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Football: Scouting Round 1 playoffs, Lake County

By Joe Aguilar and Patricia Babcock McGraw

jaguilar@dailyherald.com and pbabcock@dailyherald.com

CLASS 8AWhen: 7 p.m., Friday

Last week: Lyons def. Proviso West, 42-20; Stevenson def. Libertyville, 34-14.

Winner plays: Winner of No. 9 Warren vs. No. 8 Loyola Academy.

Skinny: Lyons isn't your run-of-the-mill 5-4 team. "I think Lyons has got to be one of the best 5-4 teams in the entire field," Stevenson coach Bill McNamara said. "They played a lot of very good football teams this year. Actually, every single one of their losses are to teams that are now in the playoffs. And all of those games were competitive games." Lyons lost to four 8A playoff teams: Warren (17-14), Glenbard West (28-14), Hinsdale Central (37-23) and Oak Park-River Forest (49-35). "As a coach and as a top seed, it worries me to play a team like that in the first round," McNamara said. "But every time I get worried, I look at our guys and see how hard they're working at practice and it makes me feel better. We're pretty good, too. We're going to be a tough out if we play well and stay healthy. A team will have to play very well to beat us."…Lyons is hoping to get a big game out of running back Leonard Ross, a Miami of Ohio recruit who sees plenty of touches in a spread offense. "He's got good speed and good agility, yet he also has really good power," McNamara said of Ross. "He's a great combination back." Quarterback Tom Fiedler is an Ivy League recruit and will quickly take to the air when defenses start keying on Ross. "They're definitely not afraid to throw the ball," McNamara said. "And Fiedler is a good runner, too. He can make plays if he's in trouble."…Stevenson is trouble for opponents on many levels. The Patriots have a scary aerial assault between quarterback Willie Bourbon and wide receivers Jack Sorenson and Cameron Green. Running back Jack Joseph is the workhorse like Ross for Lyons. McNamara has also been impressed with the play of his special teams. "We've been getting good field position and that is a big part of playoff football," McNamara said. Meanwhile, the Stevenson defense has been solid all season, with three shutouts and an impressive 9.3 points allowed average. The Patriots have won their games by an average of 23.4 points per game.

- Patricia Babcock McGraw

No. 9 Warren (7-2) at No. 8 Loyola Academy (7-2)When: 12 noon, Saturday

Last week: Warren def. Zion-Benton, 42-0; Loyola lost to Mt. Carmel, 10-7.

Winner plays: Winner of No. 16 Lyons vs. No. 1 Stevenson.

Skinny: This might be the most brutal first round game in the state. "A lot of people have talked about us getting (such a tough first-round opponent), but I think (Loyola) got a tough draw, too," Warren coach Bryan McNulty said. "This should be a great game."…Warren is on a six-game winning streak after dropping two straight to New Trier and Stevenson early in the season. Loyola will be attempting to replicate last year's run to the Class 8A title game. The Ramblers knocked off Stevenson en route to DeKalb but lost to Naperville Central in the title game, 13-10…The low-scoring affair against Naperville Central is indicative of Loyola's defensive-oriented style. The Ramblers are allowing just 10.4 points per game, best in the Catholic Blue. "They do great things on defense. They're very disciplined," McNulty said. "They also use their special teams as a weapon. They've got a great long snapper and punter who will flip the field on you. They'll pin you deep in your own territory and then their defense gets really aggressive and they'll swarm you and try to get you to make mistakes and turn the ball over. Then they've got the ball in your territory." Looking to hold onto the ball, Warren will rely on the sure hands of running back Darrius Crump, who is averaging nearly 200 rushing yards per game. For balance, the Blue Devils, who are averaging 29.2 points per game, will mix in plenty of passing. Last week against Zion-Benton, quarterback Jay Nickell and wide receiver Caleb Reams, an Illinois recruit, connected for 2 touchdowns. Nickell also passed for a third touchdown…Meanwhile, the Warren defense, led by senior linebacker Nick Turner, will try to slow a Loyola offense that is averaging 31.1 points per game. Interestingly, the Ramblers are on their third-string quarterback. Aidan Walsh got his first start in a Week 8 victory (38-14) over St. Rita. He replaced backup Emmett Clifford (collarbone), who replaced starter D.J. Melsheimer (concussion). Walsh completed 11-of-19 passes for 104 yards in the St. Rita game. He also rushed for 90 yards. The Ramblers use multiple runners. Against St. Rita, Dara Laja had 108 yards on 20 carries while fullback Mark Nichol ran for 63 yards and 3 touchdowns.

