Scouting Week 3, Lake County
EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLICMarist RedHawks (1-1) at Carmel Corsairs (1-1)When: 7:30 p.m., today
Last week: Marist def. Simeon, 24-14; Carmel lost to DeKalb, 38-10.
Skinny: The Corsairs were out-gained by nearly 100 yards last week against DeKalb and star running back Rondel Jamison was limited 71 yards on 19 carries. Carmel will be looking to get him more touches and better holes this week … Carmel will likely regain the services of starting quarterback Jeremy Strutzel, who was out last week due to an injured shoulder. Junior backup Miles Tramill started instead … Marist quarterback Morgan Taylor was 10-for-15 for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns against Simeon last week. He had 7 carries for 60 yards. Junior running back Delonte Harrell had a 3-yard rushing touchdown and a 13-yard touchdown catch.
CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTHVernon Hills Cougars (2-0) at Wheeling Wildcats (0-2)When: 7:30 p.m., today
Last week: Vernon Hills def. Zion-Benton, 29-21; Wheeling lost to Schaumburg, 35-34.
Skinny: Vernon Hills discovered that its kicking game is a strength. What Vernon Hills lacked in yardage last week against Zion-Benton, it made up for in field goals. The Cougars, who were out-gained 342 yards to 254 yards, got 2 clutch field goals from Andre Szmyt, one a 47-yarder, to keep Zion-Benton at arm's length … Backup quarterback Jack Himel started his second straight game for starter Kyle Hull. Himel completed 13-of-25 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown. His favorite target was Drew Winegardner, who caught 8 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown … Wheeling is getting off to another slow start. The Wildcats were 0-5 to start last season before winning its last four games. Last week's loss to Schaumburg was tough to swallow, a back-and-forth affair that essentially came down to which offense had the ball last. Quarterback Jalen Dennis was a one-man wrecking crew for Wheeling. He rushed for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns on 15 carries and completed 12-of-20 passes for 215 yards and 2 additional touchdowns. His favorite target was Johnny Kappel, who hauled in 5 catches for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns.
NORTH SUBURBAN Warren Blue Devils (0-2) at Libertyville Wildcats (1-1)When: 7:30 p.m., today
Last week: Warren lost to New Trier, 37-14; Libertyville lost to Batavia, 34-31 3OT.
Skinny: These two conference powers and playoff teams from 2015 are licking their wounds after tough losses in Week 2 … It took three overtimes for Batavia to edge Libertyville. Libertyville had a field goal blocked in the third overtime and Batavia made its field goal. Both teams rolled up around 300 yards of offense … Running back Jason Tse led Libertyville with 136 rushing yards while quarterback Jack Ruskell completed 10 of 16 passes for 193 yards, despite losing wide receiver Brandon Rule to an apparent knee injury in the first quarter. …Warren got hammered by a New Trier team that nearly doubled-up its advantage in overall yardage, 473 to 242. New Trier's yardage was almost perfectly divided between the run and the pass …Warren quarterback Luke Schmitt completed 8-of-18 passes for 131 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown pass to Jalin Tolbert. Tolbert finished with 4 catches for 100 yards.
Lake Forest Scouts (2-0) at Stevenson Patriots (1-1)When: 7:30 p.m., today
Last week: Lake Forest def. Niles North, 29-26 OT; Stevenson def. Muskegon (Mich.), 38-35.
Skinny: Stevenson returned home from Michigan last week all smiles. Not only were the Patriots back on the winning track, they got a victory over one of the best teams in Michigan. Muskegon is ranked No. 2 in the state polls there. Quarterback Aiden O'Connell had a big day for Stevenson. He completed 36-of-51 passes for 440 yards and 4 touchdowns, and connected with eight different receivers. Henry Marchese (13 receptions, 140 yards, 3 touchdowns) and Anthony Sibo (10 receptions, 150 yards, 1 touchdown) were O'Connell's favorite targets…Lake Forest sits atop the North Suburban Conference standings, the only team with a 2-0 record. It took overtime last week, though, for the Scouts to preserve their perfect record. Quarterback Charlie Reinkemeyer completed 16-of-28 passes for 162 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown to Ryan Cekay (3 catches, 58 yards). Running back Evan Swint rolled up 99 yards on 18 carries and also ran in a touchdown.
Lake Zurich Bears (1-1) at Waukegan Bulldogs (1-1)When: 1:30 p.m., Saturday
Last week: Lake Zurich lost to Montini, 19-7; Waukegan lost to West Aurora, 40-2.
