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Scouting Week 9 in the Fox Valley

Dundee-Crown (2-6, 0-4) at Huntley (7-1, 3-1)

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

Last year: Dundee-Crown 17, Huntley 14

Last week: Cary-Grove 56, Dundee-Crown 0; Huntley 55, McHenry 28

Outlook: It has been a trying season for the Dundee-Crown football team on and off the field, but spirits were lifted late this week when junior offensive tackle Jake Kieltyka showed up at the weekly team meal just days after he underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. As Kieltyka reported on his Facebook page on Wednesday: “This afternoon I was lucky enough to be able to come home so no more hospital after a brain surgery that was done on Monday. Haha! Great way to start year 17 of my life.” His teammates gave Kieltyka a warm reception. “When he came up to the team meal the kids all went nuts,” D-C coach Mike Steinhaus said. “He's a great kid and he's in great spirits. Hopefully, he'll go on from here after a six-to-eight month recovery process.” The Chargers were largely responsible for keeping Huntley out of the playoffs in 2013. “When you lose a game like that when you don't play well, it's very frustrating,” said Huntley coach John Hart, whose team twice stalled in the red zone in the fourth quarter of last year's game at D-C and missed 2 short field goals. “Obviously, it kept us out of the playoffs last year.” Waiting to return the favor on their Senior Night are Huntley Class of 2015 receivers Brandon Altergott (30 receptions, 670 yards, 6 TD), Josh Esikiel (26 rec., 348 yards, 7 TD) and Kyle Kesul (16 rec., 227 yards, 4 TD). Junior quarterback Anthony Binetti has completed 88 of 158 attempts (55.7 percent) for an area-best 1,441 yards and 19 touchdowns. He has been intercepted only 5 times. Binetti has also rushed 63 times for 202 yards and 2 scores. Junior Casey Haayer's 610 yards and 10 touchdowns leads all rushers for Huntley, which might get a first-round home playoff game with a victory.

Cary-Grove (8-0, 4-0) at Crystal Lake South (4-4, 3-1)

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

Last year: Cary-Grove 21, Crystal Lake South 14

Last week: Cary-Grove 56, Dundee-Crown 0; Crystal Lake South 24, Jacobs 14

Outlook: On Aug. 15, Crystal Lake South senior linebacker Alex “Bubba” Gardeck stood on the school's practice field and envisioned the perfect scenario for the regular-season finale against the rival Trojans. “Week 9, we're hoping to go into the Cary-Grove game and compete for a conference championship,” said Gardeck, who in the interim missed playing time due to a small tear in his trachea. “The game we're always looking forward to is Cary-Grove. They've always got a nice, big line, tough competitors. It's always going to be a good game.” Gardeck was prescient. Not only do the Gators have a chance to forge a three-way tie for the FVC Valley title with Cary-Grove and Huntley, a win would put the Gators back in the playoffs after a one-year absence. The question is, can CL South compete with the team ranked No. 1 in Class 7A for most of the season. “I think we can,” coach Chuck Ahsmann said. “It's going to take a monumental effort. They are No. 1 in the state for a reason. They have skill and they have size, which they haven't always had in the past and which sets this team apart.” The Gators have gone 3-1 since revamping the offense to a straight-at-you running attack that features fullback Kyle Bartusch (69 carries, 591 yards, 9 TD) and tailback Corey Sheehan (161 carries, 888 yards, 5 TD). Bartusch has scored all 9 of his rushing touchdowns in the last four weeks since the Gators switched to the I-formation. “They are almost like two different teams from how they were earlier in the year,” Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said. “They were trying to find their identity on both sides of the ball and the last four or five weeks they've found their groove with the exception of the Huntley game. They are putting up points and playing much better football. They have to win to get in the playoffs and potentially win the conference, but they give us concern regardless of the circumstance they are in. Our kids are well aware of all of that.”

Jacobs (4-4, 1-3) at McHenry (3-5, 1-3)

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

Last year: Jacobs 42, McHenry 14

Last week: Crystal Lake South 24, Jacobs 14; Huntley 55, McHenry 28

Outlook: The mission is clear for Jacobs, which must win to have a shot at extending its school-record streak of four straight playoff appearances. The Golden Eagles are guaranteed 36 playoff points and could finish with 38, which was the qualifying threshold two years ago. Last year, playoff bids were extended to teams with 36 playoff points. First things first, though. The Golden Eagles must find a way to snap a 3-game losing streak. “We have to get going,” coach Bill Mitz said. “It's do or die.” Jacobs all-conference lineman Carson Shoemaker returned to action last week on the defensive side of the ball after missing a few games due to injury. Normally a two-way player, Shoemaker may see time on the offensive line this week. “He'll play a little more on both sides of the ball,” Mitz said. Jacobs has won 4 straight meetings with the Warriors.

Burlington Central (5-3, 5-1) at Rockford Christian (0-8, 0-6)

When/where: today at 7 p.m.

