Scouting: Fox Valley Week 1

Jacobs (4-5) at Moline (9-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Browning Field

Last year: Did not play

Outlook: This season opener in the Quad Cities is a clash between two untested teams with plenty of new starters. Jacobs has 16 new position players in the lineup, including an entirely new backfield. Moline graduated 33 seniors, including 12 all-Western 6 Conference performers. Maroons coach Joel Ryser has elevated seven sophomores to plug the varsity vacancies, including three offensive linemen. All-Big 6 performers Stevie Stephenson (DT), Jordan Nunn (DE) and Tyler Rasche (P/WR) return, plus tackles-leader Grant Jasper (LB) and two other starters (QB Christian Davis and DB Blake Lanum). Massive offensive lineman Nick Krakovec (6-foot-5, 300 pounds) will miss the first month of the season with a knee strain. "We're putting those sophomores in the fire. Hopefully, they come out blazing," Ryser said. We're thin on the line, so we need to stay healthy. ... We have to block them. The first few series will determine what we're capable of doing. If we can't beat them in the (wishbone), we'll need to spread them out and throw the ball. Moline was the undefeated champion of the Western 6 last year (5-0) and has reached the playoffs 11 times in the last 13 seasons. "They're a great program and they've been very successful consistently," Jacobs coach Dean Schlueter said. "They had a very good record last year. They graduated a lot of guys, too, so we'll have to see. They obviously know how to win and they come from a great league down there, so it'll be a great opportunity for us." Jacobs returns four starters on defense: LB Joe Kordecki, DL Scott Baumbich, CB Jason Wilwerth and FS John Bolz.

Glenbard North (9-5) at Bartlett (6-4)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Millennium Field

Last year: Glenbard North 35, Bartlett 38

Outlook: Two teams with lofty aspirations square off in this annual backyard brawl, one of the best matchups in the state tonight. Glenbard North finished fourth in the rugged DuPage Valley Conference before making a surprising run to the Class 8A state title game. The No. 3-ranked team in Class 8A to start the season, according to the Associated Press, no longer flies under the radar "It was nice coming out of nowhere to have that kind of season," said Panthers coach Ryan Wilkens. "It'll be completely different this year." Glenbard North is led by senior quarterback Evan Watkins (6-6, 235), the No. 11 prospect in Illinois, according to "Edgy" Tim O'Halloran. He has committed to Northwestern. Last year Watkins threw for over 2,000 yards, rushed for 400 and accounted for 30 touchdowns. Also returning is tailback Tyler Doll (1,700 yards, 13 TDs), who will also play defense, and power fullback Jordan Brooks. The Panthers lost a lot to graduation on the offensive line and at receiver but still have explosive offensive potential. "(Watkins) is a handful, tough to tackle," Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. "And he may be playing safety again, too. He did in the playoffs. They have the fullback and tailback back from a team that finished second in the state. I'm sure they'll be hungry for us. We're neighbors, really. Many of their kids live in Carol Stream almost right across the street from where some of our kids live." Neighborhood bragging rights in this series all belong to Glenbard North, however. Bartlett has never beaten the Panthers on the field in eight tries. Bartlett's only credited victory was a 1-0 forfeit in the first game of the series in 1998, when Glenbard's teachers were on strike. That could change. Bartlett opens the season ranked No. 9 in the Daily Herald Top 20 and received AP votes in Class 8A. The Hawks are arguably the deepest, most experienced, and talented they've been since the program began in 1998. Quarterback Josh Hasenberg is trying to lead the Hawks into the playoffs for the eighth straight He has a veteran offensive line and seasoned receivers Alex VanNess and Cory Brown to target. That duo combined last year for 60 receptions and 1,000 yards.

