Scouting: Northwest suburban Week 3

MID SUBURBAN CROSSOVERS

Prospect (2-0) at Barrington (2-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Barrington Athletic Stadium

Last week: Prospect d. Conant 28-20; Barrington d. Rolling Meadows 20-13 (OT)

Outlook: Two perennial playoff teams coming off what would be considered down years for them with 5 wins meet in what figures to be an electrifying and high-powered showdown. "If No. 22 (Sam Ojuri) is on the (replay scoreboard) 14 or 15 times that's not a good sign," Prospect coach Brent Pearlman said of the Broncos' standout running back. It would be a real good sign for Barrington since Ojuri was out last week (ankle) as was DT Jacob Stackhouse (shoulder). Junior Dan Santoro stepped in with 73 yards and the game-winning TD catch from Cody Seeger, who continued to spread the ball around to different receivers, which will challenge a Prospect defense that allowed 317 yards last week. "Out of the three teams we've seen they're the most diverse team we're playing," Pearlman said. Barrington LB Alex Smith had a huge game last week with 5 tackles for losses and a sack but its 3-5-3 defense will try to keep Prospect QB Miles Osei (398 yards passing, 293 rushing, 10 total TDs) from another highlight show with top targets John Coen, Mike Przespolewski and Peter Bonahoom. "I was kind of hoping to get an answer from somebody while watching film," Barrington coach Joe Sanchez laughed of trying to stop Osei. "The biggest thing is we want to try and limit the number of big plays he's able to make, which is a lot easier said than done." Prospect has won the last 3 meetings in a series it leads 7-6.

Hoffman Estates (2-0) at Buffalo Grove (1-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Hoffman d. Elk Grove 19-6; BG lost to Palatine 42-16

Outlook: Hoffman will hit the road for the first time as it tries to go 3-0 for the first time since 1991. The Hawks' defense led by LBs Greg Carroll and Don Rathje and S Tom Dombrowski has allowed only 6 points but has multiple challenges with BG's spread offense with QB J.P. Kulick and WR Mike Cornely and RB Josh Hampton. "(Hampton) can take it to the house on any carry," said Hoffman coach Bill Helzer. "They'll challenge us and stretch us in a little different way." Hoffman will be without CB-RB Jerome Henderson (knee) and LB Rocco Silvestri (concussion) for the second straight week but Helzer was impressed with how LB Steve Green and RB Shamar McFarlane, who had both TDs, stepped in. BG thought it was on its way to a 2-0 start but committed its 4 turnovers after taking a 16-6 lead. "The mistakes we made were things we can control," said BG coach Jim Farrell. "We need to do a better job of taking care of the football and we'll be fine." Two bright spots were Matt Stadler punting for a 48-yard average and sophomore Brian Akialis' kicking that included a 31-yard field goal. BG has won 3 straight in a series it leads 11-2.

Fremd (1-1) at Wheeling (1-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Fremd d. Hersey 48-14; Wheeling lost to Schaumburg 30-16

Outlook: Fremd has encountered the possibility of starting 0-2 only twice in the last 14 years but made sure it didn't happen by racing to a 35-0 halftime lead last week. "It's a weird feeling losing that first game - there's a lot of pressure," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci. "You walk away like, 'Whew.' We did make strides and it did carry over to this week." Mike Tauchman threw for 170 yards and 2 TDs and rushed for 93 yards and 2 TDs and Mike Gyetvay also rushed for 2 TDs. The Vikings did lose LB Tom Carmody in practice (strained MCL) for at least two weeks so Brian Waslik will probably move back from DE. Wheeling had to play catchup all last week and never was able to get even or ahead as QB Matt Holmes and WR James Kurtz connected 7 times for 64 yards. Fremd has won the last 5 meetings in a series it leads 23-11.

Elk Grove (1-1) at Palatine (1-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Chic Anderson Stadium

Last week: Elk Grove lost to Hoffman Estates 19-6; Palatine d. Buffalo Grove 42-16

Outlook: Digging a 13-point hole wasn't the way Palatine planned to rebound from an opening loss. But the Pirates took off and scored the final 36 points as Jack Hansen stepped in at RB to score 4 TDs and MLB Ryan Cortez led an opportunistic defense. "Offensively we found a groove a little bit and defensively we started playing better and harder," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly. "I think the kids were like, 'This (another loss) isn't happening.'" Donnelly also liked how QB Matt Rossi and WR Jose Munoz played and said it looks like RB Chris Norman and WR Jamie Silveira should be back from injury. Elk Grove also showed plenty of resolve as it got within 9-6 and had the ball in Hoffman territory in the fourth quarter behind RB-LB Jake Meyer, sophomore QB Nick Meyer and DE Andy Mack. "We haven't faced a running back that big and he's a tough kid," Donnelly said. "I think they're a very sound and good football team." Elk Grove has won the last 4 meetings in a series it leads 9-8.

