Football previews: Week 9 in Lake County
NORTH SUBURBAN LAKE
Stevenson (5-3, 4-1) at Warren (5-3, 4-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Last week: Stevenson def. Libertyville 24-21; Warren def. Lakes, 38-0.
Outlook: The pressure is on in this game, but not as much as it could be. With a generous 41 and 40 playoff points respectively, both Stevenson and Warren should be playoff qualifiers even with just five wins. But neither team wants to limp into the playoffs. "Both teams will be playing next week, so I'm happy about that," Stevenson coach Bill Mitz said. "And the difference between what seeds we could get win or lose probably isn't a huge difference. And on Saturday, everyone is 0-0 anyway. But you definitely still want to win this game. When you win your last game, you definitely have momentum going into the playoffs and you want that. That's really important."....For Stevenson, a win will be its sixth in a row after starting the season at 0-3. If Warren wins, it will be the Blue Devils' fifth win in a row and it will also mark the first time in Mohapp's tenure that the Blue Devils beat both Stevenson and Libertyville in the same season -- an impressive feat for any team. "This should be a great game," Mohapp said. "There's a lot of motivation on both sides. With some help, the winner's even in the hunt for the (Lake Division) championship."...If Mundelein would defeat first-place Lake Zurich tonight, the winner of this game would be tied with the Bears for first place...In one way, Warren and Stevenson enter this game from two different positions. Warren has had two straight decisive victories over Mundelein (42-21) and Lakes. Stevenson, meanwhile, has been living on the edge with razor thin victories over Lake Forest (14-10) and Libertyville. Watch for Warren's potent rushing attack headed up by sophomore Greg Kennedy and for Stevenson's increasingly potent passing attack. Quarterback Zach Wujcik and receivers Dan Morales and Mike Bilton have made some nice connections lately.
Lake Forest (5-3, 2-3) at Libertyville (4-4, 2-3)
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Last week: Lake Forest lost to Lake Zurich, 33-0; Libertyville lost to Stevenson, 24-21.
Outlook: It's do or die for Libertyville. A loss here and the Wildcats, just three years removed from the 2004 Class 7A state championship, will miss the playoffs for the first time since 1996. A win and Libertyville should qualify for the Class 7A playoff bracket on points. The Wildcats boast 42 playoff points, more than any other 7A team. "This is a new situation for us, that's for sure," Libertyville coach Randy Kuceyeski said. "But we can't wait for (tonight's game). Twelve months of preparation is going to come down to 48 minutes of play. I would like to think that we're going to come out with quite a sense of urgency."...The Wildcats were forced to play that way last week when they fell behind to Stevenson 17-7 by halftime. But Libertyville rallied furiously and came within a missed field goal of tying the game just before the end of regulation. "We were pretty disappointed with that game, but the kids are pretty resilient, probably more so than the coaches," Kuceyeski said. "They're ready to go. We've just been working on the turnovers and the penalties that really hurt us (against Stevenson). We had too many of both and we can't do that if we want to be in position to win (the Lake Forest game)."...Libertyville running back Joey Schlesinger came alive during the second half of the Stevenson game and so did quarterback Tom Piazzi...Lake Forest, meanwhile, has been plagued by injuries to some of its key players. Several defensive starters, including safety Miles Smith, the son of Bears coach Lovie Smith, may be relegated to the sideline for tonight's game. As usual, the Scouts will look to run much of their offense through 6-foot-6 receiver Kevin Finney, who was the one bright spot in last week's shutout loss. He caught 8 passes for 80 yards. Quarterback Thomas Rees completed 16-of-32 passes for 171 yards for Lake Forest. "Finney is 70 percent of their offense," Kuceyeski said of Lake Forest. "We're really going to have to try to rattle their quarterback -- a lot more than we did last week against Stevenson."
Lake Zurich (7-1, 5-0) at Mundelein (3-5, 1-4)
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Last week: Lake Zurich def. Lake Forest, 33-0; Mundelein def. Zion-Benton, 43-19.
