Scouting: Lake Co. Week 3
EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
Carmel Catholic Corsairs (2-0) at Marist Redhawks (2-0)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Carmel defeated Libertyville 21-14; Marist defeated Sandburg 25-15.
Outlook: Carmel's option offense went to the air to hold off Libertyville last week, as QB Andrew Nerup tossed a pair of touchdowns to Matt Felicelli. The Corsairs run the ball with Nerup (131 rushing yards), Mike Taylor (139 yds.) and Sean Madison (196 yds.). The leaders on defense include Ryan Hrabek (25 tackles), Matt Tripicchio (20 tackles, 1 sack), Jake Sinkovec (18 tackles) and Patrick Cox (17 tackles, 1 interception). ... Marist, which has qualified for the state playoffs only once since 1997, is off to its first 2-0 start since 2000.
- Joe Aguilar
NORTH SUBURBAN LAKE
Warren Blue Devils (1-1) at Mundelein Mustangs (0-2)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Warren lost to Maine South 35-21; Mundelein lost to Waukegan 21-0.
Outlook: The Mustangs are still searching for their first win in the Bob Stone era. Cutting down on turnovers would help the cause. Mundelein was intercepted three times last week against Waukegan. ... Warren has nothing to hang its head about after last week's loss to Maine South, one of the best teams in the state. The Blue Devils fared pretty well through the air. Quarterback Zach Shaw completed 16-of-31 passes for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns while receiver Ryan Maguire hauled in 12 catches for 135 yards.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Libertyville Wildcats (0-2) at Lake Zurich Bears (1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Libertyville lost to Carmel 21-14; Lake Zurich lost to Wheaton North 26-7.
Outlook: After missing the playoffs last year for the first time since 1996, Libertyville is in jeopardy of falling to 0-3. Wide receiver Josh Trees has scored half of the Wildcats' 4 touchdowns. ... Defending Class 7A state champ Lake Zurich had its 14-game winning streak snapped last week. The Bears averted a shutout when Tomn Flaherty scored from 9 yards out late in the fourth quarter. ... Lake Zurich defeated Libertyville 9-2 last year. Libertyville won 10-9 when the two teams met in 2006.
- Joe Aguilar
NORTH SUBURBAN PRAIRIE
Grant Bulldogs (2-0) at North Chicago Warhawks (1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Grant defeated Grayslake Central 42-28; North Chicago defeated Simeon 20-0.
Outlook: Grant has won 11 straight regular-season games. Junior Justin Cokefair, received his first start at quarterback last week and might have earned the job for the rest of the season. He rushed for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns, and also threw a TD pass. Another junior, Dan Hourihan, has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the first two weeks of the season. ... North Chicago got its first win for new head coach Darrell King last week, pitching a shutout against Simeon. Warhawks running back Cameron Scott rushed for a pair of TDs.
- Joe Aguilar
Wauconda Bulldogs (1-1) at Lakes Eagles (1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Wauconda beat Orr 39-0; Lakes lost to CL Central 30-14.
Outlook: Wauconda had all facets going last week against Orr, scoring on a passing play, on the ground and on defense with a couple of safeties. The Bulldogs got a particularly big game from Sean Lichteman, who rushed for 2 touchdowns and 47 yards. ... After winning its season opener against Grayslake North by staging a late-game rally, Lakes squandered an early lead against Crystal Lake Central. Running back Josh Gaido is coming off a 92-yard rushing performance for the Eagles.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Round Lake Panthers (0-2) at Antioch Sequoits (2-0)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Round Lake lost to Maine West 35-6; Antioch defeated Grayslake North 42-28.
Outlook: Round Lake is still seeking its first win under new head coach John Coursey and has scored just 13 points. ... Antioch running back Cameron White is off to an amazing start. He's rushed for 343 yards and 6 touchdowns (7 overall) on just 17 carries. That computes to a staggering 20.2 yards per carry. Against Grayslake North, White broke off TD runs of 25, 75, 49 and 76 yards. The win for the Sequoits was their first at home since 2005.
- Joe Aguilar
NORTH SUBURBAN CROSSOVER
Zion-Benton Zee-Bees (0-2) at Vernon Hills Cougars (2-0)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Zion-Benton lost to Niles West, 54-37; Vernon Hills def. South Elgin, 41-3.
Outlook: Zion-Benton's offense should look very familiar to Vernon Hills. The Zee-Bees also run the triple option, but are slightly different in that they run it out of a mini shotgun-Vernon Hills keeps rolling up the rushing yards and is averaging about 350 yards on the ground each game. Running back Ernie Choi and quarterback PJ Marsek led the way last week against South Elgin with 106 and 85 rushing yards respectively.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
FOX VALLY CROSSOVER
Dundee-Crown (1-1) at Grayslake North (0-2)
When: 7:45 p.m.
Last week: Dundee-Crown def. Streamwood, 21-7; Grayslake North lost to Antioch, 40-6.
Outlook: Dundee-Crown's win last week was keyed by the defense, which turned an interception into a touchdown and also got several sacks-Meanwhile, Grayslake North's defense struggled last week to keep up with Antioch running back Cameron White, who rolled up 261 yards on just 9 carries. The Knights did, however, run the ball well themselves. They tallied 273 rushing yards, which was fairly evenly distributed between five runners.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Cary-Grove Trojans (2-0) at Grayslake Central Rams (0-2)
When: 7:45 p.m.
Last week: Cary-Grove defeated Marian Central 38-17; Grayslake Central lost to Grant 42-28.
Outlook: Perennial FVC-power Cary-Grove is led by quarterback Tyler Krebs and running back Alex Hembrey. Krebs rushed for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns against Marian Central, while Hembrey had 93 yards on the ground and also a pair of scores. Hembrey rushed for 152 yards and a TD in the Trojans' season-opening win over St. Charles North ... Grayslake Central has lost 13 straight games. Led by the QB duo of Mike Gentile and Kevin O'Rourke, the Rams have at least enjoyed some success on the offensive side of the ball this season, as they've scored 49 points in two games.
- Joe Aguilar
NORTH SUBURBAN LAKE
Lk. Forest (2-0) at Stevenson (0-2)
When: Noon
Last week: Lake Forest def. Deerfield 41-32; Stevenson lost to Glenbrook South 28-21.
Outlook: Homecoming couldn't come at a better time for Stevenson, which welcomes the chance to play at home for the first time this season. The Patriots will look to get back on track after two very tough nonconference games. It will be a tall order, though, as Lake Forest is playing extremely well and is the only undefeated team in the North Suburban Lake. ... Stevenson running back Mark Weisman led the Patriot offense last week with 73 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Quarterback Zach Wujcik has thrown for 273 yards.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw