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Scouting: Tri-Cities round one playoff games

By Dave Oberhelman

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

Class 3A

No. 8 Aurora Christian (5-4)

at No. 1 Newman Central Catholic (9-0)

Game time: 2 p.m. Saturday.

Last week: Aurora Christian 49, Leo 35; Newman Central 44, Amboy-LaMoille 0.

Outlook: The smallest school by football enrollment among all Class 3A playoff qualifiers, Newman Central Catholic enters on a 22-game winning streak dating to last season, in which it defeated Staunton 40-13 for the 2A title. Coach Mike Pappocia's Blue Streaks, ranked atop Class 2A by the Associated Press all season until bounced up to 3A, have won five state titles, a sound adversary to Aurora Christian, playoff qualifier 13 straight years and 3A champion in 2011-12. Eagles coach David Beebe, who said reaching the playoffs was "a miracle on its own" due to a fourth-level tiebreaker edge over 5-4 Wheaton Academy for the 256th and final spot, figured Aurora Christian would open against either this team from Sterling or unbeaten Wilmington. Beebe noted Newman Central's offense, mainly a wishbone, outright challenges defenses to stop the run. Of the Streaks' 488 yards in last year's 2A title game, 425 came on the ground including 155 yards and 2 touchdowns by this year's ace halfback, Dillan Heffelfinger. Athletic two-way lineman Jacob Barnes also leads halfback Nolan McGinnn and fullback Brady Reed through holes. Averaging 46.8 points while allowing 9.7, that's the greatest margin of victory in 3A. The advantage Aurora Christian typically holds over teams versed in running and stopping the run is its passing game. Senior quarterback Austin Bray and receiver Jacolby Maxwell, who teamed up for 3 touchdowns last week, will attempt to spread Sterling Newman's defense wide to open up inside run lanes and slant routes for Nick Edlund and Jeremiah Wiggins. "I know most people are picking them to win 3A, which really, really motivates us," Beebe said. "We love to be the underdog."

Advancement: The winner advances to a Class 3A second-round game against the winner between No. 5 Raby (5-4) and No. 4 Oregon (5-4).

Class 4A

No. 13 Aurora Central Catholic (6-3)

at No. 4 Johnsburg (8-1)

Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Last week: Aurora Central Catholic 49, Wheaton Academy 28; Johnsburg 62, Harvard 14.

Outlook: This is the first time Aurora Central Catholic has reached the postseason three straight years since former coach Mike Curry roamed Bob Stewart Field in 1997. But as he said last year, Chargers coach Brian Casey seeks that next step - to win a game after going one-and-out in 2012 and 2013. Regardless of Big Northern East winner Johnsburg having played five playoff teams to ACC's two, the Chargers are positioned better than in their prior two years. First, their first-half scoring edge of 154-50 provides a solid start. Second, this is Johnsburg's first playoff berth since 2009. Third and most important is ACC enjoys offensive balance it hasn't had in years. Quarterback Matt Rahn's 1,227 yards passing, for 16 touchdowns to 8 interceptions, is the most at ACC since at least the Mike Adams era ended in 2008, if not Aaron Rozanski's program record 2,073 yards passing in 2003. The Chargers have the height advantage with receivers Colin Baillie, Mario May and Jake Staudacher all 6-4 and up, and perhaps the fastest man on the field in Brandon Babler. Of his four touchdowns last week, 2 receiving and 2 on special teams, Babler's 91-yard punt return set a team record. The Chargers also can pound up the middle with Roman Padilla, but how much pounding they do depends on whether Jeff Kus, Mikey Malawski and the boys up front can move 250-pound Johnsburg nose tackle John Conroy and defensive tackles Ericson Hoffman and Sean Koeshall, each at least 275 pounds. Offensively Johnsburg also offers some balance with quarterback Nick Brengman passing for around 1,000 yards, back Alex Peete running for around 1,200. "We have to find a way to be explosive," Casey said.

Advancement: The winner advances to a Class 4A second-round game against the winner between No. 12 Plano (6-3) and No. 5 Phillips (8-1).

