Week 4: Scouting the Fox Valley Conference
Jacobs (2-1, 2-1) at Cary-Grove (2-1, 2-1)
Game time: 7:15 p.m. Friday at Al Bohrer Field
Last year: Cary-Grove 35, Jacobs 14
Last week: Cary-Grove 57, Hampshire 14; Jacobs 56, Crystal Lake South 28
Outlook: The winner stays within a game of leader Prairie Ridge in the Fox Valley Conference race. The loser is all but eliminated from the title chase with a second league loss. The Golden Eagles have been clicking offensively behind one of the area's biggest offensive lines. They've scored 140 points in 3 games, including 27 in a season-opening loss to Huntley. "They're the size of a college line," Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said of a unit led by four-year starter Jimmy Wormsley (6-foot-3, 297 pounds), committed to Southern Illinois. "They're good. They're solid on both sides of the ball. They've got the size, certainly, and they've got good speed. They're a real good football team." A potent Jacobs offense that features senior running back Loren Strickland (31 carries, 309 yards, 5 TD) and junior quarterback Anthony Wilson faces a stingy Cary-Grove defense. The Trojans hold opponents to 9.3 points and 209 total yards per game. Offensively, fullback Max Skol has rushed for 455 yards and 7 touchdowns. "Both teams will be thinking the same thing: keep the other team's offense off the field," Jacobs coach Bill Mitz said. "The biggest thing for us is we can't make mental mistakes on either side of the ball and we have to take care of our assignments."
Next week: McHenry (2-1) at Jacobs; Cary-Grove at Huntley (3-0)
Prairie Ridge (3-0, 3-0) at Crystal Lake South (0-3, 0-3) Game time: 7 p.m. Friday at Ken Bruhn Field
The quick hit: The Gators face a tall task against the defending Class 6A state champions. The Wolves have already beaten a pair of ranked teams (Cary-Grove and Huntley) and scored 107 points in the last two weeks. The Gators allowed 246 rushing yards last week against Jacobs.
Hampshire (1-2, 1-1) at Huntley (2-1, 2-1) Game time: 7 p.m. Friday
The quick hit: Hampshire remains one of the most injury riddled teams in the area. "Everybody knows we're pretty beat up right now," Whip-Purs coach Mike Brasile said, "but our kids are sticking together and giving it everything they've got. Maybe we can make some plays and the ball will bounce our way." Huntley averages 43 ppg.
Dundee-Crown (0-3) at East Aurora (0-3) Game time: 7:15 p.m. Friday
The quick hit: One of these nonconference combatants will enjoy its first victory. East Aurora faces 6-foot-4 junior quarterback Josh Raby, who completed 10 of 24 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown against Huntley last week. The Tomcats play on a new artificial turf field, part of the $7 million dollar rebuild of Roy E. Davis Stadium unveiled last Friday.