Week 1 playoffs, Mid-Suburban: Schaumburg voyages to Normal
CLASS 7ANo. 27 Schaumburg (5-4) at No. 6 Normal Community (8-1)When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Previous playoff meetings: None
Outlook: Schaumburg returns to the playoffs after missing last season. The Saxons are making their 16th appearance in the state playoffs. They fought their way into the playoffs last week by knocking of Fremd. Schaumburg has been explosive at times with an offensive line of David Drs, Payton Buchanan, Andrew Sekera, Andres Ortiz and John Serio opening holes for Emanuel Little, who has gained 979 yards this year, and Angel Salgado, who has stepped up in recent weeks. Justin Perez has been solid at quarterback, throwing for 1,163 yards. The Saxon defense will need to step it up against a Normal team that is making its 20th consecutive playoff appearance and 30th in school history. Normal, which is ranked 4th in Class 7A in the AP polls, is averaging 42.6 points. The Ironmen are led by junior quarterback Grant Price, who has thrown for 1,686 yards and 21 touchdowns, along with running back Alec Bozarth.
No. 25 Rolling Meadows (6-3) at No. 8 Reavis (8-1)
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Previous playoff meetings: None
Outlook: Rolling Meadows had to work hard in making its fifth consecutive playoff appearance (and 16th overall). The Mustangs needed a win over Hersey last week and the delivered it in style to capture a fourth consecutive MSL East title. They have been riding the play of quarterback Asher O'Hara, who has added running ability to keep opponents on their heels. He's rushed for 182 yards in his last two games. That has taken pressure off of Kevin Lacosse, who has rushed for 865 yards this year. Reavis is making its 13th appearance in the playoffs and the second in a row. The Rams, who were conference champs in the South Suburban Red Conference, boast a high-powered offense. They have averaged 44.1 points per game and are led by running back Khalid Norvell, who has rushed for over 800 yards yards and quarterback Isiah Alpuche, who has thrown for over 1,100 yards.
CLASS 8ANo. 29 Fremd (5-4) at No. 4 Oak Park (8-1)When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Previous playoff meetings: None
Outlook: The playoffs begin a new season and an opportunity to change your fortune, and no team needs that opportunity more than Fremd. The Vikings were decimated with injuries for the final third of the regular season, losing all three of those games. But it will be a healthy Fremd team that takes the field as the Vikings are making their fourth consecutive playoff appearance and their 25th overall, which is the most of any MSL team. Fremd has been mostly a run-first offense with Charlie Kaye, Kenny Lyke and Alec Honickel getting the bulk of the carries. Tommy Josten has done a solid job of managing the Vikings offense at quarterback, throwing for 1,209 yards and 6 touchdowns. He has been able to connect with Lyke, Joe Schneider and Zach Goodman, and Fremd is hoping to get tight end Austin Schwantz more involved as well. Oak Park, which lost to Barrington in the playoffs last year when the team was mainly juniors, has grown up quite nicely. The Huskies, who are making their fourth consecutive postseason appearance and 15th overall, did have a change in quarterback recently when Keegan Smith took over for the explosive Jeremy Hunt at quarterback after Hunt suffered a season-ending injury three weeks ago. Smith has shown his ability to direct his team as the Huskies beat playoff qualifiers Hinsdale Central and Lyons, scoring an average of 37 points in those games.
No. 17 Conant (6-3) at No. 17 Stevenson (6-3)When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Previous playoff meetings: 2002: Stevenson 9-7, 1992: Conant 35-14
Outlook: Expect a high-scoring game between a pair of teams that have moved the ball at will this year. Conant returns to the playoffs after a one-year absence and makes its 22nd appearance overall. The Cougars have been deadly on offense thanks to the play of running back Jake Jakubosky and quarterback Kye Bradley. Jakubosky, the area's top rusher, has gained 1,384 yards while Bradley has thrown for 1,906 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for another 479 yards. Conant has averaged 34.3 points and also boast the area's most exciting receiver in Palmer Graham, who has 47 receptions for 1,057 yards. Stevenson is the defending state champion at 8A. The Patriots opened their season with a come-from-behind win over Palatine, a team Conant lost to last week. Stevenson is making it s27th consecutive appearance in the playoffs and 28th overall. The Patriots, who average 31 points, have found a ground game in recent weeks, led by junior running back Tyler Vincent, who had 8 carries for 287 yards and 6 touchdowns last week against Mundelein.
No. 20 Sandburg (6-3) at No. 13 Palatine (7-2)When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Previous payoff meeting: 1997: Palatine 41-7
Outlook: Despite winning the MSL West four of the last five years and qualifying for the playoffs a total of 20 times, Palatine is still searching for respect outside the conference. The Pirates can take a huge step by knocking off Sandburg, a school that has qualified for the state playoffs 29 times. Palatine has been very good on offense thanks to the play of Zach Oles. A converted lineman in his youth football days, Oles has rushed for 942 yards and 11 TDs while throwing for 1,483 yards and 10 touchdowns. Oles has a group of terrific wide receivers in Jovone Stricker, who has 38 receptions and Matt Lamm, who has grabbed 37 passes. But Oles also likes to go to sophomore Johnny O'Shea in clutch situations. Mike Williams leads the defense, which is a bit banged up, but still finding ways to get it done. Sandburg comes into the game with a pair of losses, but both to quality teams in Homewood-Flossmoor and Lincoln-Way East. But Sandburg has beaten just one team with a record of 5-4 or better.
No. 26 Plainfield South (5-4) at No. 7 Barrington (8-1)When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Previous playoff meetings: None
Outlook: Barrington has waited nearly a year for the playoffs to begin after the Broncos' disappointing quarterfinal loss to Glenbard West last season. Barrington, which has qualified for the playoffs the last three years and 21 time overall, is hoping get even deeper in the playoffs in 2015 thanks to the outstanding play of quarterback Johnny Davidson. He's thrown for 1,826 yards and 20 touchdowns with just 4 interceptions, most frequently targeting Jake Zyzda, Logan Moews and Josh Babicz. Davidson has also rushed for 610 yards. Nate King is powerhouse operating behind an offensive line of Nick Bart, Alex Serrano, J.T. Snyder, John Stefan and Mark Bach; King has rushed for 922 yards. The Broncos will need all that offense against a Plainfield South team that has allowed just 14.1 points per game. Plainfield South, which is in its 14th year, has qualified for the playoffs five times and is back in the tournament after a one-year absence.