Week 9, Chicago Catholic: St. Francis hopes to be on point
Fenwick (3-5, 1-2) at St. Francis (4-4, 1-2)
Chicago Catholic League Green
Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Last week: Montini 48, Fenwick 7; De La Salle 31, St. Francis 16.
Last year: St. Francis 21, Fenwick 14.
Outlook: Will St. Francis' low playoff points (31 after Week 8) be enough for a playoff spot? Without a win the point is moot. Fenwick can be the spoiler, but coach Gene Nudo's Friars have had 17 players out with injury at one point. Running back Will Lattner got little traction against Montini's stout defense, so quarterback Jacob Keller went to the air, at times effectively to 6-3 Mike O'Laughlin and 6-1 Sherman Martin. A big item for St. Francis is at quarterback where Peter Fassnacht is questionable after an injury last week. If unable to go, John Brundage gets the start, and Spartans coach Mike Fitzgerald said the spread offense won't change much with this "great athlete" at the helm. Still, stopping the run and running the ball behind Kevin Killian, Brandon Winkleman, Matt Ackerman, Nick Kavouris and sophomore Jay Karam is key. Aiding that is the hopeful return from illness of Nolan Pechan, St. Francis' leader in rushing yardage and touchdowns.
Montini (8-0, 3-0) at Marmion (3-5, 0-3)Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday
The quick hit: A week after the Cadets limited Aurora Christian star running back Jeremiah Wright to 61 yards on 16 carries, they face a powerful Montini offense that features junior running back Prince Walker, who announced Thursday on Twitter he will visit NIU this weekend. Walker has 92 carries for 683 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Wheaton Academy (5-3, 1-3) at Aurora Central Catholic (3-5, 1-3)Game time: 7:15 p.m. Friday
The quick hit: Wheaton Academy has 33 playoff points, which makes the Warriors a bubble team unless they come away from Aurora with a victory in this Metro Suburban West finale. The Warriors have outscored eight opponents 236-178. The Chargers have been outscored 265-131.
Aurora Christian (3-5, 0-3) at Leo (1-7, 0-3)Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday
The quick hit: Eliminated from playoff consideration last week, the Eagles finish up the Chicago Catholic White schedule on the road. Sophomore quarterback Drew Clippert has completed 190 of 330 passes in the spread offense (56.7 percent) for 2,173 yards and 26 touchdowns and has been intercepted 16 times.