Scouting Week 1 Fox football games
Glenbard East at Larkin
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Last matchup: Glenbard East won, 28-0, last year.
About the Rams: Coach John Walters' squad returns 5 defensive and 7 offensive starters from a team that placed second in the Upstate Eight Conference and reached the state playoffs for the fourth consecutive full season. The list of returnees includes 3 all-conference players - LBs Augustus Winkler and Blake Salvino, and Division 1 secondary recruit Eric McClain. Salvino also saw limited time at quarterback last season. Glenbard East's defense recorded 5 shutouts in 10 games a year ago.
About the Royals: Larkin has a new coach, Vincent Ray, who inherits a team that welcomes back all-UEC players Erick Myrick (WR/DB), Jalen Miller (RB/LB), and Kevin Malone (RB/LB) from last year's Class 8A state qualifier. The Royals have reached postseason play in back-to-back seasons - the first time that has happened since 2002-2003. Junior Tizairan Johnson-Williams gets the call at quarterback. What thoughts does Ray expect to be going through his mind prior to his head coaching debut? "Hard work and dedication truly pay off," said Ray. "That I'm proud of how these young men and women sacrificed all summer and finally get a chance to enjoy the fruits of their labor." Ray wants his team to play smart, fast, and tough, which will be imperative against an experienced Rams squad.
Streamwood at Bartlett
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Last matchup: Bartlett won, 14-10, last year.
About the Sabres: Seniors Taro Ishikawa (RB/S), Oscar Villapando (TE/DB), and Bob Crumlett (OL/DL) return for coach Keith McMaster's squad, which has played Bartlett extremely tough the past couple seasons and would love to spoil the Hawks' home opener.
About the Hawks: Hawks coach Milan Vuckovich expects the Sabres' best shot Friday night. "Whether it's the 59-58 game from two seasons ago, or the 14-10 game last year, we know that Friday night is going to be a battle and we're excited to see what we can do in all three phases of the game," said Vuckovich. "Those kids are coached very well. I have the utmost respect for the work that Keith (McMaster) and his staff do. They are going to play tough-nosed defense and come at you all game long. There is just so much more to this rivalry, the connection runs deep, and it's very meaningful to both of our programs." Bartlett returns veteran seniors Justin Ibegbulem (DL/TE), Junior Duenez (DL/FB), Josh Eckelberry (DB/RB), Matthew Teruel (LB/TE), and Gio Nguyen (LB/QB).
Elgin at Fenton
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Last matchup: Elgin won, 26-7, last year.
About the Maroons: Ninth-year head coach Anthony Mason hopes his team gets off to a good start in Bensenville. Returning players include seniors Gabe Blaha (OL/DL), Aramys Lopez (OL/DL), Lamyni Spates (RB/DB), Fabian Ramirez (RB/DB), and juniors Adrian Jackson (OT) and Robert Capuzi (C). Also keep an eye on junior newcomer Gerardo Depaz (TE/WR).
About the Bison: Shane McNally awaits his head coaching debut for a Fenton team that finished 2-7 a year ago. Junior quarterback Nathan Stewart directs the Bison offense, flanked by seniors Jordan Wilson (TE/DL), Gabriel Salgado (C), and Jordan McDougal (RB/DB).
Glenbard South at East Aurora
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Last matchup: Glenbard South won, 44-12, last year.
About the Raiders: Glenbard South possesses one of the most electrifying players in the state in wide receiver Cam Williams, a Notre Dame commit who caught 47 passes for 1,022 yards and 13 touchdowns last season while helping lead the Raiders to a Class 5A postseason berth. Williams also plays defensive back and handles the punting chores. He will catch passes from a familiar face, 3rd-year varsity starting quarterback Michael Champagne (1,795 yards, 29 TDs, 2 interceptions in 2022).
