Scouting Week 7 football games in the Northwest suburbs

Conant (3-3, 2-0) at Hoffman Estates (5-1, 2-0)When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Last Week: Conant beat Palatine 39-32; Hoffman Estates beat Fremd 48-31

Spring score: Hoffman Estates 38, Conant 28

Outlook: The battle for the Hoffman Mayors Cup will take on even greater significance with both of these teams the only unbeaten squads in Mid-Suburban West conference play. Conant continues to be nearly unstoppable on offense with the Cougars averaging nearly 35 points per game. Quarterback Giuseppe Dugo continues to be a magician in the ways he operates the Conant option offense. Hoffman Estates is off to its best start since 2016 when it was also 5-1 at this point. The Hawks are high-flying on offense as well, averaging 37 points per game. Wide receiver Jashawn Johnson has been nearly unstoppable. The Western Michigan commit has scored at least 2 touchdowns in each game this year and had 4 touchdowns and 222 receiving yards against Fremd last week.

Hersey (6-0, 2-0) at Wheeling (1-5, 0-2)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: Hersey beat Rolling Meadows 50-14; Wheeling lost to Prospect 50-6

Spring score: Hersey 41, Wheeling 20

Outlook: Hersey and Jimmy Makuh have been on a roll this season. Makuh has been terrific, completing 75-of-107 for 1,436 yards with 17 touchdowns and no interceptions. The Huskies have averaged nearly 43 points per game this year. Meanwhile the Hersey defense has allowed just one team to score more than 14 points and has pitched a pair of shutouts. Wheeling has struggled since its Week 1 win over Round Lake. The Wildcats have not scored in double digits in their last five games.

Buffalo Grove (5-1, 1-1) at Rolling Meadows (3-3, 1-1)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: Buffalo Grove beat Elk Grove 49-6; Rolling Meadows lost to Hersey 50 -14

Spring score: Buffalo Grove 15, Rolling Meadows 14

Outlook: Buffalo Grove has been grinding it out this season. The Bison have rushed for 2,124 yards with quarterback Michael Cervantes leading the team with 719 yards on 77 carries with 10 touchdowns. Scott Murray has tallied 533 yards and 13 touchdowns and Cole Nixon 433 yards. Jacob Pond chipped in 95 yards last week. Rolling Meadows will need at least two wins in its final three games to get into the playoff picture. The Evan Grace-to-Ethan Groark combo for the Mustangs continues to be robust.

Prospect (5-1, 2-0) at Elk Grove (2-4, 0-2)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: Prospect beat Wheeling 50-6; Elk Grove lost to Buffalo Grove 49-6

Spring score: Prospect 49, Elk Grove 38

Outlook: The Prospect offense was back in business last week after being slowed the prior week by Buffalo Grove. Led by Frank Covey and wide receiver/running back Jacob Parisi, who scored 3 touchdowns, Prospect scored 50 points for the second time this season while the Knights' defense, which has been very good all season, only allowed a late touchdown. Elk Grove has lost four of its last five. The Grens have found themselves behind early and will look to get off to a better start this week. Mitchell Janczak and Jacob Elsner key the Elk Grove offense.

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

Last Week: Barrington beat Schaumburg 28-12; Palatine lost to Conant 39-32

Spring score: Barrington 37, Palatine 14

Outlook: At the start of the season, this game shaped up to be a battle for supremacy in the MSL West. Now it's a pair of teams battling for their playoff lives. The loser will also find itself two games back in the conference race. Barrington hopes to return Harley Thompson as its starting quarterback after he sat out last week's game. Running back Evan Panesis and backup quarterback Peyton Soske played well last week. Palatine has had its own injuries to deal with. Jake Bostick and Dominick Ball have sat out the last two weeks for the Pirates and their status is unknown for Friday. Bobby Widlowski has stepped up in a huge way for Palatine, running the ball well and making plays on defense.

Fremd (0-6, 0-2) at Schaumburg (2-4, 0-2)When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Last Week: Schaumburg lost to Barrington 28-12; Fremd lost to Hoffman Estates 48-31

Spring score: Fremd 14, Schaumburg 8

Outlook: The lack of consistency has been the mantra for both teams this season. Fremd has played well in spots and is coming off its highest scoring effort of the season last week. Archie Cox and Bo O'Brien have been on the receiving end for the Vikings. Schaumburg played a near-flawless second quarter last week against Barrington. Fabien Baez looked good running and catching the ball for the Saxons.

Maine South (5-1, 2-0) at Niles West (2-4, 0-2)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: Maine South beat Glenbrook South 32-17; Niles West lost to Evanston 49-0

Spring score: Maine South 49, Niles West 6

Outlook: Maine South found another way to retain its dominance in the Central Suburban South. The Hawks scored 26 unanswered fourth-quarter points to rally for the win over GBS. The Hawks and offensive coordinator Charlie Bliss leaned hard on their big three offensively and they delivered. Running back Mike Sajenko, tight end Chris Petrucci and quarterback Rowan Keefe each made huge plays. Niles West won its first two games of the season and the Wolves appeared to be poised to turn their fortunes around. But COVID forced a pair of forfeits and Niles West has not been able to get on track since.

St. Viator (3-3) at St. Ignatius (6-0)When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Last Week: St. Viator beat Marian Catholic 28-14; St. Ignatius beat De La Salle 45-7

Spring score: Did not play

Outlook: After a huge CCL/ESCC Purple win last week, St. Viator enters a two-game stretch that could determine its playoff fate. The Lions will face unbeaten St. Ignatius and then Mt. Carmel. St. Viator will have to continue the success it had on offense last week. Charlie Dolsen bounced back quite nicely by throwing for 240 yards and 2 touchdowns. It will also be the Viator defense, led by Carson Eggebraten, Dominic McKevitt, Will Fitzpatrick, John Kaiser, Jayden Franzen, Juan Rivera, Mikey Austin, Michael Carpenter, Justin Mirski, and Ryan Ziebka that will look to slow down a St. Ignatius offense that has averaged nearly 39 points per game.

Deerfield (5-1, 2-0) at Maine West (2-4, 1-1)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: Deerfield beat Highland Park 35-6; Vernon Hills beat Maine West 40-0

Spring score: Deerfield 35, Maine West 6

Outlook: It will be Warriors versus Warriors as Maine West will be looking to turn things around after a disappointing loss last week. The Warriors may have felt they were back on track after a solid Week 5 win over Maine East. But Maine West had difficulty getting its offense in gear against a tough Vernon Hills squad. Things might not be easier this week as Maine West faces Central Suburban North leader Deerfield.

Highland Park (2-4, 0-2) at Maine East (0-6, 0-2)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: Highland Park lost to Deerfield 35-6; Maine East lost to Niles North 62-0

Spring score: Highland Park 58, Maine East 7

Outlook: Maine East is hoping to turn things in its favor this week against a Highland Park team that has lost four of its last five games. Maine East has scored just 3 touchdowns this season and the Demons have been shut out three times.

Lyons (3-3) at Leyden (2-4)When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Last Week: Lyons beat Proviso West 56-0; Leyden beat Proviso East 40-14

Spring score: Lyons 38, Leyden 0

Outlook: This is a must win for the Leyden if the Eagles have any hopes for a playoff spot. Leyden gets an extra day to prepare after a rare Thursday game last week. The Eagles played well, racking up 305 yards of offense. Diego Mendoza had 114 yards while Leo Latiker had 3 touchdown passes last week for the Eagles.