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Scouting Week 6 in Lake County

CENTRAL SUBURBAN LEAGUE

Deerfield Warriors (2-3, 1-0) at Vernon Hills Cougars (2-3, 0-1) When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Deerfield def. Maine East, 54-7; Vernon Hills lost to Highland Park, 42-32.

Skinny: Vernon Hills is hungry to get back on the winning track after three straight losses. The Cougars were dealing with a big change last week in playing their first game under interim head coach Jay Czarnecki. Czarnecki has stepped in for Bill Bellecomo, who had surgery last Friday to replace a heart valve and will be out for the rest of the season. Vernon Hills has not had much trouble scoring points this season. The Cougars have put up more than 30 points in three of their five games. The trouble is, Vernon Hills is letting up 35 points per game, second most in the Central Suburban League North. Deerfield might be a welcomed break for the Cougars. Deerfield averages 21.8 points per game, second fewest in the conference. Senior quarterback Derek Jarrell has been a consistent weapon for Vernon Hills, both passing and rushing for touchdowns. He leads the area with 1,651 passing yards. He has completed 149 of 248 passes for a 60 percent rate. He has 13 touchdowns against just 3 interceptions. Against Highland Park last week, wide receiver Mekhi McCarthy had a school-record 21 receptions.

Next: Highland Park at Deerfield; Vernon Hills at Maine West

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

Nazareth Academy Roadrunners (5-0, 3-0) at Carmel Catholic Corsairs (2-3, 2-1)When: 7 p.m., Friday

Last week: Nazareth def. Benet, 45-7; Carmel def. St. Viator, 28-14.

Skinny: Carmel has already won more games than last year in Blake Annen's first year as head coach. But the win over St. Viator last week that doubled the Corsairs' win total from a year ago didn't come easily. Starting running back Sean Lynch went down with a sprained ankle in the first quarter and was forced to the sideline. He's a huge part of the Carmel offense. But Syone Usma-Harper took over and made sure the Corsairs didn't miss a beat. Usma-Harper scored 3 touchdowns for Carmel, which has now won two of its last three games. The test now is against the top team in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. Nazareth also ranks as one of the top teams in the state, and has already handled one of the top teams in Lake County this season. The Roadrunners dealt defending Class 7A state runner up Lake Zurich a 25-0 loss in Week 2. Defense has been a strength for Nazareth, which is allowing just 7.2 points per game. That ranks first in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. The Roadrunners have given up double-digit points in a game just once this season.

Next: Marist at Nazareth; Carmel at Marian Central

NORTH SUBURBAN CONFERENCE

Warren Blue Devils (4-1, 3-0) at Zion-Benton Zee-Bees (2-3, 1-2)When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Warren def. Lake Forest, 24-10; Zion-Benton def. Mundelein, 36-9.

Skinny: After Warren knocked off Lake Forest last week, and Lake Zurich dealt Stevenson a loss as well, Warren now stands as the only undefeated team in North Suburban Conference play. The first-place Blue Devils are riding a four-game winning streak and will be looking to win their fifth straight game after losing their season opener against Barrington, 31-14. Since then, Warren has posted shutouts in three of its next four games. The Blue Devils rank No. 1 in the NSC in points allowed at 8.2 points per game. They are also averaging 28.2 points per game themselves, which is second-best in the conference. Martin Walker Jr. continues to be a huge workhorse for the Blue Devils. The senior running back rushed for 155 yards on 31 carries against Lake Forest last week. He also scored the game-clinching touchdown. Zion-Benton allows 26.4 points per game, second-most in the North Suburban Conference. But the Zee-Bees are coming off their stingiest game of the season, giving up just 9 points to Mundelein last week. Quarterback Jerome Crawford had a touchdown for Zion-Benton last week while running back Jordan Chisum rushed for 123 yards on 22 carries.

Next: Lake Zurich at Warren; Zion-Benton at Lake Forest

Lake Zurich Bears (3-2, 2-1) at Libertyville Wildcats (1-4, 1-2)When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Lake Zurich def. Stevenson, 23-20; Libertyville def. Waukegan, 49-6.

Skinny: It was a very good Week 5 for both Lake Zurich and Libertyville. Lake Zurich bounced back from a Week 4 upset loss to Lake Forest with a huge road win over previously undefeated Stevenson. And Libertyville got its very first win of the season by rolling over Waukegan. Lake Zurich's big win came in overtime and the winning touchdown was run in by running back Tommy Vages. Quarterback Matt McGraw and James Piggott made some huge connections to keep the Lake Zurich offense moving throughout the game. McGraw completed 17-of-24 passes for 225 yards and 2 touchdowns, both to Piggott. Piggott finished with 8 catches for 131 yards. Libertyville scored more points against Waukegan last week (49) than it had scored in all of its previous four games combined.