Cary-Grove (9-2) at St. Charles North (5-5)

When: 7: 30 p.m. today

Last year: Cary-Grove 16, St. Charles North 9

Outlook: Two programs that have enjoyed great success in this decade hook up in the opener for the second straight year. The North Stars have made six straight postseason appearances, the Trojans four, though Cary-Grove has gone to the second round of the playoffs or further each of those four seasons. St. Charles North has advanced past Round 1 once. Offensively, North Stars quarterback Nick Neari and running back Kyle Harmon return along with junior center Matt Mautone. Trevor Dunne moves from the offensive line to defensive end. Other key returnees for the defensive unit include end Kasey Ro, back Mitchell Nemec, linebacker Kyle Pocci, free safety Mike Lefelstein and middle linebacker Jake Juriga, the team's best defender. "They have a Division-I prospect at middle linebacker in Juriga," Cary-Grove coach Bruce Kay said. "After that we just know they're a good football team and a good football program. Last year we were fortunate to come away with a win. We're under the impression they're running the same things as last year." The Trojans are 44-5 the last four seasons and begin the year ranked No. 5 in Class 6A and No. 15 in the Daily Herald Top 20. The junior backfield combination of speedy Alex Hembrey and tough fullback Eric Chandler (980 yards) will find the end zone in the option offense. Hembrey played safety last year and returned a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown. Misdirection is the key to both Cary-Grove's multiple-option offense and St. Charles North's wing-T. "We know each other pretty well and have some film, so our scout team has a better idea on what they do," St. Charles North coach Mark Gould said. "We'll be prepared more than last year, and what they do is different than what we see in (the Upstate Eight)." What Cary does very well offensively is the option. They do it great, they really do. Double dive, inside options. Their timing is great and they're a great program, so we've got to be prepared for what they do."

Crete-Monee (8-3) at Crystal Lake South (7-3)

When: 7:45 p.m. today at Ken Bruhn Field

Last year: Crystal Lake South, Crete-Monee

Outlook: Crystal Lake South hopes to reload, not rebuild, after 9 defensive starters and 6 on offense graduated. The untested newcomers will be tested immediately by the Warriors, who finished second last year in the SICA-South despite putting up the most points in the league (281). They return two all-league seniors on defense: linebacker Jason Braschler (6-0, 190) and end Gary Young (6-3, 240). A roster of 60 has talent, depth and experience. "They'll be coming in with a lot of speed, and sometimes that's not the best combination right off the bat because you just can't simulate that speed in practice," Gators coach Jim Stuglis said. "We don't have it. We're in for a true test, no doubt about it." The Gators begin the quest for their eighth straight playoff appearance with tailback Colin Masterson and fullback Derek Mortensen as key figures. They combined last season for 1,300 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. Each will get several carries.

Elgin (3-6) at Plainfield Central (6-4)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Memorial Field

Last year: Plainfield Central 27, Elgin 18

Outlook: Elgin hasn't been to the playoffs since 2003, a drought the Maroons hope to end behind third-year starting quarterback Tom Roth and athletic senior Jamal Cook, a receiver/running back/linebacker. The Maroons are under the new direction of coach Dave Bierman, who coached crosstown Larkin for the past three seasons. Both teams agreed to scout each other's scrimmages last week. Whether either was holding back the good stuff will be revealed in the first quarter. In the bigger picture, Elgin knows what to expect from the Wildcats, who return senior linebacker Keith Marry (6-1, 210) from a defense that gave up an average of 15.9 points per game. "Traditionally, they've always had some decent size up front and at least one running back who is key or a featured-type of back out of the I, slot or motion," Bierman said. "In the early games you'd better be able to defend the option, you'd better be able to defend the spread and you'd better be able to defend the power game because you don't know what you're going to see. You'd better have a plan going in. Offensively, you're just looking for the holes in the defense, so no matter what front it is doesn't really matter. You practice them all because you don't know which front you're going to see. Find the holes and if you can't, that's our fault."

