Scouting the Fremd-Glenbard North game

CLASS 8A QUARTERFINAL

No. 2 Fremd (11-0) at No. 14 Glenbard North (7-4)

When: 7 p.m. Saturday

Road to the quarterfinals: Fremd d. No. 15 Stevenson 21-19, No. 7 Loyola 17-14; Glenbard North d. No. 3 Whitney Young 23-0, No. 6 York 35-13

Playoff history: Fremd is looking to advance past the quarterfinals for the first time after losing 21-7 to York last year and 18-13 to Stevenson in 1996. This is Glenbard North's fourth quarterfinal trip and first since 2000 when it finished second in Class 6A. It was also second in 1991 and made the semifinals in 1982 in 6A.

Familiar foes: Fremd is 7-1 against Glenbard North -- they met six times in season openers from 1991-96 and also played in 1968 and 1972 during the Panthers' five-year stint in the Mid-Suburban League.

Don't be fooled by the record: Glenbard North needed a season-ending 14-7 win over West Aurora to get in the playoffs. But its losses were all to playoff teams and 3 were by a combined 15 points to defending 8A champ and unbeaten Wheaton Warrenville South, Naperville Central and Crystal Lake South. The only blowout was 37-7 to 10-1 Naperville North. "Those are four pretty good teams," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci. "Their record is nowhere near an indication of how good they are." Since the Panthers got into the playoffs, they've been rolling and led 35-0 after three quarters last week. "There's definitely some excitement," said Glenbard North coach Ryan Wilkens. "With the ups and downs we've had all season, we're just focused on one game at a time."

Dynamic junior duo: Fremd's defense led by LB Nick Hillard (86 tackles, 12 tackles for losses), LB Kevin Krieter (50 tackles, 10 TFL), DT John LaPointe (48 tackles, 4 TFL), DE Ben Perna (47 tackles, 16 TFL, 6½ sacks) and DBs Mike Tauchman (5 INTs) and Brian Hipchen (4 INTs) will be tested by a pair of junior standouts. Tyler Doll leads the run-oriented Panthers with 1,400 yards despite missing the season opener with an injury but 6-6 QB Evan Watkins is a threat as he's completed 55 percent of his passes for 1,500 yards. "They do a good job of rolling (Watkins) out and (Doll) is very quick," Donatucci said. "They're very similar to Loyola. Athletic-wise they could be as good as Loyola and they're very physical on both sides of the line." Senior Matt Ng has 48 catches for 615 yards and 8 TDs, TE Jim Montgomery (6-3, 230) is a big target and all-DuPage Valley pick Nick Iossi (5-10, 215) leads the way up front for a team that cut its turnovers from 4 in the first round to zero last week. "It's amazing how sharp you look when you don't turn the ball over," Wilkens said.

"Jet" gets grounded: Junior RB Mike Gyetvay (1,014 yards, 12 TDs) is done for the season after suffering ligament and muscle damage to his right elbow after his third carry of the game against Loyola. Senior Derrick Walker (342 yards, 6 TDs) stepped in with 52 yards and a TD and LB Nick Hillard got 22 of his 28 yards on the Vikings' final possession that ate up seven minutes. "Hopefully Derrick will be able to carry the load," Donatucci said. "Nick is there if we need him." But Fremd isn't hurting for weapons with QB Mark Tolzien (1,748 yards, 17 TDs, 8 INTs) and receivers Mike Koeneman (50 catches, 685 yards, 8 TDs), Andrew Corso (33-438, 2 TDs) and Tauchman (28-401, 4 TDs). A key to Glenbard North's defensive resurgence was the move of Montgomery to DE-OLB, while LB Adrian Leal (6-0, 220) is the group's leader and DB Justin Wahrman got his eighth INT last week. "They pressure well and they're very aggressive," Donatucci said. "They run well and we'll have our hands full. They're going to defend the pass by putting pressure on you." Donatucci said Gyetvay has received two different opinions on whether he will need surgery.

Half good, half not-so good: Fremd has scored all of its playoff points in the first half. Its eight combined possessions to start the second half in the playoffs have netted 23 total yards. "Looking back we haven't really played a full game all year," Tolzien said. "You're not going to have a perfect game at this time of year, but we can't have a full quarter and a half of not moving the ball." But the Vikings have put their opponents in a comeback mode. "The main thing is getting points on the board and I don't care what quarter they're in," Donatucci said. "It's important for us to get out in front because it allows us to do our thing defensively."

No satisfaction yet: Avoiding a repeat of last year's quarterfinal exit was on the Vikings' minds at practice this week. "I can think back to the week of practice against York," LaPointe said. "We were all happy to be in the quarterfinals and it (tempo) was slow. We were satisfied."

Advancement: The Fremd-Glenbard North winner will be on the road for the semifinals against the victor of Saturday's 1 p.m. Mt. Carmel-Maine South game at Chicago's Gately Stadium.

-- Marty Maciaszek