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Scouting Week 3 in Lake County

By Joe Aguilar and Bill McLean

jaguilar@dailyherald.com

Antioch (1-1, 0-0) at Grayslake North (1-1, 0-0)

When: 7:15 p.m., Friday

Last week: Antioch defeated Woodstock North, 26-0; Grayslake North lost to Deerfield, 28-6.

Last year: Antioch defeated Grayslake North, 29-8.

Outlook: Happy Paraskevidekatriaphobia Day! Unless you're afflicted with the condition also known as Fear of Friday the 13th. Antioch's football team heads to Grayslake North on this ominous day (for some) with its frighteningly good 21-0 record in Northern Lake County Conference play since the consortium was born three years ago. It's a conference opener for both schools. "I reminded my players that Grayslake North has won six of its last seven games (dating back to Week 5 in 2018)," Sequoits coach Brian Glashagel said after practice Tuesday. "You watch that team on film, and it's a better team than it was a year ago." Antioch topped GLN 29-8 a year ago but led only 8-0 at the half. "We battled," Knights third-year coach Sam Baker recalled, adding Antioch ran 77 plays to his crew's 41. "We're expecting another hard-fought game. It should be physical. Our 'D' is pretty stout, and we have the ability to be explosive offensively." ... Grayslake North turned the ball over six times in last weekend's 28-6 loss to Deerfield, as the Knights lost for the first time since falling by a basketball-ish score of 55-44 to Lakes in Week 4 last fall. "Ball security," Baker said of what he and his staff stressed in practice this week. North's first possession against Deerfield's Warriors resulted in a 12-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Nick Fish. The Knights' 'D' - paced by senior cornerback Nathan Staley and linebackers Dimitri Cannon, Zaire Knight and Tayo Oladunmoye - limited Deerfield to 33 rushing yards on 35 carries. ... Antioch junior QB Athan Kaliakmanis, a Minnesota recruit who suffered a back injury in Week 1, didn't start in last weekend's 26-0 defeat of visiting Woodstock North (1-1), but he rushed for a 65-yard touchdown in the second half. "He is never out of a play, the way he moves." Baker said. "Scary. He can be scary with the ball in his hand. And his off-schedule throws are unbelievable." ... Senior inside linebacker Ryan Shaputis and senior lineman Elkanah Gahima were named the Sequoits' co-Defensive Players of the Week after host Antioch silenced the Thunder's offense last week. Shaputis amassed 12 tackles, including 3 for loss. Two of Gahima's stops took place behind the line of scrimmage. Glashagel also lauded junior safety Ethan Holmes' effort (at least 5 tackles). "Woodstock North is a very good team," Glashagel said. "That shutout? That was legit. Woodstock North, seriously, would be a fine team in our conference." ... Fearsome threesome: Antioch went 7-0 in the NLCC last fall, ahead of Lakes (6-1) and Grayslake North (5-2). Each school finished in the same order in each of the 2017 and '16 seasons - with identical first-, second- and third-place conference records. ... A Grayslake North win would not only halt Antioch's winning streak in NLCC games at 21; it would also be the Knights' first defeat of a Sequoits squad in program history. ... Antioch's 10-7 loss to Lake Forest in Week 1 was the Sequoits' first regular-season setback since 2015. ... The last three scores in the Antioch-Grayslake North series: Antioch, 29-8 (2018); Antioch, 14-7 (2017); Antioch, 25-20 (2016).

NONCONFERENCE

Vernon Hills (2-0) at Elk Grove (0-2)

When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Vernon Hills def. Waukegan, 44-0; Elk Grove lost to Conant, 21-6.

Last year: Did not play.

Outlook: Vernon Hills outscored its first two opponents 87-0. Like last year, the Cougars are 2-0. A win against Elk Grove matches their win total from last season. QB Thomas Monken has completed 27 of 43 passes for 408 yards and 3 TDs. RB Ryan Mann has rushed for 230 yards (nearly 8 yards per carry) and 5 TDs. WR Jake Pieper has caught 3 TD passes. ... Ian Ridge continues to shine for Elk Grove. The junior has gained 226 yards this season and is averaging 9.8 yards per carry.

DePaul Prep (2-0) at Carmel (0-2)When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: DePaul def. Sullivan, 32-12; Carmel lost to St. Charles East, 33-28

Last year: Did not play.

Outlook: Carmel has played a pair of tightly contested games but does not have a win to show for it. Corsairs RB Syone Usma-Harper is off to a terrific start (433 rushing yards, 8.7 per carry, 5 TDs). ... DePaul Prep, which went 0-10 last year, has started with road wins over Roosevelt (48-6) and Sullivan (32-12) at Winnemac Stadium.

New Trier (1-1) at Barrington (1-1)When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Last week: New Trier lost to Loyola 34-3; Barrington beat Buffalo Grove 42-0

Last year: Did not play

Outlook: Barrington is coming of its 500th win in school history. It was a Bronco offense that fired on all cylinders last week, led by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick who threw for 184 yards and rushed for 53 yards. The Barrington defense was also superb. Led by Dayven Shinhoster and Lukas Van Ness, the Broncos allowed just 4 rushing yards. They have allowed only 16 points this season. New Trier looks to get its offense back on track. The Trevians have scored just 23 points in their two games.

