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Football: Scouting Week 6 in the Northwest suburbs

Glenbrook South (5-0, 1-0) at Maine South (4-1, 1-0)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: Glenbrook South beat Niles West 42-14; Maine South beat Glenbrook North 41-0

Spring score: Maine South 17, Glenbrook South 7.

Outlook: Maine South head coach Dave Inserra won his 100th game as a head coach in the Central Suburban League, making his record in the conference 100-1. The Hawks did things the easy way, spreading out the scoring plays and the plaudits that go with it. Maine South has 24 consecutive wins over the Titans. Win number 25 could be a bit tougher against a surprising Glenbrook South team that has taken on all comers, outscoring opponents 158-71.

Elk Grove (2-3, 0-1) at Buffalo Grove (4-1, 0-1)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: Elk Grove lost to Hersey 42-7;, Buffalo Grove lost to Prospect 17-14

Spring score: Buffalo Grove 48, Elk Grove 19

Outlook: Elk Grove has lost three of its last four with its only win coming against Maine East. But, the Grenadiers will look to be better on defense after having a difficult time last week against Hersey. Elk Grove's offense is averaging 22 points and hopes to get back on track this week as well. Buffalo Grove's offense looks to get back on track after it was stymied last week. The Bison are still averaging 41 points per game thanks to a vaunted running attack headed up by Michael Cervantes, Cole Nixon and Scott Murray. Trystan Anderson and Eli Shereshovech key a defense that has allowed 15 points per game.

Rolling Meadows (3-2, 1-0) at Hersey (5-0, 1-0)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: Rolling Meadows beat Wheeling 41-6; Hersey beat Elk Grove 42-7

Spring score: Hersey 40, Rolling Meadows 23

Outlook: This game has been a high-scoring affair between the two teams for the past three seasons, averaging 70 points per game. Meadows is led by quarterback Ethan Grace, who continues to shine in his first year as a starting quarterback. Skip Rozanski is coming off a 100-yard rushing performance for the Mustangs. Jimmy Makuh is 56-of-85 for 1,065 yards and 10 touchdowns for Hersey. And that's without Ben Clawson, who has missed the last two game with a season-ending injury. Breyden Smith, who has 11 of his 18 receptions in the last two weeks, and Dylan Carlquist, who has 5 touchdown catches, have picked up the slack. Josh Bontje has rushed for 373 yards and 5 touchdowns this year.

Prospect (4-1, 1-0) at Wheeling (1-4, 0-1)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: Prospect beat Buffalo Grove 17-14; Wheeling lost to Rolling Meadows 41-6

Spring score: Prospect 37, Wheeling 14

Outlook: Prospect has relied on its offense to carry it the past couple of seasons. Last Friday, the Knights showed that they can play solid defense as well, which will make them even more dangerous. In four of five games this season, Prospect, which is led by Ben Sahakian, Jacob Grzesiak, Giovani Paredes, Richard Sepulveda, Peyton Burgh, Matthew Schacke and Charlie Carroll, has held its opponent to 14 points or less. The Knights have also posted one shutout. Wheeling has moved the ball, but the Wildcats have had difficulty getting into the end zone since the first week of the season. After scoring 27 points in Week 1, Wheeling has scored 22 points in the next four weeks combined.

Hoffman Estates (4-1, 1-0) at Fremd (0-5, 0-1)When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Last Week: Hoffman Estates beat Barrington 33-28; Fremd lost to Conant 42-30

Spring score: Fremd 38, Hoffman Estates 28

Outlook: Hoffman Estates is flying high. The Hawks' high-powered offense is averaging 35 points per game. Aidan Cyr is 69-of-105 on the season for 1,174 yards and 13 touchdowns. Jashawn Johnson has been on the receiving end of 11 of those touchdown passes. Johnson has 27 catches for 471 yards and has a pair of defensive returns for touchdowns. Meanwhile, Joshua Pettis-Taylor continues to impress, rushing for 768 yards on 97 carries with 11 touchdowns. Fremd has struggled this season, especially on the defensive side. The Vikings have allowed 34 points per game.