Next: Lake Zurich at Warren; Libertyville at Mundelein

Stevenson Patriots (4-1, 2-1) at Mundelein Mustangs (2-3, 1-2)When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Stevenson lost to Lake Zurich, 23-20; Mundelein lost to Zion-Benton 36-9.

Skinny: Stevenson will be looking to bounce back after suffering its first loss of the season, an overtime setback to Lake Zurich last week. Mundelein is also looking to get back on track. Besides a season-opening shutout at the hands of Maine West, last week's loss to Zion-Benton was the lowest scoring game of the season for Mundelein at only 9 points. The Mustangs were in a bind as starting quarterback Isaac Wellman was knocked out of the game last week after engineering a scoring drive. He did not return. Sophomore Shawn Patrick, who starts at running back, took over at quarterback for Mundelein. Stevenson was led last week by running back JeanMarc Etienne. He had a touchdown and 106 rushing yards.

Next: Waukegan at Stevenson; Libertyville at Mundelein

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY CONFERENCE

Antioch Sequoits (5-0, 3-0) at Grayslake Central Rams (1-4, 1-2)When: 7:15 p.m., Friday

Last week: Antioch def. Grant, 42-7; Grayslake Central def. Round Lake, 41-6.

Skinny: Antioch is now the only undefeated football team in Lake County. The Sequoits have rolled through the season and have dominated opponents, winning games by an average of 25.8 points per game. Antioch boasts the most prolific offense in the Northern Lake County Conference (35.6 ppg) and the stingiest defense in the league (9.8 ppg). Last week against Grant, Ben Nauman rushed for 138 yards and a touchdown on 8 carries. Sophomore quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis has been passing and rushing for touchdowns all season, making the Antioch offense balanced and tough to defend. Grayslake Central got its first win of the season last week by scoring more points against Round Lake (41) than in its previous four games combined. Nick Paul ran for 209 yards and passed for 105 yards and had 4 rushing touchdowns for the Rams. In his first start, freshman Maurice Edwards rushed for 4 touchdowns and 190 yards.

Next: Antioch at Round Lake; Grayslake Central at Lakes

Lakes Eagles (4-1, 3-0) at Grant Bulldogs (2-3, 2-1)When: 7:15 p.m., Friday

Last week: Lakes def. Wauconda, 34-30; Grant lost to Antioch, 42-7.

Skinny: Lakes has won three games in a row and is averaging a whopping 46 points a game over those wins. The Eagles boast the second-highest scoring offense in the Northern Lake County Conference (34.6 ppg). Against Wauconda last week, Lakes rolled up 312 yards off offense and was fairly balanced with 146 yards through the air and 166 yards on the ground. Quarterback Chris Selig was 5-for-11 for 105 passing yards. Grant had its two-game winning streak snapped last week in getting trounced by Antioch. The Bulldogs are averaging only 17.2 points per game, third least in the Northern Lake County Conference.

Next: Grayslake Central at Lakes Grant at North Chicago

Grayslake North Knights (1-4, 1-2) at Round Lake Panthers (1-4, 0-3)When: 7:15 p.m., Friday

Last week: Grayslake North def. North Chicago, 26-18; Round Lake lost to Grayslake Central, 41-6.

Skinny: Grayslake North got its first win of the season last week against North Chicago. The 18 points that Grayslake North let up to North Chicago was the fewest in a game this season. The Knights have typically struggled to keep opponents off the scoreboard and are allowing 30.6 points per game, most in the Northern Lake County Conference. This could be a high-scoring affair as the Round Lake defense has been giving up a lot of points, too. The Panthers average 29.2 points allowed. Last week against Grayslake Central, Round Lake got its only touchdown from Brandon Kisiel, who ran in from 24 yards out.

Next: Wauconda at Grayslake North; Antioch at Round Lake

North Chicago Warhawks (2-3, 1-2) at Wauconda Bulldogs (2-3, 1-2)When: 7:15 p.m., Friday

Last week: North Chicago lost to Grayslake North, 26-18; Wauconda lost to Lakes, 34-30.

Skinny: Wauconda is ready for two more in a row. On the plus side, after winning two games in a row, the Bulldogs are now riding a two-game losing streak. Against Lakes last week, Wauconda had a 30-20 lead late into the third quarter but tough defense and good field position pushed Lakes past Wauconda. Wauconda sophomore quarterback Nick Bulgarelli had a big game against Lakes. He completed 15-of-24 passes for 204 yards and also rushed for 68 yards on 11 carries.

Next: Grant at North Chicago; Wauconda at Grayslake North

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