Rolling Meadows (1-1) at Conant (1-1)

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

Last week: Meadows lost to Barrington 20-13 (OT); Conant lost to Prospect 28-20

Outlook: This wasn't far from being a showdown of 2-0 teams as Meadows led in the fourth quarter and Conant was going in for a tie late in the game but committed its fourth turnover on the Prospect 10. But moving the ball for 317 yards with QB Sean Smith and RB Kendall Lane combining to rush for 196 was another good sign for a Conant team that won just 2 games last year. "I think they can see it," said Conant coach Bill Modelski. "That was certainly my message after the game, 'Look at where we're at here.' We had them kind of where we wanted them." Meadows was also hurt by 3 turnovers but has plenty of threats to test Conant in QB Jimmy Garoppolo, RB Daquan Edwards and versatile Steve Orchell. Conant leads the series 18-10.

Schaumburg (1-1) at Hersey (0-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Roland Goins Stadium

Last week: Schaumburg d. Wheeling 30-16; Hersey lost to Fremd 48-14

Outlook: Schaumburg scheduled an opener with a team the caliber of Maine South so it knew where it stood and needed to go from there. The payoff was immediate last week as QB Anthony Iannotti threw for 152 yards and a TD and Shepard Little rushed for 74 yards and 3 TDs. "They showed some resolve in the way they approached last week," said Schaumburg coach Mark Stilling. "It would have been easy to chalk it up to Maine South (52-20 win) being pretty good. To a man they said this is not the way it's supposed to be." Iannotti had some soreness in the AC joint in his throwing shoulder but Stilling expected him to play. The defense will also be bolstered by the return of safeties Mike Valenti (knee) and Alex Coglianese after missing two weeks to help with dangerous Hersey QB Steve Nelson. "There's a great kind of competition for starting spots we've seen all over this week," Stilling said. Hersey has won the last 3 meetings in a series it leads 8-6.

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

St. Viator (2-0) at St. Patrick (2-0)

When: 8 p.m. today at Hanson Stadium

Last week: St. Viator d. Plainfield North 19-17; St. Patrick d. New Trier 14-13

Outlook: Viator heads to Chicago's Northwest Side for its second straight tough trip after a long haul to Plainfield North. "It was a challenge but we got through it," Viator coach Chris Kirkpatrick said as his team seeks its fourth straight 3-0 start. "The kids were mature enough to handle it and now we've got another one. You just never know when you're going to play (with Public League games earlier in the day)." And the Lions also get a St. Patrick team Kirkpatrick said "will be sky-high" after completing a comeback from a 10-point deficit on Dan DiCanio's 56-yard TD pass to Pat Whalen at 1:16. The Shamrocks also stopped four New Trier drives into its territory and beat Proviso East 17-13 with 14 second-half points and a stand at the 1 with 45 seconds left. "Defensively they get after it, they line up and they're going to blitz the heck out of you," Kirkpatrick said. "Their linebackers and line up front are big. They come and get you and they aren't very nice." Kirkpatrick said the Lions will have to run the ball better with Nick Niro and QB Julian Sipiora and try to produce drives similar to last week's seven-minute game-ender. The Lions did lose senior OG David Beiswinger to a broken leg last week. The two teams didn't play the last two years and are 7-7 since 1985.

CENTRAL SUBURBAN CROSSOVER

Maine West (1-1) at Evanston (0-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Murney Lazier Field

Last week: Maine West d. Round Lake 35-6; Evanston lost to Hubbard 38-20

Outlook: The defense led by DT Dan Savino and the return from injury of LB Brendan Joyce allowed only 63 total yards with solid fundamentals. This week's challenge will be a lot different in the first home night game in Evanston history. "We've got to be ready for a lot of different things," Maine West coach Chris Hare said of the Wildkits running a variety from spread, power and no-huddle. Maine West also had 314 total yards of offense as QB Frank Hess threw 2 TDs and ran for another and sophomore Calvin Williams rushed for 61 yards and a TD but Hare thought the execution slipped after a 28-point first half. Evanston, in its first year under former Driscoll coach Mike Burzawa, got its first offensive TD of the year last week on George Sorensen's pass to Josh Perryman but scored twice off blocked punts. "They may be 0-2 but the two teams (opening 13-0 loss to West Chicago) are very high-quality teams," Hare said. "We have to do a great job to not turn over the ball and we've got to establish the run game (Evanston gave up 368 yards last week)." Maine West, which lost 27-26 last year and has beaten Evanston only once in 14 tries since 1976, also gets WR Danny Lowe back from injury.

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD

Leyden (1-1) at Hinsdale South (0-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Leyden lost to Glenbard West 23-2; Hinsdale South lost to Proviso West 7-3

Outlook: This starts a big stretch of games Leyden needs to get to return to the postseason after facing WSC Silver title contender Glenbard West last week. "Proviso West might be pretty good so it will be an interesting night for us," said Leyden coach Tom Cerasani. "Hopefully we can move the ball better than last week and I think they'll be able to. If we can stop their running game I think we'll be OK." And Cerasani thought his defense led by LB Adam Schammert and DT Jeff Cascella played pretty well to give Leyden opportunities but it managed only 104 yards of offense. Hinsdale South scored 21 unanswered fourth-quarter points in a 41-28 opening-night loss to Rolling Meadows.