Week 2: Scouting the Fox Valley Conference
Jacobs (1-0, 1-0) at Dundee-Crown (0-1, 0-1)
Fox Valley Conference
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
Last year: Jacobs 14, Dundee-Crown 0
Last week: Huntley 30, Jacobs 27; Prairie Ridge 7, Cary-Grove 6
Outlook: This is the 35th meeting in this District 300 rivalry, a series Jacobs leads 18-16. D-C owned the series early on, but the Golden Eagles have won the last 14 meetings, including last year's 14-0 decision. Jacobs lost a classic battle against a good Huntley team in the opener. "It was unfortunate someone had to lose because both teams played really well," Jacobs coach Bill Mitz. "Traditionally, good teams make the most progress between Week 1 and Week 2. We've had some success against (Dundee-Crown), no doubt, but we're going to their place and we know this is the game for them." The Chargers unveiled 6-foot-4 junior quarterback Josh Raby last week. In a loss at Hampshire, Raby completed 12 of 22 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. A D-C offense that gained 267 total yards last week goes up against a Jacobs defense led by lineman Eric Schutt (6-4, 230). "They've got a great line and their defensive backs fly around so we have to be ready to play fast," D-C coach Mike Steinhaus said. "Offensively, they like to ground and pound and show how physical they are. We like to think we're physical, too, so it should be a fun game."
Next week: Crystal Lake South (0-1) at Jacobs; Huntley (1-0) at Dundee-Crown
Prairie Ridge (1-0, 1-0) at Huntley (1-0, 1-0)
Fox Valley Conference
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday.
Last year: Prairie Ridge 31, Huntley 20
Last week: Huntley 30, Jacobs 27; Prairie Ridge 7, Cary-Grove 6
Outlook: This is one of the more important games on the Fox Valley Conference schedule this season. Prairie Ridge is the defending Class 6A champion and ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press poll. Huntley made it to the Class 8A quarterfinals a year ago. The Red Raiders are ranked No. 8 in 8A. Both are led by athletic, mobile quarterbacks. Iowa-bound senior Samson Evans directed PR to a 17-0 lead in last year's meeting and Huntley couldn't catch up. Evans rushed for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns and threw for another. Huntley senior quarterback Eric Mooney runs a sub-4.5 40-yard dash and has 12 college offers. Last year against the Wolves he completed 21 of 36 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown and he ran for 53 yards and a TD. Last week Mooney scored on a 1-yard run with 7 seconds left to pull out a win at Jacobs. "We have to be ready in all three phases right from the start," Huntley coach Matt Zimolzak said. "Last week our special teams struggled a bit, the defense had to make adjustments at halftime and the offense turned the ball over early. We have to compete against (PR) just as well as Cary-Grove did and maybe pull out a better ending."
Next week: Crystal Lake Central (1-0) at Prairie Ridge; Huntley at Dundee-Crown (0-1)
Hampshire (1-0) at Burlington Central (0-1)
Nonconference
Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
Last year: Hampshire 54, Burlington Central 14
Last week: Hampshire 28, Dundee-Crown 14; Byron 35, Burlington Central 14
Outlook: This is the last time these longtime northern Kane County rivals square off for at least two years because bye weeks in their respective conferences don't match up. Hampshire will instead play Normal West; Central has not yet finalized a contract with another opponent, athletic director Steve Diversey said. New Hampshire quarterback, 6-foot-5 senior Drew Dalby, completed 21 of 25 attempts for 273 yards and 4 touchdowns in his starting debut. His top receivers were Devin Baldridge (5 rec., 61 yards, 2 TD) and Nicolas Rummell (6 rec., 136 yards, TD). "They spread you out and run you all over the place," Central coach Brian Melvin said. "(Baldridge) and (Rummell) are pretty good. We'll have to know where they're at on the field." Central will likely be without senior linebacker Ryan Doubek, whose season could be in jeopardy due to a broken hand, coach Brian Melvin said. Doubek suffered the injury on the second play of the Byron game but didn't tell anyone. He played through it and made 16 solo tackles, an interception and recovered a fumble.
Next week: Cary-Grove (0-1) at Hampshire; Rockford Lutheran (0-1) at Burlington Central
McHenry (1-0) at Cary-Grove (0-1)Game time: 7 p.m. Friday at Al Bohrer Field
The quick hit: Cary-Grove's Max Skol is a punishing ball carrier at fullback and on kick returns. Junior Braden Crowley scored 3 touchdowns in McHenry's 50-13 blowout of Crystal Lake South. The Trojans won last year's matchup 42-14.
Crystal Lake Central (1-0) at Crystal Lake South (0-1)Game time: 7 p.m. Friday at Ken Bruhn Field
The quick hit: Central won this cross-town rivalry game 27-19 a year ago. The Gators look for their first win under coach Rob Fontana in their home debut.