Skinny: This is Waukegan's first game in the North Suburban Conference and it will be hosting a game in which both teams are hungry. After wins in Week 1, Lake Zurich and the Bulldogs are coming off of losses … Lake Zurich's loss was particularly painful. "That was about as tough a loss as we've ever had," Lake Zurich coach Dave Proffitt said after the game. "We just played outstanding (in the first half), but as I just told the kids, it was only 7-6. We haven't learned how to finish. Even (in Week 1), we were very fortunate to win. We played about the same last week. We just don't finish the deal." … Lake Zurich certainly isn't at full strength as senior running back Kyle Roth will be out the rest of the season with a knee injury. He tore an ACL last week the first time he touched the ball. Joey Stutzman got most of the carries in place of Roth. He finished with 91 yards on 20 carries, and a first-quarter touchdown catch … Jalin Bey-McKie, a cornerback, receiver and kick returner, was a bright spot for Waukegan. He had more than 100 total yards himself against West Aurora, between rushing yards, receiving yards and kickoff returns. The Bulldogs' defense had a tough time against the run and allowed West Aurora to roll up more than 300 rushing yards.
Zion-Benton Zee-Bees (1-1) at Mundelein Mustangs (1-1)When: 7:30 p.m., today
Last week: Zion-Benton lost to Vernon Hills, 29-21; Mundelein def. Elgin, 17-14.
Skinny: Mundelein is coming off of an emotional victory last week against Elgin. It took a 30-yard field goal by Abram Nazario with 21 seconds left to seal the deal. "Any time you have to win a close one it builds resilience and it gives you confidence for the next game," Mundelein coach Larry Calhoun said … Mundelein set up its winning field goal with a drive that began on its own 43-yard-line with about three minutes left. Running back Aaron Woolford (121 yards on 17 carries) made some big plays on the drive. Quarterback Anthony Norris completed 8-of-18 passes for 82 yards on the day … Zion-Benton rolled up 342 yards of offense last week against Vernon Hills. TJ Brister was a beast on the ground, rushing for 172 yards, including one sprint downfield for 71 yards and a touchdown.
NORTHERN LAKE COUNTYWauconda Bulldogs (1-1) at Antioch Sequoits (2-0)When: 7:15 p.m., today
Last week: Wauconda lost to Riverside-Brookfield, 21-20; Antioch def. Moline, 49-28.
Skinny: While Wauconda is coming off a squeaker last week, Antioch has had nothing but blowout wins so far this season. The Sequoits, who haven't played a team from the Chicago area yet (Week 1 was a win over Tremper of Wisconsin), boast an average margin of victory of 23.5 points per game … Against Moline, junior running back Hunter Price rushed for 254 yards on 13 carries and returned a kickoff 80 yards. He scored 3 touchdowns for Antioch … Running backs Tyler Stankiewicz and Jacob Bicknase have given Wauconda a potent one-two punch on the ground.
Grayslake Central Rams (0-2) at Grant Bulldogs (0-2)When: 7:15 p.m., today
Last week: Grayslake Central lost to Deerfield, 40-6; Grant lost to Glenbrook North, 42-13.
Skinny: One of these struggling programs is finally going to get a win. Although, Grayslake Central is in a more dire position than Grant. The Rams are 0-21 in their last 21 games and haven't won since the 2013 season. Grant went 2-7 last year … Grayslake Central got handled last week but is playing a lot of young players who are pushing the learning curve with every game. Grant is hoping to balance its running game, which got 87 yards on 19 carries out of Kenyon Jones last week, with more passing out of sophomore quarterback Matt McGraw.
Grayslake North Knights (2-0) at Lakes Eagles (0-2)When: 7:15 p.m., today
Last week: Grayslake North def. Sycamore, 27-20; Lakes lost to Highland Park, 55-12.
Skinny: This is a rivalry game in that there is a shared middle school between these two programs. Kids from both teams have grown up playing together. Add in the fact that Grayslake North and Lakes have been two of the better programs in northern Lake County over the last few years and this game (in the past a nonconference game) always makes for interesting viewing … Grayslake North got some clutch kicking last week out of David Perez. He hit 2 field goals against Sycamore, from 32 and 39 yards. Offensively, running back Griffin Gawenda rolled up a game-high 118 yards on 23 carries. He also scored 2 touchdowns for the Knights … Lakes took a big blow against Highland Park and turnovers were a problem. The Eagles rolled up 5 turnovers, all on interceptions…Cameron Ruiz was a bright spot for Lakes. The senior running back finished with 142 yards on 11 carries and scored both of the Eagles' touchdowns.
Round Lake Panthers (0-2) at North Chicago Warhawks (1-1)When: 7:15 p.m., today
Last week: Round Lake lost to Woodstock North, 48-7; North Chicago def. Chicago Robeson, 41-0.
Skinny: Round Lake scored on its opening possession last week but couldn't keep the lead, and Woodstock North rolled to a victory. Turnovers, some injuries and three empty possessions in the red zone hurt Round Lake. But head coach Cristo Garza says his team is resilient and will be ready for its next challenge … Darrius Calhoun (5 catches, 53 yards) scored the Panthers' only touchdown last week, a 22-yard pass from quarterback Alex Larson.