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY

Round Lake (1-1, 0-0) at Grant (2-0, 0-0)

When: 7:15 p.m., Friday

Last week: Round Lake def. Maine East, 16-13; Grant def. Stagg, 33-0.

Last year: Grant def. Round Lake, 32-6.

Outlook: Round Lake got its first win for new coach Scott Blecha last Friday night, as QB Isaiah Nixon rushed 10 times for 89 yards and a TD. Jamariel Brown had a 49-yard TD run. ... Grant's shutout of Stagg in Palos Heights last Friday night included 160 passing yards from QB Tyler Elfering and 114 receiving yards from Ben Jensen. John Bolton and Ethan Geist had interceptions. ... A win by Grant will match its 2018 win total. A win by Round Lake will better its 2018 win total.

Grayslake Cent. (0-2, 0-0) at Wauconda (0-2, 0-0)When: 7:15 p.m., Friday

Last week: Grayslake Central lost to Mundelein, 31-13; Wauconda lost to Riverside-Brookfield, 26-21.

Last year: Wauconda def. Round Lake, 35-7.

Outlook: Both teams are looking for their first win of the season. Grayslake Central, which was shut out by Vernon Hills in its opener, received TDs from Maurice Edwards (rushing) and Jonas Sjodin (receiving) against Mundelein. ... Wauconda QB Nick Bulgarelli has completed 56 percent of his 43 passes for 321 yards and 2 TDs and has also rushed for a team-best 189 yards (6.8 per carry) ad 3 TDs. LB Aidan Stephan has a team-best 17 tackles (12 solo), including 5 TFLs.

Lakes (1-1, 0-0) at North Chicago (0-2, 0-0)When: 7:15 p.m., Friday

Last week: Lakes def. Highland Park, 28-0; North Chicago lost to Zion-Benton, 32-16.

Last year: Lakes def. North Chicago, 49-20.

Outlook: The Eagles rebounded from their season-opening, 27-24 loss to Highland Park with a big effort in their home opener. LB Jake Magad led the defensive effort with 10 tackles (5 solos) 1 sack and 1 forced fumble. The Eagles have produced 8 turnovers in their first two games.

NORTH SUBURBAN

Libertyville (1-1, 0-0) at Stevenson (0-2, 0-0)When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Libertyville lost to Waubonsie Valley, 40-20; Stevenson lost to Neuqua Valley, 28-21.

Last year: Stevenson def. Libertyville, 28-0.

Outlook: QB Blake Ellingson has been Libertyville's No. 1 offensive weapon with 4 TD passes and 3 rushing TDs through 2 games. ... Stevenson QB Justin Hiller threw a TD pass and rushed for one against Neuqua Valley last Friday. WR Jayden McFadden had 5 catches for 69 yards before suffering an injury late in the first half and not returning. ... The Patriots are 0-2 for the first time since 2013 (losses to Kenosha Indian Trail and Homewood-Flossmoor). They then won their next 10 games en route to the Class 8A semifinals. Stevenson hasn't started 0-3 since 2007.

Lake Forest (1-1, 0-0) at Mundelein (1-1, 0-0)When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Lake Forest lost to Wheaton North, 23-7; Mundelein def. Grayslake Central, 31-13.

Last year: Lake Forest def. Mundelein, 39-12.

Outlook: Lake Forest's Notre Dame-bound DL Rylie Mills left last Friday's game at Wheaton North with an injury early in the second quarter, did not return and left the stadium on crutches. ... Mundelein RB Shawn Patrick rushed 23 times for a career-best 238 yards and 4 TDs against Grayslake Central last Friday. The win was the first for Mustangs first-year coach Vince DeFrancesco.

Lake Zurich (0-2, 0-0) at Zion-Benton (1-1, 0-0)When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Lake Zurich lost to Marist, 24-17, OT; Zion-Benton def. North Chicago, 32-16.

Last year: Lake Zurich def. Zion-Benton, 23-0.

Outlook: Lake Zurich is looking to avoid its first 0-3 start since 2015, when the Bears finished 4-5 and missed the state playoffs. LZ had a pair of 100-yard rushers against Marist last Friday in QB Jack Moses (19-121 yards) and RB Jack Dwyer (21-105, 2 TDs). ... Zion-Benton got its first win under new coach Cristo Garza last Friday against North Chicago. The Zee-Bees boast one of the best running backs in Lake County in four-year varsity starter Jordan Chisum. It's Z-B's home opener.

Warren (2-0, 0-0) at Waukegan (0-2, 0-0)When: 1:30 p.m., Saturday

Last week: Warren def. Glenbard North, 26-6; Waukegan lost to Vernon Hills, 44-0.

Last year: Warren def. Waukegan, 49-0.

Outlook: Warren, ranked fourth in the AP Poll in Class 8A, has put together a pair of dominating defensive performances to start the season. Against Glenbard North, the Blue Devils got interceptions from Josh Turner and Jaden Gregerson, 10 tackles from Noah Galuska and 4 TFLs and 2 sacks from Willis Singleton. Offensively, RB Derrick McLaughlin rushed 24 times for 167 yards and 2 TDs. Christian Phillips rushed for a TD and caught a TD pass from Phil Hird.

- Compiled by Joe Aguilar and Dick Quagliano

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