Outlook: With the playoffs firmly out of the picture, Mundelein can now only hope to play the role of spoiler this week. The Mustangs would not only love to finish their own season with a bang, but to make Lake Zurich's end with a whimper. A loss would throw the Bears into a Lake Division tie with the winner of tonight's Stevenson-Warren game. With a victory, Lake Zurich will wrap up the outright Lake Division championship, which is something that wasn't even accomplished during last year's run to the Class 7A state championship game. Last year, the Bears lost a Week 3, squeaker to Libertyville (10-9). They finished the season with a 5-1 mark in the Lake Division, but Libertyville won the title at 6-0. "The kids are really excited about this game," Lake Zurich coach Bryan Stortz said. "We want to finish our season in conference on a high note. And the last thing we want to do is stumble into the playoffs. This is a big game for us. And Mundelein is going to be well-prepared and up for us. They're over there every day talking about how nice it would be to beat a team that doesn't have any losses in conference."...The Mustangs are also talking about Lake Zurich's speed, which seems to be spread all over the field, but particularly concentrated in the backfield with Jon Janus, Adam Simpson and Dan Kalcsics. "I remember seeing some of those guys during track season, and they're fast," Mundelein coach Dave Whitson said. "One of them was running a relay and was 50 yards behind the leader and caught him. It was pretty impressive. That's the kind of speed they bring. That's one of the biggest reasons they're such a good team. After that first game (Lake Zurich's loss to Fremd), they really got things running again."...Speaking of running, Kalcsics, who rushed for 135 yards last week against Lake Forest, seems to be back to himself after a bout with mono. And Janus, who injured his leg two weeks ago against Wauconda, seems to be on the mend, too...The Mustangs are glad to have running back Cody Gokan back. He missed four games during the middle of the season with a broken ankle. He ran for 2 touchdowns last week. "Our best defense is going to be our offense," Whitson said. "If we can put together a few drives and keep them off the field, we should be in good shape."
NORTH SUBURBAN PRAIRIE
Wauconda (6-2, 4-1) at Vernon Hills (5-3, 4-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Last week: Wauconda def. Round Lake, 41-14; Vernon Hills def. Antioch, 42-38.
Outlook: Wauconda is aiming for its most regular season wins since the 1998 team went 7-2. Vernon Hills should make the playoffs at 5-4 on ample playoff points, but doesn't want to leave anything to chance. Clearly, there's a carrot dangling in front of each of these teams. "It's a big game for us, it's a huge game for them. It should be a good one," Wauconda coach Glen Kozlowski said. "This has been a year of firsts for Wauconda football, so we really want to keep it going. We want to end the season with a win and get one of our best records in years. But we also don't want to go into the playoffs losing. You need the momentum of a win. It's a tough week after you lose. It's a challenge to get it going again. Kids are resilient, but you still want to finish strong." A strong finish for Wauconda could also mean a world of difference in terms of playoff seeding. At 7-2, the Bulldogs have a great chance of landing a first-round home playoff game...Of course, running back Brad Wisniewski has been a big reason the Bulldogs are thinking playoffs at this point. He's been the team's workhorse for the last two years, and will continue to be the focus of opposing defenses. "They run power football. They don't hide it from anyone. You know it's coming," Vernon Hills coach Tony Monken said. "But still...not many teams have figured out a way to stop it. We're no secret either. We're an option team and that's what we'll run."...Larry Guerrero, who had 197 rushing yards last week, Tyler Mooney and quarterback PJ Marsek make the Cougars' offense tick. But Marsek, and two-minute quarterback James Hallendorff have shown that Vernon Hills can also pass the ball quite well when necessary. And given how many close games the Cougars have had, that's been often this season. Last week, Vernon Hills won in the closing moments on a Marsek pass to sensational freshman receiver DaVaris Daniels...Likewise, the Bulldogs favor the run, but can also pass effectively. Quarterback Garrett Dorsey loves airing it out to Davis Mills.
Round Lake (1-7, 0-5) at Lakes (2-6, 1-4)
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Last week: Round Lake lost to Wauconda 41-14; Lakes lost to Warren 38-0.
Outlook: It's the season finale for both teams, with the host Eagles looking to get their offense going against a Panthers team that has allowed an NSC Prairie-worst 264 points (33 per game). Lakes has been shut out three times, including last Friday night at Warren. The Eagles' 125 points scored are the fewest of any team in the division. Round Lake's only win came in Week 2 against Maine East (0-8). Despite the Panthers' struggles, they do have one player who's had an exceptional season. Running back Ray Bryant has rushed for 1,133 yards and 9 touchdowns. The Panthers' touchdowns against Wauconda last Friday night came on Jerome Brown's 46-yard pass from Matt Ortiz and Cameron Gillespie's 15-yard run.
North Chicago (3-5, 2-3) at Antioch (3-5, 1-4)
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Last week: North Chicago lost to Grant 14-7; Antioch lost to Vernon Hills 42-38.
Outlook: North Chicago's one-touchdown loss to Grant last Friday night killed the Warhawks' playoff hopes. It's the first time since 2000 that North Chicago will not be playing postseason ball. Antioch's heartbreaking loss to Vernon Hills -- the Cougars pulled the game out thanks to a touchdown late in the fourth quarter -- officially eliminated the Sequoits from playoff contention. Antioch did get another big game from running back Cameron White, who rushed for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns on only 13 carries. He also tossed a 67-yard touchdown pass to Lamarr Pottinger, who had a big game himself with 3 TD catches.
