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Scouting Week 7 in Lake County

CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH

Vernon Hills Cougars (2-4, 0-2) at Maine West Warriors (5-1, 2-0)When: 7 p.m., Friday

Last week: Vernon Hills lost to Deerfield, 23-20; Maine West defeated Maine East, 49-14.

Skinny: Vernon Hills has lost four games in a row and is faced with the task of tackling a Maine West team that is tied for first place in the Central Suburban North (with Deerfield) and has the best overall record in the conference. The Cougars have been right on the brink over their last three games though. They've lost those three games by an average of 5.3 points per game. Maine West leads the Central Suburban North in both offense (43.8 ppg) and defense (16.3 ppg). The Warriors' only loss so far was to Hersey (51-28) in Week 4. Vernon Hills will be tested defensively against Maine West. The Cougars are already giving up 33 points a game, second-most in the conference. Last week against Maine East, Maine West rolled up 287 rushing yards. Running back Jake Bellizzi ran for 181 yards and 3 touchdowns on 12 carries. Quarterback Danny Kentgen also had a big game. He passed for 3 touchdowns, two to Ely Grimmer.

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

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

Carmel Corsairs (2-4, 2-2) at Marian Central Catholic Hurricanes (3-3, 1-3)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Last week: Carmel lost to Nazareth Academy, 55-17; Marian Central Catholic lost to St. Patrick, 17-14.

Skinny: The schedule has been brutal for Marian Central and Carmel. Both teams rank among the top teams in the East Suburban Catholic Conference in terms of playoff points. Carmel has 31 points and Marian Central has 29. Marian Central, which has lost two straight games, has played four teams with at least four wins and three of those teams have at least five wins. Carmel has played three teams with at least four wins. Carmel, which faced undefeated league leader Nazareth (6-0) last week, has had trouble keeping opponents off the scoreboard. The Corsairs allow 34.3 points per game, most in the league. Marian Central is struggling on offense and is averaging 19.1 points per game, second fewest in the league.

Next: Notre Dame at Carmel; Marian Central Catholic at Marist

NORTH SUBURBAN CONFERENCE

Lake Zurich Bears (4-2, 3-1) at Warren Blue Devils (5-1, 4-0)When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Lake Zurich defeated Libertyville, 14-7; Warren defeated Zion-Benton, 33-0.

Skinny: This is the game of the week in Lake County. The winner will be in the driver's seat in the race for the North Suburban Conference title. Lake Zurich has been the Homecoming slayer this season and is looking to ruin Warren's Homecoming just as it did Libertyville's and Stevenson's over the previous two weeks. Warren has won five games in a row and boasts the No. 1 defense (6.8 ppg) and the No. 2 offense (29 ppg) in the North Suburban Conference. Last week against Zion-Benton, the Blue Devils ran up the rushing yardage. Martin Walker Jr. continues to be a workhorse. He rushed for 141 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Kicker Adam Saul is a weapon for Warren. Last week he had 2 field goals (both 33 yards). Lake Zurich, which averages just 14.5 points per game, was sluggish on offense last week against Libertyville but got a timely touchdown to seal the win on a 56-yard touchdown from quarterback Matt McGraw to James Piggott.

Next: Mundelein at Lake Zurich; Stevenson at Warren

Libertyville Wildcats (1-5, 1-3) at Mundelein Mustangs (2-4, 1-3)When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Libertyville lost to Lake Zurich, 14-7; Mundelein lost to Stevenson, 43-0.

Skinny: This game has "get well" potential for both of these teams. Both Libertyville and Mundelein have struggled this season, but should be rather evenly matched here. Both teams average about 14 points per game and allow between 21 and 27 points per game. Libertyville hung tough with Lake Zurich last week but just didn't have enough firepower to finish the job. Running back Niko Christensen was a workhorse for the Wildcats, rushing 30 times for 113 yards. Mundelein gave up 487 yards of offense to Stevenson last week and was fighting poor field position for the entire game.

Next: Lake Forest at Libertyville; Mundelein at Lake Zurich

Waukegan Bulldogs (0-6, 0-4) at Stevenson Patriots (5-1, 3-1)When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Waukegan lost to Lake Forest, 42-0; Stevenson defeated Mundelein, 43-0.

