Football: Scouting first-round playoffs, Northwest
CLASS 8ANo. 11 Oak Park-River Forest (7-2) at No. 6 Barrington (8-1)When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last meeting: in 2006, Barrington 41, Oak Park 21
Outlook: Weather could be a factor for a pair of teams that can score a ton of points. Barrington roared back nicely last week to beat Fremd and secure a better seed for itself. The Broncos, who lost in the state quarterfinals last year, are making their second consecutive appearance in the playoffs and fourth in the last five years. Barrington dusted off its big-play offense last week. Johnny Davidson, who has thrown for 1,999 yards and 19 touchdowns, connected with Mitch Pfeiffer on a pair of long touchdown passes for a team that's scoring 40 points per game. Barrington's defense had been stellar the first seven weeks of the season, allowing a total of 55 points. But the Broncos defense, led by David Danhauer, Jake Coon and Mark Bornhofen, has shown a few dents the last two weeks, surrendering 52 points in those two games. Oak Park finished third in the tough West Suburban Silver with losses to Glenbard West and Hinsdale Central. Northwestern-bound quarterback Lloyd Yates is deadly both running and passing the ball and has led an Oak Park offense that's also scoring nearly 40 points per game. Running back Antonio Cannon is also a threat for the Huskies. "This is a good matchup for us," Barrington coach Joe Sanchez said. "We are pretty familiar with what they do, since we played them in 2006. It should be a fun night."
No. 10 Palatine (7-2) at No. 7 HuntleyWhen: Saturday, 2 p.m.
Last meeting: Never played
Outlook: Expect a shootout between two teams who know their way to the end zone. But Palatine, which has averaged nearly 30 points per game, may be without running back Chris Cornelius. The Mid Suburban West offensive player of the year, who has rushed for 1,239 yards, will be a game-time decision due to an injury. If Cornelius can't go, the Pirates will need to lean more on quarterback Nick Orlando and running back Dionte Neustadter to carry the load. Orlando, who has thrown for 1,319 yards and 8 touchdowns while rushing for another 298 yards, will look for Javone Stricker, Joey Roy, Matt Lamm and Dan Garcia to throw to. "The good thing is that we have guys who have been there all year," Palatine coach Rick Splitt said. "We are expecting these guys to walk in there and do what they have been doing." Huntley has slowly climbed the playoff ladder to become an 8A team for the first time in its history, thanks to a growing enrollment that's reached 2,593. The Red Raiders are led by coach John Hart, who certain has his program producing impressive results. Huntley is as dangerous an offensive team as anyone can play. The Red Raiders are averaging 45 points and have topped the 50-point mark five times this season. Huntley's playing surface is a new turf field; combined with the scoreboard it will remind Pirates fans of a trip to Barrington.
No. 15 Fremd (6-3) at No. 2 Glenbard West (9-0)When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Last meeting: Never played
Outlook: The good news is that Fremd qualified for the playoffs for a third consecutive year under coach Lou Sponsel and the 19th time in the last 20 years. But the bad news is that the IHSA did the Vikings no favors, leaving Fremd with a tough first-round matchup against defending perennial Class 7A power Glenbard West. "It really doesn't matter when we play them," Sponsel said. "Because somewhere down the line we would probably meet them, so it might as well be now." Fremd, which has lost two of its last three games, will take that defiant attitude behind a fierce offensive line that features Jake Plantz, Dominic Lombard and Jack Albrecht. Cordell Finley and Nick Bossong are still the 1-2 punch at quarterback while Jawan Gaines and Darius Burchett still figure to get most of the carries. The Vikings defense has been steady, led by junior defensive lineman Matt McCabe, who has been receiving some Division I looks. Fremd has not won a first-round playoff game since 2010. Glenbard West has shown it knows how to win. The Hilltoppers have gone 85-12 under coach Chad Hetlet, since he took over the program in 2007, with one state title and a second-place finish. This year's team is certainly worth of its seed, having beaten five playoff teams while allowing just 11 points per game.
