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Preseason

Prep Football | Open season in the Mid-Suburban West

Barrington’s Michael Curran runs for yardage against Palatine in September of last season. Curran’s return bodes well for a Broncos team which went 5-0 in the MSL West last year, but everyone expects a tight divisional race this fall.

This year's football race in the Mid-Suburban West figures to be well worth watching, as parity among the schools and unproven talent makes for an unpredictable season ahead.

Glenbard East’s Bret Bushka (3) looks for an opening past South Elgin’s Joey Cipriani (3) Saturday during Glenbard East at South Elgin football.

Prep Football | Scouting Upstate Eight Conference football

Scouting Upstate Eight Conference football

The Knights of IC Catholic Prep practiced on Monday at Lewis Stadium on the Plunkett Athletic Complex in Elmhurst. Here, Camariun Hood, center, looks for an option after receiving a handoff.

Prep Football | Scouting the Metro Suburban Conference

Scouting the Metro Suburban Conference

Benet Academy’s Jack Cooney blocks and recovers a punt late in the second quarter against Batavia in the Class 7A football semifinal game in Lisle.

Prep Football | Football: Scouting the East Suburban Catholic Conference

Football: Scouting the East Suburban Catholic Conference.

Dave Oberhelman and Kevin Schmit host “Tailgating with Dave and Kevin” in a podcast format.

Prep Football | 'Tailgating with Dave and Kevin' Week 1 podcast

PODCAST: "Tailgating with Dave and Kevin" makes some season predictions for DuPage County's prep football teams.

Prep Football | Scouting the Streamwood Sabres

Football: Scouting Streamwood

Prep Football | Scouting the Elgin Maroons

Football: Scouting Elgin

Cary-Grove’s Max Buss is one of many talented returning players in the Trojans’ backfield this season.

Prep Football | Scouting the Cary-Grove Trojans

Football: Scouting Cary-Grove

Anthony Wilson (2) will return at quarterback this season for Jacobs.

Prep Football | Scouting the Jacobs Golden Eagles

Football: Scouting Jacobs

Geneva’s Reilly Waldoch (10) returns for his senior season in the backfield.

Prep Football | Scouting the Geneva Vikings

Football: Scouting Geneva

Bartlett High School head football coach Matt Erlenbaugh leads his team during drills.

Prep Football | Scouting the Bartlett Hawks

Football: Scouting Bartlett

South Elgin’s Azxavier Salinas, left, tries to regain control of the ball against West Aurora last season. Salinas is in the mix for the starting quarterback job for the Storm this year.

Prep Football | Scouting the South Elgin Storm

Football: Scouting South Elgin

Batavia’s Michael Jansey, left, watches the ball pop loose following his tackle of Lake Zurich’s Jack Moses during the Class 7A championship game at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb last season. Jansey returns for the defending champs this season.

Prep Football | Scouting the defending Class 7A champion Batavia Bulldogs

Football: Scouting Batavia

Prep Football | Scouting the Montini Broncos

Scouting Montini football

Prep Football | Scouting the Downers Grove South Mustangs

Football: Scouting Downers Grove South.

Prep Football | Scouting Prospect: Change is in the air with new-look Knights

First-year coach Dan DeBoeuf is hoping to build Prospect's football program after a string of recent successes at Johnsburg.

Prep Football | Scouting the Waubonsie Valley Warriors

Scouting Waubonsie Valley football

Prep Football | Scouting the Benet Redwings

Football: Scouting Benet.

Prep Football | Scouting the Fenton Bison

Scouting Fenton football

PRESEASON TOP TEAMS

Rank	School	W	L	T
1	1	Batavia High School	13	1	Second state title took OT
1	Notes: Second state title took OT
2	2	Lake Zurich High School	13	1	NSC champs kept the focus on excellence
2	Notes: NSC champs kept the focus on excellence
3	3	Naperville Central High School	9	3	Fifth quarterfinal in seven years for DVC champs
3	Notes: Fifth quarterfinal in seven years for DVC champs
4	4	St. Charles North High School	9	2	Dealt 7A titleists their only loss
4	Notes: Dealt 7A titleists their only loss
5	5	Barrington High School	10	1	Niro era ends with a fine run
5	Notes: Niro era ends with a fine run
6	6	Benet Academy	9	4	Second straight Class 7A semifinal
6	Notes: Second straight Class 7A semifinal
7	7	Glenbard West High School	9	2	11th straight playoff berth for Silver champs
7	Notes: 11th straight playoff berth for Silver champs
8	8	Hoffman Estates High School	10	3	Best-ever season ends in 6A semis
8	Notes: Best-ever season ends in 6A semis
9	9	Wheaton North High School	8	3	DVC?s toughest D, first playoffs since 2013
9	Notes: DVC?s toughest D, first playoffs since 2013
10	10	St. Charles East High School	8	3	1 point short vs. 8A champs
10	Notes: 1 point short vs. 8A champs
11	11	Palatine High School	7	4	Losses came by a grand total of 12 points
11	Notes: Losses came by a grand total of 12 points
12	12	South Elgin High School	8	2	Second UEC Valley title in three seasons
12	Notes: Second UEC Valley title in three seasons
13	13	Huntley High School	8	2	Exciting season ends in first-round upset
13	Notes: Exciting season ends in first-round upset
14	14	Willowbrook High School	10	2	2nd straight quarterfinals for Gold champs
14	Notes: 2nd straight quarterfinals for Gold champs
15	15	John Hersey High School	9	2	MSL East champs excelled in all phases
15	Notes: MSL East champs excelled in all phases
16	16	Hinsdale Central High School	8	3	Overcame key injuries
16	Notes: Overcame key injuries
17	17	Cary-Grove High School	7	4	Won 14th straight first-round playoff game
17	Notes: Won 14th straight first-round playoff game
18	18	Buffalo Grove High School	9	2	Bison savor postseason return
18	Notes: Bison savor postseason return
19	19	IC Catholic Prep	13	1	Won second straight 3A title by shutout
19	Notes: Won second straight 3A title by shutout
20	20	Antioch Community High School	10	1	Quick playoff out after perfect regular season
20	Notes: Quick playoff out after perfect regular season