- Patricia Babcock McGraw

CLASS 7ANo. 10 Carmel (6-3) at No. 7 Machesney Park Harlem (7-2)When: 1 p.m., Saturday

Last week: Carmel def. Notre Dame, 31-17; Harlem def. Guilford, 36-0.

Winner plays: Winner of No. 15 Fenwick vs. No. 2 Highland Park.

Skinny: Since 2001, Carmel has faced a team from the Rockford area five times in the playoffs. Head coach Andy Bitto feels like he's starting to get to know that area well. "We're familiar with their conference (the NIC-10) and we've learned what they like to do out there," Bitto said. "They're big up front and they run a spread offense. They've got very quick wide receivers and running backs. We're going to have to run the football and hang onto it and force them to play a long field. Our special teams will really play into that."…Harlem starts a sophomore at quarterback in Trent Willey. He's got plenty of options. Malik Lightfoot is a talented receiver who caught a 15-yard touchdown pass last week. (On defense, Lightfoot, also a cornerback, returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown.) Running backs Raymond Lee, Brenton Shaw and Taylor Hart were also active last week. Each had a touchdown and they rolled up more than 200 yards between them…One problem for Harlem has been a weakness with its run defense at times. In a Week 7 loss to Hononegah (49-14), the Huskies allowed 541 rushing yards. Of course, Carmel's biggest strength is running the ball out of its triple-option attack. Sophomore Rondel Jamison has been tough all season and is coming off another monster game. He rolled up 153 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns on 24 carries against Notre Dame. Quarterback Mike Huiras added 110 rushing yards on 14 carries…Statistically, Carmel and Harlem are similar in some categories. The Corsairs are scoring 28.3 points per game and allowing 19.2 points per game. Harlem scores 32.5 points per game and allows 19.1 points per game.

- Patricia Babcock McGraw

No. 11 Libertyville (6-3) at No. 6 Lincoln Park (7-2)When: 7 p.m. Saturday at Lane Stadium

Last week: Libertyville lost to Stevenson, 34-14; Lincoln Park def. Mather, 21-8.

Winner plays: Winner of No. 3 Addison Trail vs. No. 14 Lake Zurich

Skinny: Long bus rides to play a first-round playoff game have been the norm for Libertyville in recent years. The last time the Wildcats played a postseason game was two years ago, when they traveled to Machesney Park Harlem for Round 1. A win earned them a game against eventual Class 7A state champ Glenbard West. In both 2011 and 2008, Libertyville suffered first-round losses to host Rockford Boylan, which won state in the former season. This year's Wildcats are led by junior QB Riley Lees, who's put together an all-state-caliber season. Lees has rushed for 1,293 yards and 26 TDs and thrown for 1,079 yards and 6 scores. ... The Wildcats face a Lincoln Park team whose only losses are to 8-1 Chicago Curie and 7-2 Chicago Taft, which edged out the Lions for the Chicago Public Chicago Shoulders title. Lincoln Park has allowed only 141 points, 42 of which came against Curie. "Defensively, LP is big up front and are geared to stop the run," Libertyville coach Mike Jones said. "They play a 3-4 defense and prefer to play man to man in the secondary. They run to the ball well and like to put offenses behind the chains with big plays. We must stay out of negative plays and penalties to stay ahead of the chains." Offensively, Lincoln Park averages 20.3 points per game. "They run a multiple-offense type of package," Jones said. "They will be under center and run a power running game, or they will go into the gun and throw the ball more often. They are a big-play style offense. We must keep them in front of us and make them drive the entire field to score."

- Joe Aguilar

No. 14 Lake Zurich (5-4) at No. 3 Addison Trail (8-1)When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Last week: Lake Zurich def. Vernon Hills, 38-21; Addison Trail def. Willowbrook, 27-17.

Winner plays: Winner of No. 11 Libertyville vs. No. 6 Lincoln Park.