About the Tomcats: After finishing with back-to-back 4-5 records the past 2 seasons, East Aurora coach Nick Kukuc is hoping his team can muster up at least one more victory to qualify for the state playoffs this season. The list of returning players includes senior QB Amado Martinez, senior WRs Kenneth Cooley, Adam Tavizon, senior RB/LB Montana Calderon, and junior RB/LB Jeremiah Brown.
West Chicago at South Elgin
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Last matchup: South Elgin won, 51-0, last year.
About the Storm: South Elgin puts a pair of lengthy winning streaks on the line Friday night - a 24-game conference winning streak (dating back to October, 2019), and a 20-game home winning streak (dating back to October, 2018). Coach Dragan Teonic's squad returns all-Upstate Eight Conference offensive lineman Tommy Roath and running back Ari Kravis. The Storm has earned 4 consecutive conference championships.
About the Wildcats: Senior running back/linebacker Vincent Muci figures to lead the way for the Wildcats after rushing for 801 yards on 140 carries with 10 touchdowns last season. Junior WR/DB Tommy Doyle is also back after catching 17 passes for 409 yards and 5 touchdowns a year ago.
Aurora Central Catholic at St. Edward
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Last matchup: St. Edward won, 41-0, in 2015.
About the Chargers: Second-year head coach Christian Rago leads ACC into this nonconference season opener after finishing 2-7 in 2022. The Chargers return seniors Kevin Stanislo (QB), Jack Loria (RB/SS), and Zack Dineen (NG/G).
About the Green Wave: For the first time since 2004, St. Edward has a new head coach, as Shane Finnane takes over from Mike Rolondo. The Green Wave also finished 2-7 last season.
Phillips at Batavia
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Batavia 43, Phillips 6 (2022).
About the Bulldogs: Batavia returns 10 starters on offense, headlined by three-year starting quarterback Ryan Boe, running back Charlie Whelpley, wideout Luke Alwin and four offensive lineman, minus Jimmy Zitkus. Defensively, while sizable production did graduate at linebacker, Ben Fiegel takes the mantle with RJ Bohr as a top 1-2 tandem. Jalen Buckley and Malachi Smith, a transfer from Texas, anchor the defensive line, while Josh Kahley will slide into a starting role in the secondary.
About the Wildcats: Phillips has qualified for the postseason the previous two seasons, and lost in the first round to Joliet Catholic last year in the Class 4A bracket.
Geneva at Metea Valley
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Geneva 49, Metea Valley 23 (2022)
About the Vikings: Nate Stempowski is back for his second season at quarterback and has one of the top wideouts in the state in junior Talyn Taylor to be the focal point of Geneva's offense. Troy Velez is also a highly productive running back who will keep defenses honest in coverage. Defensively, Tommy Diamond leads the linebackers with his brother, Will. Rocco Dileonardi is the Vikings' top defensive lineman expected to put up big production numbers.
About the Mustangs: Metea Valley struggled last year, but 12 starters do return and is a program looking to move forward. Oscar Rivera, Lucas Vanvlerah, Daniel Pere and Damarion Lewis are all viable candidates to run the football. Junior quarterback Jake Macleod is in place as the starter, and will have tight end Joey Miller and wideout Christian Lee are at the skill positions.
St. Charles East at Lincoln-Way Central
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: St. Charles East 28, Lincoln-Way Central 14 (2022)
About the Saints: St. Charles East is simply looking to put last season behind. After starting 2-0, it dropped all seven of its DuKane Conference matchups. There is reason for optimism in St. Charles East camp, including experienced quarterback Mac Paul having his blind side protected by a D-I recruit Bodey McCaslin (Iowa). Stacking nonconference wins is key for St. Charles East, as the DuKane Conference looks as deep as ever.
About the Knights: Lincoln-Way Central looks to get things back on track with new coach David Woodburn. Woodburn hopes to spark the offense with a new look that will give returning quarterback Michael Kuehl plenty of options to try to move the football and score points. The Knights may be able to lean on their defense, which has a number of experienced seniors to anchor things. Linemen Ryan Kotara and Nolan Redican along with safety Ryan Mackowiak are some of the key players.