NORTH SUBURBAN CROSSOVER
Grant (8-0) at Zion-Benton (1-7)
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Last week: Grant d. North Chicago 14-7; Zion-Benton lost to Mundelein 43-19
Outlook: Grant clinched its first outright NSC Prairie title last Friday, so now the Bulldogs will focus on completing their first undefeated regular season since 1986. In holding off North Chicago, Grant got a 3-yard touchdown run from Izzy Rodriguez, a 47-yard fumble return for TD by Kevin Savage and 168 rushing yards from quarterback Pavel Zurkowski. Grant's defense has allowed 118 points (14.8 per game), fewest in the NSC Prairie. Zion-Benton's 108 points scored are the fewest of any NSC team and its 283 points allowed are the most of any squad in the conference. The Zee-Bees' only victory came in Week 2 against Niles West (1-7).
EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
Carmel (7-1, 6-0) at Joliet Catholic (7-1, 6-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Last week: Carmel def. St. Viator, 35-11; Joliet Catholic def. St. Joseph, 63-7.
Outlook: Will the streak end tonight? If it does, and Carmel gets its first-ever victory at 10,000-seat Joliet Memorial Stadium, the East Suburban Catholic Conference championship will be returning to Mundelein for the first time since 2003. That year, the Corsairs won the Class 6A state championship...Defeating Joliet Catholic, however, is no easy task. Not for any football team. The Hilltoppers are one of the most storied programs in Illinois high school football history, and against Carmel, they boast a lopsided 23-3 all-time record. "You know, our seniors were 8-1 as sophomores. And our juniors were 8-1 as sophomores," Carmel coach Andy Bitto said. "These kids are used to winning. They expect to win. I think that's the way they're approaching this game. We started out the season with a disappointment (a loss to Morgan Park), but we knew we had a really good defense and that all we need to do was work out some things on offense. And we've been able to do that."...And on offense, quarterback David Venegoni seems to be working out very well. He continues to be the centerpiece of the Corsairs run-oriented attack. He gained 206 yards on just 15 carries last week against St. Viator...Meanwhile, the Carmel defense is ranked second in the ESCC in stinginess behind Joliet Catholic. The Corsairs have given up only 99 points this season, for a 12.4-point average. The Hilltoppers have given up only 87 points this season. Leading the way for Carmel's defense are safeties Chris Salvi and Ryan Williams. Salvi had 14 tackles last week and Williams had 12 tackles and an interception...Carmel will have to stop a very run-oriented Joliet Catholic team that relies heavily upon 5-foot-7 sparkplug Brandon Geiss. He's in the backfield with Connor Krisch, also a potent running back. Quarterback John Ruettiger, who is related to the Ruettiger of "Rudy" fame, is also a strong runner but has improved markedly on his passing since last year. He likes to connect with tight end Sean Sheppard and wide receiver Tim Bennett. "They're a lot like us," Bitto said of Joliet Catholic. "They score a lot of points, they run first and they've got a good defense up front. They try to overpower you. This should be an epic battle."
FOX VALLEY FOX
Huntley (3-5, 2-2) at Grayslake Central (0-8, 0-4)
When: 7:45 p.m. today
Last week: Huntley d. Crystal Lake Central 28-26; Grayslake Central lost to Prairie Ridge 42-14
Outlook: While Grayslake Central needs to pull off the upset to avoid its second winless season in three years, the Rams slowly but surely seem to be grasping first-year coach Nick Goshe's offense. They scored 14 points against undefeated Prairie Ridge last Saturday, as quarterback Kevin O'Rourke completed 14 of 31 passes for 211 yards. While O'Rourke had a completion percentage of less than 50 percent and threw 2 interceptions, he did fire a 12-yard touchdown pass to Greg Bey, who made a nice catch in the end zone, on fourth-and-8. The Rams ran out of shotgun formation most of the game. "They're starting to understand the system," Goshe, whose team has scored only 66 points, said of his players. "We're a zone-read team now -- a little bit combination of zone read and some power football. We like to keep teams guessing." Huntley snapped a two-game losing streak against Crystal Lake Central. The Red Raiders average 19.5 points and allow 23.8 per game.
Grayslake North (1-7, 1-3) at Crystal Lake C. (4-4, 1-3)
When: 7:45 p.m. today
Last week: Grayslake North lost to Johnsburg 38-17; Crystal Lake Central lost to Huntley 28-26
Outlook: Grayslake North hits the road for its season finale and will try to knock off a Crystal Lake Central team desperate for a win. The Tigers started the season 3-0 in quest of their second straight playoff berth, but they've lost four of their last five. A win would make the Tigers postseason-eligible, but they might not have enough playoff points (only 26 through Week 8) anyway to make the field as an at-large team. Grayslake North has allowed 311 points (38.9 per game), most of any team in the FVC Fox. The Knights (17.5 points per game) should be able to score against the Tigers (29.4 points allowed per game).