Conant (2-3, 1-0) at Palatine (3-2, 1-0)When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Last Week: Conant beat Fremd 42-30; Palatine beat Schaumburg 34-0

Spring score: Palatine 48, Conant 8

Outlook: Giuseppe Dugo has been nearly unstoppable for Conant. The three-year starter has rushed for nearly 900 yards and has tallied 12 touchdowns. He also showed his versatility directing the option offense by adding a pair of touchdown passes through the air last week. Even without its top two offensive threats in Jake Bostick and Dominick Ball, Palatine found a way to roll last week. Their status for this Friday's game is still uncertain. Meanwhile, Bobby Widlowski stepped up huge for the Pirates last week on both sides of the ball. Widlowski, along with Mitch Larkin, helped key a Palatine defense that pitched its second shutout of the season.

Schaumburg (2-3, 0-1) at Barrington (2-3, 0-1)When: Saturday, 1 p.m.

Last Week: Schaumburg lost to Palatine 34-0; Barrington lost to Hoffman Estates 33-28

Spring score: Barrington 34, Schaumburg 6

Outlook: The two longtime rivals are both surprisingly under .500 as they enter the sixth week of the season. It is Barrington's homecoming, so the Broncos are hosting their traditional Saturday game. Schaumburg has not scored a point in its last 7 quarters of football. The Saxons hope to change that behind the running of Takumi Fred. Barrington is 2-3 for the first time since 2012. The Broncos have lost their last two games by a total of 6 points. They will be looking to clean up the costly penalties and turnovers that led to that. Archie Cox, who has 4 TD receptions and two kick returns for scores, continues to impress.

Maine East (0-5, 0-1) at Niles North (2-3, 1-0)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: Maine East lost to Maine West 48-6; Niles North beat Highland Park 30-7

Spring score: Niles North 33, Maine East 3

Outlook: Maine East continues to struggle on both sides of the ball. The Blue Demons have allowed 217 points and have scored 22 thus far. The good news is that Maine East refuses to give in and hope to turn things around. Niles North broke a three-game losing streak last week with its win over Highland Park.

Maine West (2-3, 1-0) at Vernon Hills (3-2, 0-1)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: Maine West beat Maine East 48-6; Vernon Hills lost to Deerfield 28-14

Spring score: Did not play

Outlook: Maine West jumped out early last week, scoring 6 touchdowns in the first half against district rival Maine East to break its two-game losing streak. West had its offense firing on all cylinders from the start with quarterback Connor McAndrews throwing for 3 TDs and running back Isaac Pittman rushing for 3 touchdowns as Maine West cruised. The Warriors will find things much more difficult this week and need to prepare for a four-quarter battle against a Vernon Hills team that has lost two straight.

Marian Catholic (2-3, 0-1) vs. St. Viator (2-3, 0-1)When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. at Forest View

Last Week: Marian Catholic lost to Benet 47-28; St. Viator lost to Notre Dame 13-7 in OT

Spring score: Did not play

Outlook: It was a devastating loss for St. Viator last week and put a difficult twist to the Lions' playoff hopes. They will need to win three of their final four games to qualify. The Lions played well last week, especially on defense, where they held Notre Dame to 63 yards passing. But the Viator offense also was stagnant, and a pair of costly interceptions hurt its chances for a win. Marian Catholic is averaging nearly 29 points per game. But the Spartans have lost their last two.

Leyden (1-4, 0-3) vs. Proviso East (1-4, 1-2) When: Friday, 7 p.m. at Triton College

Last Week: Leyden lost to Willowbrook 36-7, Proviso East lost to Downers Grove South 37-14

Spring score: Did not play

Outlook: Leyden lost its third straight. But the Eagles ended that nasty scoreless streak at 8 quarters when Leo Latiker connected with Samian Salazar for a touchdown in the first quarter. Latiker, who threw for 105 yards, should hope for even better numbers on Friday. Proviso East has allowed nearly 41 points per game.

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