Scouting Vernon Hills at Tinley Park

CLASS 5A

No. 4 Vernon Hills Cougars (9-1) at No. 12 Tinley Park Titans (7-3)

When: 5 p.m., Saturday

Last week: In first round action, Vernon Hills def. Chicago Harlan, 51-0; Tinley Park def. Chicago Orr, 31-6.

Playoff history: Vernon Hills is making its sixth straight playoff appearance and its ninth in school history. Last year, the Cougars lost in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs to Glenbard South, 33-27…This is Tinley Park's first playoff appearance since 2000. That year, the Titans went 9-1. Until this season, that was the last time they finished above .500.

Head coaches: Tony Monken, Vernon Hills; Nick Johnston, Tinley Park.

Just the facts: Vernon Hills won its second straight outright North Suburban Conference Prairie Division championship by scoring a division-best 41.6 points per game and having the stingiest defense in the state. The Cougars gave up their first points of the season just three weeks ago in a 21-0 loss to Lake Forest. Prior to that, they boasted seven shutouts in seven games. Overall, Vernon Hills is giving up just 2.7 points per game…Tinley Park won its first four games but then lost three of its last five, including its regular season finale to Thornton Fractional South, 7-3. The Titans tied for third in the South Suburban Blue Conference and went 3-6 last year.

Vernon Hills leaders: Rushing: Brian Palmer (97 carries, 578 yards, 11 touchdowns), DaVaris Daniels (41 carries, 396 yards, 7 touchdowns); Passing: Chris Argianas (25-of-50, 514 yards, 8 touchdowns, 1 interception); Receiving: DaVaris Daniels (17 receptions, 391 yards, 4 touchdowns), Evan Spencer (16 receptions, 289 yards, 6 touchdowns); Tackles: Brian Palmer 54, Austin Miller 49.

Tinley Park leaders: Running back Hassan Abdullah had 28 carries for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns last week against Orr while quarterback Kyle Sheridan completed 13-of-19 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Eldridge Anderson caught 5 passes for 93 yards. The defense gave up 183 total yards.

Line on Vernon Hills: The Cougars went back to their old ways last week with a shutout. It was their eighth of the season, not that they're necessarily counting on more. “We learned from the Lake Forest game (the first game that the Cougars gave up points after seven straight shutouts) that we can get scored on and that it probably will happen again,” Vernon Hills coach Tony Monken said. “It kind of took that pressure off of us and I don't think anyone is going to worry when it happens again. This is a pretty focused group. They won't be (side-tracked) by (getting scored on).”

Line on Tinley Park: Tinley Park is a run-oriented team but isn't one-dimensional. “They want to get the ball in Abdullah's hands,” Vernon Hills coach Tony Monken said. “But they've also got a great bailout (in wide receiver Eldridge Anderson). He's their playmaker. They can make some big plays in the passing game with him.”