “This team just keeps marching on, and that's a very good sign.” Jacobs gets a huge lift this week as two-way, all-conference lineman Carson Shoemaker, who has missed 3 games, returns from injury.

Next week: Jacobs at McHenry (3-4); Cary-Grove (7-0) at Crystal Lake South

Dundee-Crown (2-5, 0-3) at Cary-Grove (7-0, 3-0)

When/where: today at 7:15 p.m. at Al Bohrer Field

Last year: Cary-Grove 34, Dundee-Crown 0

Last week: McHenry 57, Dundee-Crown 42; Cary-Grove 49, Jacobs 7

Outlook: This is the healthiest Dundee-Crown has been all season, but the Chargers are up against a powerful opponent in the No. 1 team in Class 7A, according to The Associated Press. “Their physicality up front ... I haven't seen a team play like them on both sides of the line in at least a couple of years,” D-C coach Mike Steinhaus said of the Trojans. “I like watching them on film, but I don't know if I'm going to like watching them in person. Last week we had guys not reading their keys. When that happens, you give up points like we did. The good thing about our kids is no matter what they don't quit and they haven't all year.” D-C trailed McHenry 29-7 last week before rallying to tie the game at 36-36 in the third quarter on Alonzo Alvarado's 9-yard touchdown reception from Jeff Atherton. Alvarado had 7 catches for 81 yards and 2 touchdowns. D-C's leading rushers are seniors Malik Dunner (74 carries, 539 yards, 6 TD) and Caleb Parson (74 carries, 452 yards, 3 TD). “They have a nice 1-2 punch with Parson and Dunner and they're putting up a lot of points,” Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said. “They have some very talented players.” Cary-Grove sophomore fullback Tyler Pennington has 999 yards and 14 touchdowns on 122 carries (8.2 avg.).

Next week: Dundee-Crown at Huntley (6-1); Cary-Grove at Crystal Lake South (3-4)

McHenry (3-4, 1-2) at Huntley (6-1, 2-1)

When/where: today at 7:15 p.m. at Huntley athletic field

Last year: Huntley 42, McHenry 14

Last week: McHenry 57, Dundee-Crown 42; Huntley 38, Crystal Lake South 7

Outlook: The Red Raiders can notch their seventh win of the season, a mark they have not reached since the 2008 team finished 9-2. Huntley leading receiver Brandon Altergott will be available. He played minimally last week but is ready to go against McHenry, according to coach John Hart, who said defensive lineman Zach Herbert may sit out for precautionary reasons. Huntley's defense held Crystal Lake South to 7 points last week and Jacobs to 14 points two weeks ago. That unit, led by junior linebacker Daniel Dennis (58 tackles), senior linebacker Mike Walker (55 tackles) and lineman Jeremy Behnke (3.5 sacks), is tasked with limiting a McHenry offense that averages 35 points per game and has scored 56 points or more in 3 of its 7 contests. Senior quarterback Mike Briscoe (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) has thrown for over 900 yards and 12 touchdowns. “Their quarterback is probably as good as anybody we've faced the entire year,” Hart said. “They've just got so many good skill guys and they are a multifaceted offense. They'll go spread on one play, then go to double tight, wing-T, empty set. And they seem to have a pretty good concept of all of them. When their running backs are healthy, they're a real threat.”

Next week: Jacobs (3-4) at McHenry; Dundee-Crown (2-5) at Huntley

Chicago Christian (3-4, 2-1) at St. Edward (7-0, 3-0)