Skinny: Stevenson is looking to keep it rolling after a big win last week. The Patriots lead the North Suburban Conference in scoring at 33.3 points per game, and rank second in defense, allowing 9.8 points per game. Against Mundelein last week, Stevenson rolled up 487 yards of offense while running back JM Etienne had 115 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. Quarterback Cole Okmin completed 15-of-26 passes for 224 yards. Waukegan has struggled on both sides of the ball this season. The Bulldogs have scored only 38 points over six games (6.3 ppg), which ranks last in the North Suburban Conference. They are also giving up a league-leading 39.3 points per game.

Next: Waukegan at Zion-Benton; Stevenson at Warren

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY CONFERENCE

Antioch Sequoits (6-0, 4-0) at Round Lake Panthers (1-5, 0-4)When: 7:15 p.m., Friday

Last week: Antioch defeated Grayslake Central, 55-0; Round Lake lost to Grayslake North, 54-6.

Skinny: On paper, this game spells trouble for Round Lake. Antioch, the only undefeated team in Lake County, leads the Northern Lake County Conference in scoring at 38.8 points per game while boasting the stingiest defense in the league, allowing 8.2 points per game. Round Lake already ranks first in the league in points allowed with 33.3 points per game and is scoring only 14.8 points per game, second-least in the NLCC. Against Grayslake Central last week, Antioch, up 49-0 at halftime, had a running clock and rested starters in the second half. Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (6-for-9 passing for 110 yards) ran for a touchdown and threw for two more. Running back Nick Wiley ran for 3 touchdowns. Round Lake has lost four straight games.

Next: Lakes at Antioch; Round Lake at Wauconda

Grant Bulldogs (2-4, 2-2) at North Chicago Warhawks (2-4, 1-3)When: 7:15 p.m., Friday

Last week: Grant lost to Lakes, 42-19; North Chicago lost to Wauconda, 35-12.

Skinny: Both of these teams have lost two straight games, but are technically still playoff eligible and are fighting for their postseason lives. Against Lakes last week, Grant suffered another costly injury. Leading rusher Noah Lautner left the game with a left knee injury in the third quarter. Lautner had rushed for 41 yards on 9 carries. The Bulldogs were already playing without two starting linemen due to injuries. North Chicago had a tough time holding onto the ball last week against Wauconda with four turnovers. Wauconda also tagged the Warhawks with seven sacks. But North Chicago quarterback Trinate Jacobs did pass for 2 touchdowns.

Next: Grayslake North at Grant; North Chicago at Grayslake Central

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

Last week: Grayslake Central lost to Antioch, 55-0; Lakes defeated Grant, 42-19.

Skinny: Lakes is rolling and keeping pace with Antioch in the race for the Northern Lake County Conference championship. Both teams are 4-0 in league play. The Eagles have won four straight games, all in league play. Lakes is just behind Antioch in offensive production, ranking second in the league with 35.8 points per game. But the Eagles' Achilles' heel this season has been defense. They give up 28.2 points per game, second-most in the league. Against Grant last week, the Eagles rolled again offensively behind running back D'Lo Hardy. He racked up 5 touchdowns in a game for the second time in three weeks, tying his own school record. Hardy, who also plays defense, notched his sixth interception on the season and returned it for a touchdown. Against Antioch last week, Grayslake Central was down 49-0 at halftime and missed chances on offense with turnovers.

Next: North Chicago at Grayslake Central; Lakes at Antioch

Wauconda Bulldogs (3-3, 2-2) at Grayslake North Knights (2-4, 2-2)When: 7:15 p.m., Friday

Last week: Wauconda defeated North Chicago, 35-12; Grayslake North defeated Round Lake, 54-6.

Skinny: Both Wauconda and Grayslake North are still playoff eligible but a loss would eliminate Grayslake North. The Knights are rolling right now though, having won two straight games. Against Round Lake last week, Grayslake North scored more than 40 points (54) for the second time this season. The Knights, averaging 29.5 points per game, scored 44 points earlier this season in a loss to Lakes (55-44). Wauconda got back on the winning track last week with a win over North Chicago. That broke a two-game losing streak. Before that, the Bulldogs had won two straight games. Erik Trela and Jack Sammons each rushed for 2 touchdowns for Wauconda last week while the Wauconda defense recorded 7 sacks and forced 4 North Chicago turnovers.

Next: Round Lake at Wauconda; Grayslake North at Grant

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