Last year: Burlington Central 34, Rockford Christian 0

Last week: Johnsburg 7, Burlington Central 0; Marengo 42, Rockford Christian 13

Outlook: The Rockets aim for a sixth win for the first time since they finished 7-3 in 2011. A victory seems likely against Rockford Christian, which has been outscored 399-83. Still, no one wearing royal blue and white will take the Royal Lions lightly on their Senior Night. “We talked a lot to our kids about if you look at it on paper, it's a game we should win,” Central coach Rich Crabel said. “But their kids will come out and play hard in their last home game. It's important for us to get off to a good start.” Adam Skirmont, who started at quarterback the last two weeks, suffered a high-ankle sprain in the loss to Johnsburg. He finished the game but has been limited since, Crabel said. Junior Robert Doubek, who started the first 6 games for the Rockets, is expected to get the start in Week 9. Doubek completed both of his pass attempts last week for 35 yards, upping his season totals to 758 yards and 4 touchdowns on 57-of-114 passing (50 percent). He has thrown 5 interceptions. The Central offense averages 321.6 yards per game, with 1,545 of its 2,573 total yards gained via the ground game. Leading rusher Jason Berango returned last week on a limited basis from an ankle sprain suffered in Week 6 at Marengo. Berango touched the ball five times and was held to negative yardage. He leads Central with 597 yards and 9 touchdowns on 92 carries (6.5 avg.).

Woodstock (1-7, 1-4) at Hampshire (3-5, 1-4)

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

Last year: Hampshire 48, Woodstock 7

Last week: Champaign Central 28, Woodstock 14; Crystal Lake Central 65, Hampshire 20

Outlook: The Whip-Purs finish out the season on Senior Night against their coach's alma mater. A 1999 Woodstock graduate who captained the school's 1997 state championship team, Mike Brasile not only played for the Blue Streaks, he was the program's offensive coordinator in 2009, when Woodstock reached a Class 5A semifinal. Brasile hoped this game would have playoff implications, but a series of what the first-year head coach called “catastrophic” injuries — including the loss of the team's starting quarterback and running back — finally took its toll last week as the Whips were unable to compete with Crystal Lake Central. This will be the final high school game for Hampshire seniors like two-way player Mason Fleury, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound rusher who leads Hampshire with 418 yards and 6 touchdowns on 94 carries (4.4 avg.).

St. Edward (8-0, 4-0) at Elmwood Park (2-6, 1-3)

When/where: today at 7 p.m.

Last week: St. Edward 46, Chicago Christian 6; Elmwood Park 35, Walther Christian 14

Outlook: A clean slate. Undefeated. Unbeaten. A 9-0 season is in reach for St. Edward, which clinched at least a share of the program's first Metro Suburban East title with last week's victory. Now, St. Edward is poised to seize the MSC East title outright by finishing off the first 9-0 season in the school's 71-year football history. “It would be pretty cool,” St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said of the possibility of entering the Class 4A playoffs unblemished. “It's a pretty rare feat by any football program. For us and where we were on the flip side of 9-0 just eight years ago, it's a neat story for our kids, our school and everyone who put time in to build our program to this point. But the vibe around the team is not really different than it has ever been. We still take things one week at a time internally and prepare for each team the way we always have. We're playing a decent football team this week. If we don't come out and play well, we could stumble so we're keeping the kids focused on playing our brand of football, especially on defense, where we've been playing very well lately.”

St. Charles North (6-2, 4-2) at Elgin (1-7, 1-5)

When/where: today at 7:30 at Memorial Field

Last year: St. Charles North 49, Elgin 0

Last week: St. Charles North 42, St. Charles East 0; Elgin 31, Larkin 13

Outlook: With its 19-game losing streak in the rearview mirror, Elgin looks to make it 2 straight wins on Senior Night. The Maroons face a St. Charles North squad jockeying for a higher playoff seed. Last week, the North Stars clinched their first playoff berth since 2009 by knocking off rival St. Charles East for the first time in seven seasons. Quarterback Nathan Didier completed 11 of 16 attempts for 204 yards and 3 touchdowns and a defense led by linebacker Carson Schmitt held an opponent to 9 points or less for the sixth time in 8 games. The North Stars have surrendered only 82 points. Senior Dontrell Gaddy helped spark Elgin to a 31-13 win over rival Larkin last week when he made a leaping reception for a touchdown and rushed for another. He split time at quarterback with junior Terrance Miller-Allen, who completed 3 of 6 passes for 117 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Larkin (0-8, 0-6) at Geneva (7-1, 5-1)

Watch: A streaming broadcast of this game via High School Cube can be seen at football.dailyherald.com.