St. Edward (1-8) at Hampshire (5-4)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at the new Hampshire High School

Last year: Hampshire 46, St. Edward 41

Outlook: This game will be played in a special atmosphere as Hampshire plays at its new football facility for the first time. Both teams should be better than they were a year ago when a back-and-forth, turnover-plagued slugfest came down to the fourth quarter. The Green Wave have 15 seniors on the roster - more than the past three seasons combined - and 16 juniors. The days of freshman playing key positions are over. The roster of 31 includes no underclassmen. Now St. Edward looks to restore the program to its former respectability "St. Ed's has gotten better every single year," Hampshire coach Dan Cavanaugh said. "Their numbers are the best they've been, so we absolutely know it's going to be a battle." Senior Cory Diaz moves from receiver to quarterback. He'll hand off to experienced fullback Moises Quiroga, a returning all-Suburban Catholic performer and a middle linebacker, and senior tailback Jimmy Mathisen. Hampshire will try to wear down St. Edward with a strong push from an all-senior offensive line and powerful fullback Joe Moore, the area's leading returning scorer with 15 touchdowns last year (732 yards). "Hampshire's a good team every year, and we expect the same out of them," St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said. "They're a big, tough team and Joe Moore is going to be a tough guy to bring down. Luckily, we have some seniors this year we think are good football players and we have some juniors to back them up. I think it'll be a good game again this year."

Geneva (9-2) at Dundee-Crown (1-8)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at D-C Bowl

Last year: Geneva 34, D-C 7

Outlook: Dundee-Crown, coming off consecutive 1-8 seasons, faces a Geneva program that has developed into a bona fide state power under coach Rob Wicinski, who played on a MAC title team at Northern Illinois in 1983. D-C hasn't enjoyed a winning season since 1995 (6-4) and is 2-18 in the last two seasons in which the Chargers have been outscored 650-251. The Vikings enter the season ranked No. 4 in Class 7A. Geneva holds a huge advantage in the trenches in this matchup. The Chargers return little experience along the offensive line. They need to protect returning quarterback Logan Kissak and third-year ball carriers Ian Salvatini and Tommy Newman. That's going to be a problem against a Geneva defensive line built like redwoods: 6-foot-4, 245-pound Cory Hofstetter (42 tackles last year), 6-foot-3, 290-pound Frank Boenzi (6 sacks in 2007) and 6-foot-5, 270-pound Andrew Clausen (4.4 tackles per game last season). "They're really, really good," D-C coach Mike Davis said of the Vikes. "They're comparable to Cary and (Crystal Lake) South. It's just a tough way to start the year, especially when you've got a lot of guys who haven't played (varsity) before. They are very physical." Geneva is led by running back Michael Ratay (1,700 yards, 29 TDs) and middle linebacker Brennan Quinn, who has 240 career tackles. "We know a little bit about them and they've got their quarterback and some other guys back," Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. "It's going to be important to protect the ball like in every game and we want to get off to a good start. It's always exciting to play that first game and we're hoping this is the first step of many."

Huntley (4-5) at Wauconda (7-3)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last year: Wauconda 27, Huntley 13

Outlook: Had Huntley won this nonconference matchup last year, the Red Raiders would have finished 5-4 instead of 4-5 and out of the playoffs. They look to make amends with a defense that returns 7 starters and a more diverse offense that features four returning linemen and senior running back Jordan Neukirch. Huntley should be tougher against the run with returning linebackers Neukirch, David Conrad, John Sunde and Marcus Popenfoose a year older, stronger and wiser. Outside of Neukirch, most of the Red Raiders who will be handling the ball will be doing so with little or no experience at the varsity level. Fourth-year coach Steve Graves believes his team has done all it could in the off-season to improve on its total of 296 passing yards in 2007, but he concedes the team is "very green on the offense." Wauconda must replace three-year starting running back Brad Wisniewski, a Class 5A All-Stater now playing for Wyoming. But coach Glen Kozlowski said his team's running style won't change much. Count on the Bulldogs to run the ball behind three-year starter Nick Eiserman at guard and four-year starter Charlie Balfour at right tackle. Center Josh Collins is also back, along with senior quarterback Garrett Dorsey.