Skinny: Lake Zurich did what it had to do last Friday, beating Vernon Hills to earn an at-large berth into the postseason, though the Bears had to rally from a 21-18 deficit after three quarters. LZ outscored the Cougars 20-0 in the fourth, getting TDs from Trevor Staley (55-yard pass from Joey Lindstrom), Ben Klett (28-yard run) and Zach Hilt (3-yard run). Klett finished with 200 rushing yards and 3 TDs. He got the bulk of the carries with FB Zane Lodico out after getting hurt the previous week against Warren. Lodico (551 rushing yards), who was one of four LZ starters sidelined, has practiced all week. Klett leads the Bears' rushing attack with 585 yards and 6 TDs (11 overall). "With Lodico out, he had to pick up the slack, and he did exactly that," coach David Proffitt said. "I couldn't have been more pleased with his performance." ... Now, the Bears are in the state playoffs, where they have thrived. Since 2006, LZ is 26-7 in the postseason. Included are a state championship and three runner-up finishes, including last year. The Bears' 5 wins are their fewest in the regular season since a 5-5 campaign in 2005. "Surprisingly, we don't even mention (the team's past playoff success)," Proffitt said. "What I need to mention is the importance of us getting better as a football team. We relate that to life in itself. Every day you get up, you want to try to become a better person. There's no difference with a football team. To live off what's happened in the past, to me, is a recipe for failure." ... LZ faces a once-beaten Addison Trail team that won just two games last season. AT won the West Suburban Gold, going 6-0 and its 245 points scored and 111 points allowed were both the best in its division. The Blazers' only loss came in Week 8 to Glenbard West, which is 9-0. Addison Trail's defense is spearheaded by lineman Bobby Rinaldi and linebacker Eric Gilliam. AT's offense, playing without injured quarterback Mike Rybarczyk, received a boost from running back Mike Hundley's 300-yard effort last Friday against Willowbrook. Fellow running back Malik Pierre-Louis is expected to return from an injury. "Addison Trail has a very, very good defense and they have excellent skill players offensively," Proffitt said. "They're a No. 3 seed, and they should be. They're a very formidable opponent, and we're very respectful of them. They're extremely well-coached."

- Joe Aguilar

CLASS 6ANo. 11 Grayslake North (6-3) at No. 6 St. Francis (7-2)When: 6 p.m. Saturday

Last week: Grayslake North def. Woodstock North, 49-29; St. Francis def. Fenwick, 21-14.

Winner plays: Winner of No. 3 Lakes vs. No. 14 Prairie Ridge

Skinny: Grayslake North's victory at Woodstock North last Friday gave the Knights their second Fox Valley Fox Division championship in three seasons and clinched a third-straight postseason berth. But the Knights know what's been lacking during their run - a playoff win. They lost to Notre Dame (46-27) two years ago and Rolling Meadows (49-20) last season. The Knights face another tough Round-1 opponent Saturday night in Wheaton. "Really good defense, really good QB and solid everywhere else," Grayslake North coach Steve Wood said of the Spartans, who enter the postseason on a five-game winning streak. "They are not giants, but they are pretty quick. It's going to come down to who handles the adversity better: playoffs, weather, time of game, day of game." Grayslake North's Indiana-bound Titus Booker needs only 69 yards to reach 2,000 for the season. The senior RB was en route to hitting the milestone number last Friday night when he tweaked his left hamstring early in the second half and sat out the rest of the game. "Titus will be fine. He is taking it easy this week," Wood said. "We will have a bike on the sideline so he doesn't tighten up." St. Francis' defense - which includes Quinn Calcagno, Matt Hanson, Thomas Brundage and John Vargyas - has collected 29 turnovers while the Chicago Catholic League Green player of the year, quarterback Clint Bobowski, has 550 rushing and 1,643 passing yards. The Spartans have a special-teams weapon in Will Purdom, who averages 39.5 yards a punt. ... Grayslake North has won five of its last six games. Booker and QB Merrick Gentile lead on offense that averages 38.4 points per game. St. Francis averages 31.3 points per game and has allowed only 94.

- Joe Aguilar

No. 9 Chicago King (7-2) at No. 8 Antioch (7-2)When: 4 p.m. Saturday

Last week: King def. Dunbar, 8-0; Antioch def. Wauconda, 33-21.

