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Scouting Week 6 football games in Lake County

Lakes (0-5) at Antioch (5-0)When: 7 p.m., Friday

Last week: Lakes lost to Grayslake Central, 33-8; Antioch def. Grant, 50-14.

2019 result: Antioch def. Lakes, 10-7.

Outlook: The sister-school rivalry between District 117 counterparts Lakes and Antioch loses a little bit of luster this season with the records of Lakes and Antioch being on the opposite end of the spectrum. But Antioch does still have plenty to play for. The Sequoits have won every Northern Lake County Conference championship since the league was formed in 2016. A win over Lakes will give Antioch its sixth-straight NLCC title. This game is also the last chance for Antioch fans to celebrate a talented senior class that is led by Kaliakmanis brothers Athan and Dino, who will both be playing at Minnesota next year.

Vernon Hills (4-0) at Grayslake North (4-1)When: 7 p.m., Friday

Last week: Vernon Hills def. Maine East, 63-6; Grayslake North def. North Chicago, 45-28.

2019 result: Did not play.

Outlook: This is a late addition to the schedule. A nonconference game that turns out to work perfectly for both teams. Both Vernon Hills and Grayslake North found themselves victims of COVID-19 scheduling headaches this week. Vernon Hills was supposed to play Central Suburban League foe Niles North, in a game that would have given the Cougars the CSL North Division title with a win. But a COVID issue at Niles North put that game on ice. Meanwhile, Grayslake North was to host crosstown rival Grayslake Central. But that game also got nixed when Grayslake Central came up with COVID issues. So Grayslake North and Vernon Hills found each other. Interestingly, Corey Atwell, the head coach at Grayslake North, used to be on staff at Vernon Hills. This game could take some time. Both teams have potent offenses that score a lot of points. Grayslake North is averaging 37.4 points per game and Vernon Hills is at 32.5 points per game.

Grant (3-2) at Wauconda (4-1)When: 7 p.m., Friday

Last week: Grant lost to Antioch, 50-14; Wauconda def. Round Lake, 45-14.

2019 result: Wauconda def. Grant, 19-6.

Outlook: Wauconda is looking to close out one of its best seasons in recent memory with a win. The Bulldogs' only loss on the season was a 1-point loss at Antioch in Week 4 on a crazy 2-point conversion play in the final minute. With a balanced offense led by quarterback Nick Bulgarelli, who is completing passes at a 70 percent rate, Wauconda is averaging 36.2 points per game. Grant is a run-heavy offense and has been tough on defense in its wins. Over three wins, Grant is allowing just 8.7 points per game.

Round Lake (1-4) at North Chicago (0-5)When: 7 p.m., Friday

Last week: Round Lake lost to Wauconda, 45-15; North Chicago lost to Grayslake North, 45-28.

2019 result: North Chicago def. Round Lake, 27-6.

Outlook: Both Round Lake and North Chicago could use a win to close out the season. Both teams gave up 45 points apiece last week in losses. North Chicago is still looking for its first win. Round Lake hasn't won since Week 2 when it got past Lakes 28-20.

Libertyville (4-1) at Warren (5-0)When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Libertyville def. Zion-Benton, 28-19; Warren def. Mundelein, 48-0.

2019 result: Warren def. Libertyville, 34-0.

Outlook: Warren is in position to defend its 2019 North Suburban Conference championship with a win over Libertyville. The somewhat disappointing part of it for the Blue Devils is that it will likely be a shared title. Because of the abbreviated COVID schedule, the one team in the NSC that Warren isn't scheduled to play is the only other team in the league right now that is undefeated - Lake Forest. So if Lake Forest defeats winless Waukegan in its season finale, then technically, it will be a co-championship for Warren with Lake Forest. Warren has hung its hat on defense once again this season. The Blue Devils have posted three-straight shutouts and have given up only 13 points on the season. Libertyville, led by quarterback Blake Ellingson, has suffered only one loss on the season, to the aforementioned Lake Forest.

Stevenson (2-3) at Lake Zurich (2-3)When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Stevenson lost to Lake Forest, 28-0; Lake Zurich def. Waukegan, 49-0.

2019 result: Lake Zurich def. Stevenson, 28-20.

Outlook: The Stevenson-Lake Zurich rivalry has grown in recent years and often produces exciting games, such as last year's one-score win by Lake Zurich. Lake Zurich is hoping for the return of star running back Jack Dwyer, who missed last week's shutout win over Waukegan with a leg injury. Dwyer is questionable for this week. Stevenson is looking to finish the season with a rebound. The Patriots have lost two-straight games and have allowed 34 points per game over that stretch.

Mundelein (1-4) at Zion-Benton (1-4) When: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Last week: Mundelein lost to Warren, 48-0; Zion-Benton lost to Libertyville, 28-19.

2019 result: Zion-Benton def. Mundelein, 22-13.

Outlook: Both Mundelein and Zion-Benton are coming off losses last week. Mundelein faced the stingy defense of Warren and suffered a shutout, its second of the season. Zion-Benton has lost three straight games.

St. Viator (3-1) at Carmel (1-3)When: 6 p.m., Friday

Last week: St. Viator lost to Mt. Carmel, 38-8; Carmel lost to Brother Rice, 40-7.

2019 result: Carmel def. St. Viator, 34-33.

Outlook: Carmel began the season with a promising 24-21 win over St. Patrick. But since then, the Corsairs have lost three straight games and have allowed 41 points per game over that stretch. St. Viator's season has been divided into three chunks. The Lions began with two straight wins. Then, St. Viator had a two-week break with two straight games canceled, to St. Patrick and Marmion. The last two weeks, St. Viator has split a pair of games, with a win over Brooks and a loss to Mt. Carmel. In the loss to Mt. Carmel, St. Viator scored only 8 points. In their other three games, all wins, the Lions were averaging 44 points per game. St. Viator can clinch the ESCC/CCL Purple with a win.

Prospect (5-0) at Barrington (5-0)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last meeting: Barrington 49, Prospect 7 in 2016

2019: Prospect beat Buffalo Grove 56-33; Barrington beat Hoffman Estates 37-14

Outlook: The first Mid-Suburban League Super Bowl since 1974 could be an offensive explosion. It should easily top the most points scored by both teams, which was 46 in 1973. Prospect is averaging nearly 50 points per game and Barrington is near 36 points per game. It will come down to which quarterback-running back duo has more success. Prospect has Gary Moeller and Luke Zardzin leading an offense that has 2,119 total yards. Barrington counters with Peter Anderson and Bryan Smith, who along with Jack Kapcheck, have 2,098 yards. There are no tickets are available for the public at the gate.

Buffalo Grove (4-1) at Palatine (4-1)When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Buffalo Grove lost Prospect 56-33; Palatine beat Schaumburg 44-0

Last meeting: Palatine beat Buffalo Grove 38-17 in 2013

Outlook: It will be whose combo is better in this one. And it is not a beef and sausage. Buffalo Grove had its hopes of an MSL East title snuffed out last week. But the Bison showed that they can still put points on the board with Ian Luyando throwing to Ayden Andersen. Palatine has really picked up steam since their loss to Barrington. The Pirates have a double threat when either Eric Pecson or Grant Dershna throw to Jake Bostick or Ronald Todd. The Pirates have pitched a pair of consecutive shutouts behind Mitch Larkin, Peter Russhenberg, Rand Paddock and Jhermari Mabry.

Dick Quagliano contributed to this report

  Antioch's Dino Kaliakmanis catches a long touchdown pass against Grant earlier this season. John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
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