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

Last year: Geneva 41, Larkin 34

Last week: Elgin 31, Larkin 13; Batavia 26, Geneva 20

Outlook: The Royals and Vikings can relate; both swallowed bitter pills last week in losing to their respective rivals. Larkin, an exceptionally young team with 22 sophomores on the varsity roster, continues striving for improvement with an eye toward the future. Meanwhile, Geneva looks to fine tune with the opening round of the playoffs a week away. The potent Geneva offense averages 37 points per game, tops in the Upstate Eight River. Larkin surrenders a league-high 42 ppg. Geneva junior running back Justin Taormina has rushed for 705 yards and 15 touchdowns in 126 attempts (5.6 avg.). Northern Illinois-bound quarterback Daniel Santacaterina is coming off a frustrating game in which he was intercepted 5 times. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound senior has completed 118 of 202 passes (58.4 percent) for 1,829 yards. He has thrown 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Streamwood (3-5, 3-3) at Batavia (7-1, 6-0)

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

Last year: Batavia 56, Streamwood 14

Last week: Streamwood 28, West Chicago 8; Batavia 26, Geneva 20

Outlook: The Sabres are coming off their third win of the season, a quantitative improvement over a 1-8 campaign in 2013. Batavia last week clinched at least a share of its fourth straight Upstate Eight River title. Streamwood's offense is balanced between the run and the pass. The Sabres have gained nearly 70 percent of their 2,212 total yards through the air. Senior quarterback Max Draper has completed 154 of 291 passes for 1,548 yards. His top target has been senior Noah Polich, who has 79 catches for 926 yards and 8 touchdowns. Batavia's defense forced 6 turnovers last week against Geneva, including 5 interceptions.

East Aurora (0-8, 0-6) at Bartlett (3-5, 2-4)

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

Last year: Bartlett 40, East Aurora 6

Last week: West Aurora 55, East Aurora 14; South Elgin 21, Bartlett 7

Outlook: Bartlett is playing for pride on Senior Night a week after the Hawks were eliminated from playoff contention for the second straight season. Junior-heavy Bartlett tries to end the season on a positive note behind junior standouts like two-way lineman Kyle Sanft (6-foot-4, 285 pounds) and running back Nolan Bernat (815 yards, 5 TD, 171 carries). Bartlett is 10-1 all-time against the Tomcats, who defeated the Hawks 21-6 in 1998. East Aurora has been outscored 388-107. The Tomcats have lost 11 straight since defeating Elgin in Week 6 of the 2013 season.

South Elgin (5-3, 4-2) at Waubonsie Valley (7-1, 5-1)

Watch: A streaming broadcast of this game via High School Cube can be seen at football.dailyherald.com.

When/where: today at 7:30 p.m. at Dick Kerner Stadium

Last year: Waubonsie Valley 63, South Elgin 29

Last week: South Elgin 21, Bartlett 7; Waubonsie Valley 35, Neuqua Valley 28

Outlook: A playoff berth is not guaranteed for the Storm just yet. Getting a fifth win to become playoff eligible was crucial, but South Elgin is still in a precarious spot with 33 playoff points entering Week 9. Some observers say 38 playoff points might be the threshold to make the postseason, as it was in 2012. Last year the cutoff was 36 points. South Elgin can take the suspense out of Saturday's playoff pairings show by knocking off the Warriors on their home field. Such a possibility is not out of the question based on results against common opponents. The Storm defeated West Aurora 62-27 in Week 3. Four weeks later, West Aurora won at Waubonsie Valley in double overtime, 27-24. The South Elgin defense is playing its best football of the season. That unit, fortified in the secondary in passing situations by the recent additions of wide receivers Andrew Kamienski and Derek Kumerow and strengthened on the defensive line by occasional appearances from offensive linemen Matt Zimmerman (6-foot-3, 255 pounds) and Jarin Davis (6-4, 265), allowed a season-low 7 points last week. “There's a lot more confidence on that end now,” Storm coach Pat Pistorio said. “Playing those receivers in the secondary makes it more difficult on opposing quarterbacks. We tried to refrain from doing that early on and we had some kids dinged up the last couple of weeks doing it that way, but it was worth the W.” Senior Hayden Nelson will be the starting quarterback the rest of the season. He had been splitting time with junior Jake Amrhein, but Amrhein will undergo surgery on Monday to repair a torn ACL and MCL in his knee, suffered early in a Week 7 win over Glenbard East. A three-sport athlete, Amrhein will miss the entire basketball season but hopes to return to the baseball field in late April or early May, he said. Freshman quarterback Nate Gomez will serve as Nelson's backup. Gomez quarterbacked the South Elgin sophomore team this season, Pistorio said.

North Shore Country Day (1-7, 1-7) at Westminster Christian (3-5, 3-5)

When/where: Saturday at 1 p.m. at Warrior Field

Last year: Westminster Christian 40, North Shore Country Day 6

Last week: Alden-Hebron 44, North Shore Country Day 12; Westminster Christian 49, Christian Liberty Academy 0

Outlook: Two teams playing for pride look to finish out the regular season on a positive note. A win would give the Warriors a fourth victory in only their second season of varsity football, thus doubling last season's total of 2. This game marks the first Senior Day in the program's brief history. The young Warriors will bid farewell to only two seniors, Adam Greene and Max Tucker. The school's first quarterback, Tucker enters his final high school contest with two-year totals of 2,537 yards and 21 touchdowns (17 interceptions) on 234-of-429 passing (54.5 percent).

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