Palatine at St. Charles North
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Palatine 26, St. Charles North 14
About the North Stars: After completing their 'revenge tour' and winning the DuKane Conference last year, the North Stars are again set on defending their title. First up, though, are challenging nonconference games with Palatine and Crete-Monee. Junior quarterback Ethan Plumb, who has juggled the starting job off and on the last two seasons, is now firmly in entrenched. Joell Holloman is expected to have a breakout season at running back, and the skill positions are stuffed with talented Jake Furtney, Anthony Taormina and Jake Mettetal. Defensively, Jaden Harmon is a standout defensive back, while Angelo Bradley and Jesse Moreno anchor the line of scrimmage.
About the Pirates: Palatine certainly has plenty of standout talent in its own right. 6-foot-6, 290-pound defensive end Jaylen Williams, who has garnered 21 D-1 offers from every Power Five conference, is easily the can't miss matchup. Offensively, Dominik Ball, a four-year starter at running back, is a Tulane commit. 6-foot-5 Division I basketball prospect Connor May is another matchup mismatch at wide receiver.
Washington at Kaneland
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: First meeting
About the Knights: After 12 years as an assistant and even longer around the program, Mike Thorgeson will be the head coach of the Knights in a game for the first time. The former player was the defensive coordinator for the past six seasons, including last year when the team went 7-4 and made the second round of the 6A playoffs. Troyer Carlson will start for the fourth year at quarterback, and his top two targets return, as well - Aric Johnson and Dom DeBlasio. The defense as a whole, and particularly the run defense, is looking to make a leap this year, and defensive end Josh Mauthe figures to be a big part of that. Mauthe also is a running back, and Thorgesen said he'll spend less time on offense to keep him fresher on defense.
About the Panthers: Washington is coming off a 6-4 record last year after a 9-3 showing in 2021. The team went 6-1 in the Mid-Illini Conference, and it was only the third time since 2009 the Panthers didn't advance beyond the postseason's first round. The roster features 27 seniors in what is coach Darrell Crouch's final season with the program after 19 years at Washington and 37 overall. Thorgesen said he's excited for the matchup between the two similar programs with long playoff histories.
Marmion at Maine West
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: First known matchup
About the Cadets: Senior running back and linebacker Jack Lesher will be a major piece on both sides of the ball. Jacob Sullivan, a transfer from South Elgin, competed with Henry Garrison for the starting quarterback job this summer. Marmion has no returning starters on the offensive line. Defensively, Alfonso Barraza and Jack Matthews headline in the secondary.
About the Warriors: Maine West qualified for the postseason last year and fell in the first round to St. Charles North.
Burlington Central at Cary-Grove
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Burlington Central 10, Cary-Grove 7 (2022)
About the Rockets: Central fell one win shy of becoming playoff eligible for the first time since 2014. … Kicker Griffin Kollhoff kicked an 18-yard field goal last season to give the Rockets their first win over the Trojans in four years in the FVC. … QB Jackson Alcorn threw for 1,132 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. WRs Michael Person (28 receptions, six TDs), LJ Kerr (25, four) and Caden West (21, three) were his top targets, and all return. … OL-DL Porter Mihelich (6-1, 260) was a force on both lines for the Rockets, and LB Mason Rosborough returns to lead the defense.
About the Trojans: C-G had a string of 17 consecutive playoff appearances stopped last season, one in which the Trojans were hit hard by graduations from its 2021 Class 6A state champion team and then by injuries to some of their best players. … QB Peyton Seaburg and RB Andrew Prio return in the backfield, while sophomore Logan Abrams (6-3, 220) may get a lot of the carries at fullback after starting as a freshman at defensive end. … LB Connor Anderson is the only returning starter from the 2021 state champions. … "Our team is very hungry to get back to our winning ways," C-G coach Brad Seaburg said.
Crystal Lake Central at Huntley
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Huntley won last season's opener against Central 37-20.