Kaneland (4-5) at Burlington Central (6-4)

When: 7 p.m. today at Rocket Hill

Last year: Kaneland 42, Burlington Central 29

Outlook: Even though Kaneland didn't qualify for the playoffs in 2007, they still beat up the Rockets' defense for the third straight time using the spread offense. The Knights have scored 139 points in the last three meetings combined, all Kaneland victories. "Offensively, they're going to spread people out," Rockets coach Aaron Wichman said. "They're going to know where their mismatches are and try to take advantage of it. They schemed us real well the last few years. They're a well-coached football team, so that's always a pretty tough task for us, but I'd rather have it that way because after Week 1 we know what we have and what we need to work on. Our guys get excited for that Week 1 game and Kaneland's kind of a boundary rival, too. It's exciting." Former Kaneland coach Joe Thorgesen, who ran the show for 26 years, has returned as defensive coordinator for coach Tom Fedderly. Both teams will debut sophomores at quarterback. Central's Tim Maroder, who saw quality varsity playing time as a freshman, will direct the option. Kaneland's Joe Camiliere will operate in the spread.

McHenry (6-4) at Larkin (4-5)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Memorial Field

Last year: McHenry 66, Larkin 29

Outlook: This is a case of an unproven commodity facing a model of consistency. Larkin begins its quest for a second playoff appearance in three years with a new quarterback, senior Jeff Saurbaugh, and a mostly new cast of skill position players under the guidance of play-calling, first-year head coach Matt Gehrig. McHenry is one of the steadiest high school programs in the state. The Warriors have qualified for the state playoffs 21 years in a row, including the last two seasons under coach Tim Beagle. Last year's blowout wasn't as close as the final score indicated, but the Royals are hoping for better results on home turf in the season opener. Larkin plans to run the ball more than in the past with senior Brandon Cooks and junior Jalen Williams. Much of their success could depend on Saurbaugh's success in finding receivers like speedy Justin Kalusa and Yousef Salem. "We'll be prepared as well as we can possibly be," Gehrig said of Game 1. "We'll move the ball. We have to."

South Elgin (3-6) at Marmion (5-5)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Marmion 45, South Elgin 12

Outlook: South Elgin returns to where it all began. Two years ago the Storm took to Marmion's field for the first football game in school history on a Saturday afternoon. They actually led at one point before giving way to the Cadets. They'll return to Aurora in a different atmosphere as Marmion plays its first full season under permanent lights. "It's their first night game," South Elgin coach Dale Schabert noted. "That first game is big for both teams. You work all winter, summer and spring, so getting that first win is a great shot in the arm. And when you lose it's a crusher." South Elgins is bolstered by junior linebacker Sean Kolber on defense, the team's leading tackler last year. Senior Pat Rae steps in as the second starting quarterback in the program's brief, three-year history. He has a talented target to throw to in college prospect Josh Smith, a burner at wide receiver who is fully recovered from an ACL tear suffered in Week 2 of last season. Marmion's 49-man roster includes 9 returning starters, including senior quarterback Ricky Bird. He'll throw to 6-3 receiver Sean Fichtel. A senior class that was beaten soundly by Prairie Ridge in the first round of the playoffs is joined by a junior class that went 7-1-1 on the sophomore level. South Elgin has not won a season opener.

Streamwood (1-8) at Crystal Lake Central (5-4)

When: 7:45 p.m. today

Last year: Crystal Lake Central 34, Streamwood 21

Outlook: The Sabres are making strides toward respectability in coach Cal Cummins' third season. There was cautious optimism around Sabres camp, where 40-plus bodies on the varsity and some talented performers back from injury have Streamwood believing it can compete. "Now that the kids are getting excited, there are more kids coming out who want to play," Cummins said. "We have at least 22 solid people we can count on in practice and maybe more." The Sabres return quarterback Noel Rivera and athletic wide receiver Derrick King from injury. King broke his leg in Week 1 last year. Rivera broke his foot in Week 2. With little experience at running back, it will be imperative for Rivera to get the ball to King and wide receiver Tem Esikiel to stretch the field. "With the two perimeter kids and Rivera back, any weaknesses we have in the running game will be helped by getting the ball to those two guys because you have to respect them," Cummins said. CL Central opened last year with 3 straight victories followed by 4 losses in 5 games. The Tigers finished 5-4 but missed the playoffs on points because three of their opponents, including Streamwood, finished with just 1 victory and another went winless. Central will miss senior Anthony Degani, who ran for 1,167 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. He opted not to play his senior year due to recurring shoulder problems.