CLASS 7ANo. 13 Hersey (6-3) at No. 4 Geneva (8-1)When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Last meeting: Never played
Outlook: Hersey, which has qualified for the playoffs for the second consecutive year, is playing its best football of the season right now. The Huskies are coming off an impressive victory over Rolling Meadows which saw Hersey put it all together offensively, gaining nearly 500 yards. The Huskies have been more dangerous offensively since moving Eric Portenlanger to quarterback full time and Joe Caputo to running back. Portenlanger has responded by throwing for 1,117 yards and 13 touchdowns while Caputo has rushed for 425 yards and has become the workhorse on the ground. But it has been the defense of Hersey that has stood out all season. The ball-hawking secondary has 11 interceptions with Cole Monckton coming up with 5 and the hard-hitting Will Trossen with 4. They will need to be at their finest against a Geneva team that suffered its only loss against Batavia and had an earlier impressive win against Richards. The Vikings have qualified for the state playoffs for the second year in a row and 10th in the last 11 years under coach Rob Wicinski. Geneva quarterback Daniel Santacaterina, who will be headed to Northern Illinois next year, will test a strong Hersey secondary that has allowed just over 110 yards per game. "It is really exciting to be back in the playoffs," said Hersey coach Joe Pardun, who is in his first year as head coach after being the defensive coordinator last year. "I love the way we are playing right now."
No. 9 St. Charles North (7-2) at No. 8 Rolling Meadows (7-2)When: Saturday, 6:30 p.m.
Last meeting: never played
Outlook: Rolling Meadows is back in the playoffs for a fourth consecutive year and the 11th time in the last 12 years. But the Mustangs aren't headed there with much momentum after a disappointing play last week in the loss to Hersey. But a few bright spots loom on the horizon for the Mustangs. The first is the return of offensive tackle Greg Off from and injury. The Mustangs should also welcome back quarterback RJ Mattucci, who has rushed for 645 yards in just 7 games while throwing for another 882 yards and 9 touchdowns. But the biggest thing Meadows has going for itself is the ability to bounce back after a poor performance. The Mustangs did it after a tough Week 2 loss to Palatine and reversed their fortunes, reeling off six consecutive victories. "This team faces adversity quite well," Rolling Meadows coach Matt Mishler said. "They fight back quite well and I expect them to do that again." St. Charles North, which qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2009, has played just two teams with a winning record. But the North Stars, who beat Elk Gove in the first week of the season 13-2, boast a strong defense that has allowed just 94 points this season. Their coaching staff will be very familiar with the Mustangs, with head coach Rob Pomazak and defensive coordinator Rick Mansmamen both coming from Elk Grove last year.
CLASS 5ASt. Viator (5-4) vs Chicago Urban Prep/Englewood (7-2) at Stagg StadiumWhen: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Last meeting: Never played
Outlook: St. Viator returns to the playoffs after a one-year absence. Because Viator has not won two playoff games in one season, their enrollment is not subjected to the IHSA multiplier, which means they get to play in 5A rather than 6A. Many observers feel that Viator could be a darkhorse team in 5A, thanks to a highly explosive offense led by Tyler Johnston, who has thrown for 2,385 yards and 17 touchdowns. Johnston, who was named ESCC offensive player of the year, has great targets to throw to in Ben Dickey, Matt Darling and Sal Cannella. The Lions will also look to use running back Joey McIntyre, who rushed for over 100 yards last week against Nazareth and has 572 yards for the season. "If you want to play football in November, you have to run the ball," St. Viator coach Brandon New said. "We like to air it out, but we need to run it, too." Urban Prep/Englewood has been open since 2008 and is part of the Charter school system in the Chicago Public League. This is the second time it has qualified for the state playoffs, winning the Chicago Public League's Windy City conference this year. UPE won two games this year by forfeit and has a 7-game winning streak. They lost their only non-Public League game to Thornton Fractional South 35-0 in Week 2.