Class 6A

No. 15 Marmion (6-3)

at No. 2 DeKalb (8-1)

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday.

Last week: Montini 28, Marmion 14; Geneseo 21, DeKalb 7.

Outlook: Marmion has to vie with the likes of Fenwick, Lyons and Lincoln-Way Central among the state's toughest Nos. 15-16 playoff seeds. That won't mean a bag of kicking tees if the Cadets can't limit the speed and multiple offensive looks of DeKalb, which won the Northern Illinois Big XII East for its first conference title since taking the Upstate Eight in 1989. Playing on its own turf, Illinois recruit Dre Brown and fellow backs Eriq Torrey and Tony Tate can run inside and out, and Derek Kyler, just a sophomore, can throw the ball. Four-year starter Brown was limited to one offensive series last week but is probable (Tate is questionable). What separates this Barbs team from others is the size, strength and attitude up front, extending to both sides of the ball with players like 250-pound defensive end Caleb Deweese. "They love to hit," Marmion coach Dan Thorpe said. His Cadets, led by Chicago Catholic League Green co-offensive player of the year Luke Juriga at offensive guard and all-conference linebackers Wade Gunderson and Lucas Warren, are no shrinking violets. Last week against Montini the Cadets got a little dinged, tight end Reilly Dougherty lost to a knee injury and both quarterback Rusty Joyce (out) and defensive end Malcolm Confer (questionable) nicked. In came junior quarterback John Tate with some wheels, scrambling for 39 yards. Marmion certainly will want to sideline DeKalb's offense with the odd play-action pass among repeated Wing-T run plays to Jordan Glasgow, Nate Traxler and Warren, who heads the trio with 592 yards, 12 touchdowns. Against Montini penalties took away four first downs. "It can come down to one play," Thorpe said. "That's what the kids have to realize."

Advancement: The winner advances to a Class 6A second-round game against the winner between No. 10 Hinsdale South (7-2) and No. 7 Crystal Lake Central (7-2).

Class 7A

No. 9 St. Charles North (7-2)

at No. 8 Rolling Meadows (7-2)

Game time: 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Last week: St. Charles North 41, Elgin 12; Hersey 48, Rolling Meadows 6.

Outlook: Though St. Charles North plays in the Upstate Eight Conference's River Division and Rolling Meadows is out of the Mid-Suburban East, there may not be many secrets between these two. St. Charles North coach Rob Pomazak would seemingly still have material on the Mustangs from six years as Elk Grove defensive coordinator before arriving at SCN in 2013. (Winless Elk Grove was the sole common foe between the two, the North Starts winning 13-2, Meadows 28-21.) While St. Charles North returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2009, Rolling Meadows makes its fourth straight appearance and its 11th in 12 seasons. The Mustangs earned the higher seed due to opponents combining for seven more wins than St. Charles North's foes. Unlike St. Charles North, which took its sole losses to 8-1 Batavia and Geneva, Rolling Meadows doesn't enter the playoffs with momentum. But in addition to returning offensive tackle Greg Off from injury, coach Matt Mishler also brings back starting quarterback R.J. Mattucci, who has run for 645 yards and passed for 882 yards and 9 touchdowns in seven games. He'll team with Antonio Atencio, who combined for about 300 yards rushing in Weeks 6-7, to head the ground attack. Attack they must for St. Charles North has allowed an average of 10.4 points, lowest in all of Class 7A. While the North Stars ground game of Eric Lins and Dom Sidari has gelled and scampering quarterback Nathan Didier keeps teams honest by completing 59 percent of his passes, the defense has been stalwart all season. From defensive end Jordan Bergren's speed off the edge to Jake Spaniol in the secondary opponents have had difficulty finding a weakness.

Advancement: The winner advances to a Class 7A second-round game against the winner between No. 16 Niles North (5-4) and No. 1 Cary-Grove (9-0).

No. 13 Hersey (6-3)

at No. 4 Geneva (8-1)

Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Last week: Hersey 48, Rolling Meadows 6; Geneva 42, Larkin 6.