Winner plays: Winner of No. 1 Nazareth Academy vs. No. 16 Rockford Boylan

Skinny: The good news for Antioch is that it is expected to have junior RB Griffin Hill back Saturday. Hill (752 rushing yards, 21 TDs) sat out last Friday's game against Wauconda after suffering a mild knee sprain the previous week against Lakes. "Griffin is good to go," Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. "He could have played vs. Wauconda, but I chose to sit him and have him rest." Hill, FB Alan Taylor, QB David Meade and RB Jacob Lanahan are the key skilled-position players in the Sequoits' option attack. King ended the regular season with back-to-back shutouts of Dunbar and Brooks. The Jaguars have given up just 116 points this season. "They are very large on their defensive front - as big as we've seen," Glashagel said. "Their middle linebacker is about 240 pounds, so we have our hands full upfront. Their two defensive tackles are about 280 pounds apiece." Offensively, King averages 31.3 points per game. "As for every team at this point, they have some players," Glashagel said. "Some things that stand out about them is their skilled players. They have a very nice backfield with a lot of speed. Our defense will have to rally to the ball because any one of their backs, including their QB, can take it to the house on any play." King is making its sixth straight appearance in the state playoffs and eighth in nine years under longtime coach Lonnie Williams. "As far as Chicago schools go," Glashagel said, "they've been one of the best programs." Antioch is in the playoffs for the fifth time in Glashagel's eight seasons.

- Joe Aguilar

No. 14 Prairie Ridge (6-3) at No. 3 Lakes (8-1) When: 7 p.m., Friday

Last week: Prairie Ridge lost to Crete-Monee, 7-0; Lakes def. North Chicago, 52-0.

Winner plays: Winner of No. 11 Grayslake North vs. No. 6 Wheaton St. Francis.

Skinny: This looks familiar, which it is, of course. Prairie Ridge and Lakes squared off in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs last year. That game was at Lakes, too. This time, though, Lakes wouldn't mind a different outcome. Last year, the higher-seeded Eagles were upset by Prairie Ridge, 21-14. "We had a feeling that this matchup was a good possibility again," Lakes coach Luke Mertens said. "After what happened last year, we are well aware of the challenge." Prairie Ridge had tremendous success running out of its triple option last year. All 59 plays that Prairie Ridge ran on offense were running plays. Not a single passing play. "They controlled the ball last year," Mertens said. "The No. 1 thing we have to do is play great run defense. Our defense has done a great job of that this year." The Eagles have been extremely stingy this season. They allow just 11.3 points per game, best in the North Suburban Prairie. "The challenge with (Prairie Ridge) is that there's not just one guy you can key on," Mertens said. "They've got multiple guys who can hurt you any time they touch the ball. And they can throw the ball if they need to. They can get you with the play-action pass. They run, run, run and they get you so geeked up to stop the run, that's when they hit you with a pass." Running backs Nathan Griffin, Emmanuel Ebirim, Cole Brown and Brent Anderson all find their way into the rotation for the Wolves. Quarterback Brett Covalt, who guided Prairie Ridge to victory over Lakes last year, is also a dangerous runner. "They'll do whatever works on offense," Mertens said. "If we can't stop the run, they'll keep running and running it."…Lakes uses multiple running backs, too. It's been a necessity this year as injuries have wreaked havoc on the Eagles' backfield. Lakes has started five different running backs this season and has used at least 10 different players in the backfield rotation. Starter Devyn Cedzidlo is still out with a leg injury. Izayah James and Cameron Ruiz have also been hurt throughout the season, but should be ready to play at full speed against Prairie Ridge. Lucas Kuzmanovich will likely also get some carries and utility player Jacob Balliu, who is best at catching passes, could also come out of the backfield. Balliu is a top target for quarterback Jordan Mercure, who has stayed healthy and consistent all season. "He's had a great year," Mertens said of Mercure, who passed for 2 touchdowns (both to Balliu) and ran for another last week against North Chicago. Despite all of the shifting of players on offense, Lakes still managed to average 44.4 points per game, best in the North Suburban Prairie. The Eagles have won four straight games since losing to Stevenson (21-3) in Week 5.

- Patricia Babcock McGraw

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