About the Tigers: Jason Penza started only 1 1/2 games at quarterback last season, and those three halves of football were highly productive. Central had almost 300 yards of offense before Penza suffered a broken arm in the opener against Huntley, which had the lowest-scoring defense in the FVC. When Penza returned at quarterback in Game 9, the Tigers lost a wild game to Prairie Ridge 56-49. … WR George Dimopoulos committed to Northern Illinois and is back at his usual position after filling in for Penza most of last season. WR Griffin Buehler led the Tigers with 25 receptions and also is back. … OL-DL Tommy McNeil, a junior, is a leader on both lines.
About the Red Raiders: Huntley shared the FVC title with Jacobs and Prairie Ridge last season. … RB Haiden Janke (6-0, 210) rushed for 1,430 yards last year. … WR Bryce Walker (5-9, 150) missed the last six games with a broken leg but should provide a big-play threat for Huntley. … The Raiders hope to continue as one of the FVC's top defensive teams. Their 17.7 points allowed per game led the conference last season.
Dundee-Crown at Crystal Lake South
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Crystal Lake South beat the Chargers 39-32 in Week 4 last season.
About the Chargers: D-C started the season 2-1 with a pair of close victories but could not manage another win after that. The Chargers were in most of their games. … WR-DB Kali Freeman (29 receptions, five TDs) was one of the most dangerous receivers in the FVC and returns to catch balls from QB Zach Randl, who finished with 1,580 passing yards and threw for 16 touchdowns.
About the Gators: South returns a dynamic passing duo in QB Caden Casimino, who had 2,658 passing yards, and WR Michael Prokos with 66 catches. WR Colton Hess is another tall target for Casimino. … OL-DL Andy Burburija is one of the top linemen in the FVC, and LB Daniel Zebrowski is another top defender who returns.
McHenry at Hampshire
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: McHenry won 12-8 in Week 5 last season.
About the Warriors: McHenry finished one win short of being playoff eligible but spoiled the postseason hopes of Burlington Central with a 28-13 win over the Rockets in Week 9. … QB Dom Caruso and WRs Jacob Zarek and Zack Maness gave the Warriors a productive passing game last season but have graduated. … RB-LB Kyle Boelkens and TE-DL Quentin Kinshofer are two of the key returning players. … Jeff Schroeder takes over as McHenry coach. Schroeder coached Woodstock North in that program's first 13 seasons and was an assistant at Prairie Ridge last year.
About the Whip-Purs: Hampshire did not get a win until Week 9 against Cary-Grove, but the Whips were competitive in most of their games. … TE-LB Gage Homola (6-4, 250) committed to Cornell of the Ivy League this month. … RB Cole Klawikowski rushed for 1,261 yards last year. … Whips coach Shane Haak is in his first season at Hampshire. He is the son of former Harvard coach Tim Haak, who is an Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer.
Jacobs at Prairie Ridge
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Jacobs beat Prairie Ridge 42-35 in a back-and-forth battle in Week 4 last season.
About the Golden Eagles: Jacobs will look to a power running game with RB Joey Scrivani (845) getting a lot of the carries. … FB-LB Paulie Rudolph is back on both sides, and TE-DE Grant Stec, a Wisconsin commit, is another two-way standout who led the Golden Eagles with 24 catches. … Jacobs shared the FVC title last season with Huntley and Prairie Ridge.
About the Wolves: Prairie Ridge won a third of the FVC title and advanced to the Class 6A state championship game, where it lost to East St. Louis 57-7. … QB Tyler Vasey graduated and now plays at NCAA Division III Wisconsin-Whitewater after setting the IHSA season rushing record with 3,887 yards. … OL-DL John Fallaw and RB-DB Dom Creatore are two of the Wolves' top returning players. Fallaw Angel Rodriguez (6-2, 220) and Zachary Helland (6-2, 245) return on the offensive line. … Junior DL Gavin Tinch (6-4, 285) is a player to watch this season. He is starting to grab the attention of D-I schools. … QB Joey Vanderwiel takes over the offense after starting at linebacker last season.