Outlook: Though Hersey beat Rolling Meadows in Week 9 to forge a tie atop the Mid-Suburban East, and allowed 85 less points than the Mustangs, Hersey earned a lower seed. One reason was a 10-9 Week 2 loss to 4-5 Hoffman Estates, which helped serve up a 1-2 start. Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said when the chips are down the ball is in the hands of Hersey's Joe Caputo, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound tailback and outside linebacker who has run for 393 yards and 6 touchdowns. The spread offense also features backs Jordan Edwards and Bryan Castaneda plus quarterback Eric Portenlanger, completing 82 of 143 passes (57 percent) for 1,107 yards, 13 touchdowns, 3 interceptions. Cole Monckton offers a team-high 37 catches for 652 yards and 9 touchdowns and leads the Huskies' 3-5 defense with 5 interceptions, 11 other passes defended. Against this spread-prevent defense, which Wicinski and the Vikings have seen variations of, the coach seeks to remain simple whether that's Geneva receiver Pace Temple in the flats and below the deep cover secondary, or tailback Justin Taormina following tackles Loudon Vollbrecht and Ben Baker. Wicinski seeks simplicity because he remembers the 6 turnovers that doomed the Vikings this season against Batavia and in last year's playoff game against St. Patrick. Bolstering both sides of the ball are receiver Ryan Skibinski, defensive back Donny Friedel and linebacker Jack Bodine back from injury. Skibinski will supply another target for Vikings quarterback Daniel Santacaterina, who has completed 122 of 210 passes (58 percent) for 1,940 yards, 18 touchdowns, 11 interceptions. "We've got to be patient and take what they give us," Wicinski said.

Advancement: The winner advances to a Class 7A second-round game against the winner between No. 12 Rockford Auburn (6-3) and No. 5 Rockton Hononegah (8-1).

No. 14 Mt. Carmel (5-4)

at No. 3 Batavia (8-1)

Game time: 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Last week: Batavia 40, Streamwood 7; Mt. Carmel 10, Loyola 7.

Outlook: The defending Class 7A champion visits the defending Class 6A champion. "This is going to be great," said Batavia coach Dennis Piron. On the scoreboard that depends on the Bulldogs' ability to handle Caravan coach Frank Lenti's veer option, which did just enough last week to get in for a 29th straight year. When Mt. Carmel's option gels in its singular, shell-game style it's a beautiful, lethal weapon, hiding players like all-Chicago Catholic League Blue back A.J. Lewis, Anthony Reis and quarterback Anthony Thompson behind college-ready linemen such as 6-foot-3, 291 linemen like Jack White. The Caravan has run for 2,338 yards this season yet Piron will stack his defensive front four of Noah Frazier, Josh Leonhard, Jake Birkhaug and Jon Wall up against anyone. "We feel really good about the physical matchup of the game," Piron said. He seconds that on Batavia's offensive line, where Patrick Gamble, Jack Breshears, Mitch Krusz, Zach Sims, Zach Tate and Brandon Parker must deal with shifting fronts from 3- to 4- to 5-man featuring 267-pound tackle DeAndre Greer in front of all-CCL Blue linebacker Andrew Guerra. The deal is offensive balance, as usual, provided on the ground by Batavia backs Blake Crowder, now a little healthier, and Zach Garrett, up to 783 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. Piron figures to go mainly with quarterback Kyle Niemiec but senior Evan Acosta may get some snaps. They've combined to complete 133 of 214 passes (62 percent) for 1,467 yards, 10 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, most to the combo of Canaan Coffey and Peyton Piron. In 2011 Batavia reached the 6A semifinals; in 2012 it got moved to 7A and at 9-0 was eliminated in the first round by Downers Grove North. "I don't frankly feel that plays much of a role," Piron said.

Advancement: The winner advances to a Class 7A second-round game against the winner between No. 11 Belleville West (6-3) and No. 6 Bradley-Bourbonnais (7-2).

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