When/where: today at 7 p.m. at Greg True Field

Last year: St. Edward 53, Chicago Christian 6

Last week: Chicago Christian 38, Elmwood Park 34; St. Edward 38, Ridgewood 0

Outlook: St. Edward, the No. 8 team in Class 4A according to the latest poll by The Associated Press, seeks to tie a school record while improving its playoff seed. A victory would tie the record of 8 wins in a single season, previously achieved in 1978 (8-1) and 2010 (8-3). A win would also clinch at least a share of the Metro Suburban East title. The Green Wave face a Chicago Christian squad fighting to remain in the playoff hunt. The Knights must defeat St. Edward and Guerin (3-4) to be considered at 5-4. They enter the weekend with 29 playoff points. “They are a strong group with a lot of personal desire to make the playoffs,” St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said of the Knights. “It's high school sports; teams can play above their ability when they're playing for each other and a common goal like making the playoffs and knocking off a 7-0 team. They have a lot of reasons to play inspired football. We've stressed to our kids we have to match the level of intensity Chicago Christian will bring.” It'll be a tall task for the Knights to upset St. Edward based on recent results. Two weeks ago Chicago Christian lost to Ridgewood, 24-14. St. Edward defeated Ridgewood 38-0 last week.

Next week: Chicago Christian at Guerin (3-4); St. Edward at Elmwood Park (1-6)

Elgin (0-7, 0-5) at Larkin (0-7, 0-5)

When/where: today at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Field

Last year: Larkin 46, Elgin 28

Last week: Batavia 48, Elgin 13; St. Charles East 42, Larkin 13

Outlook: These longtime rivals each seek their first win of the season. Elgin has lost 19 straight; Larkin has dropped 11 in a row. For an extended preview of this game and South Elgin at Bartlett, see Jerry Fitzpatrick's column in today's edition.

Next week: St. Charles North (5-2) at Elgin; Larkin at Geneva (7-0)

South Elgin (4-3, 3-2) at Bartlett (3-4, 2-3)

When/where: today at 7:30 p.m. at Millennium Field

Last year: South Elgin 46, Bartlett 6

Last week: South Elgin 42, Glenbard East 36; Neuqua Valley 54, Bartlett 29

Outlook: Playoff berths are on the line in this meeting between Elgin Area School District U-46 rivals. Bartlett leads the series 4-2. For an extended preview of this game and the Elgin-Larkin game, see Jerry Fitzpatrick's column in today's edition.

Next week: South Elgin at Waubonsie Valley (6-1); East Aurora (0-7) at Bartlett

West Chicago (3-4, 2-3) at Streamwood (2-5, 2-3)

When/where: Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Millennium Field

Last week: Geneva 41, West Chicago 12; St. Charles North 44, Streamwood 6

Outlook: Streamwood aims to play spoiler in its first meeting with the Wildcats, who still harbor playoff aspirations. West Chicago, which has 30 playoff points, must defeat Streamwood on the road and follow up with a home win next week against St. Charles East to be considered for playoff inclusion. Meanwhile, the Sabres seek a third win, which would represent progress on the heels of a 1-win campaign in 2013. “It would be big,” Streamwood coach Mark Orszula said of a third victory. “With all the effort and the work this team put in during the off-season, it would show we're heading in the right direction.” Senior wide receiver Noah Polich has a chance to reach a rare plateau in his final 2 high school games: 1,000 yards receiving in a 9-game season. Polich enters Week 8 with 56 receptions for 767 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Next week: St. Charles East (3-4) at West Chicago; Streamwood at Batavia (6-1)

Westminster Christian (2-5, 2-5) at Christian Liberty Academy (0-7, 0-7)

When/where: Saturday at 1 p.m.

Last year: Westminster Christian 33, Christian Liberty 28

Last week: Chicago Hope Academy 48, Westminster Christian 15; Rockford Christian Life 62, Christian Liberty Academy 0

Outlook: The Warriors were all but eliminated from playoff consideration with last week's loss, but the second-year program still has some goals to achieve. A win this weekend against winless Christian Liberty would set a new program high for wins in a season. Another win in Week 9 would allow the Warriors to double their 2013 win total. “We're looking to finish up strong,” coach John Davis said. “We have a chance to finish 100 percent better than last year. I'd like to see us score as many points as we can and get an opportunity to play some kids who haven't played a lot and get them some reps for next year.” Davis said sophomore Isaac Hawn (6-foot-6, 255 pounds) likely will not play again this season due to a recent appendectomy.

Next week: Westminster Christian at North Shore Country Day (1-6); Christian Liberty at Luther North (3-4)

Playoffs, Town Jug on the line in U-46 rivalry matchups

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