Scouting: Week 3 in the Fox Valley

Larkin (1-1) at Bartlett (2-0)

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

Last year: Larkin 42, Bartlett 35

Last week: Larkin 20, Jacobs 19; Bartlett 17, Oswego 0

Outlook: Bartlett, ranked No. 7 in Class 8A by the Associated Press this week, will try to end a two-game losing streak against the Royals in the Upstate Eight Conference opener for both teams. Larkin won the 2006 meeting 22-21. This is the seventh game in a series that dates back to 1998. The teams split the previous six matchups. Bartlett has a high-octane offense fueled by a strong offensive line, running backs Fabian Libreri (163 yards, TD last week) and Corleon Richardson, quarterback Josh Hasenberg and senior receivers Alex VanNess and Cory Brown. Larkin's offense has been coming along. The coaching staff was hired in late June, too late to settle on personnel to participate in summer passing leagues. Despite missing hundreds of such reps against high school competition last summer, Larkin quarterback Jeff Saurbaugh and his receivers are beginning to find their rhythm. The offensive line is more settled in Week 3 and the running tandem of Brandon Cooks and Jalen Williams is proving to be potent. They combined for 139 of Larkin's 248 total yards last week. "We're definitely getting better every week offensively," Larkin coach Matt Gehrig said. "I think the offensive line will get a lot better as they get used to playing together. As far as the receivers and quarterback go, I think it's just getting the timing down. The next couple of weeks I think we'll start getting a little sharper on the offensive side of the ball." Larkin now runs a 4-4 defense similar to Bartlett's. "They kind of mirror our defense a little bit," Hawks coach Tom Meaney said. "It's solid stuff, good stuff. They're pretty solid in the middle of that defensive line. They're big up front and the linebackers move. It's another challenge, another week."

Kankakee (0-2) at Elgin (0-2)

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

Last year: Elgin 35, Kankakee 26

Last week: West Aurora 41, Elgin 26; T.F. South 7, Kankakee 6

Outlook: Seeking their first victory, the Maroons hope to get in the win column against a senior-heavy Kankakee team that has come up short in 2 close games. The Kays fell by 1 point last week and dropped a 17-14 decision to Bradley-Bourbonnais in Week 1. Elgin gave up touchdowns on punt coverage and kick coverage last week. "Special teams really hurt us, so it's been an emphasis this week in practice to say the least," Elgin coach Dave Bierman said. Elgin senior Jamal Cook made 4 receptions for 110 yards 2 touchdowns and rushed 6 times for 62 yards and another score last week.

"We're trying to get him solidified at one spot, but if things aren't going as well as we'd like them to, he's definitely a difference-maker and we'd like to get him the ball," Bierman said. "We're going to try to do that." Many key players return from the Kankakee squad Elgin defeated on the road last season, including Jalon Banks (420 yards on 48 carries in 2007) and quarterback Charles Smith. They are protected by offensive linemen James Banks (5-foot-10, 300 pounds) and LaVar Kellogg (5-10, 290). Smith is a left-handed quarterback with good speed. The Kays use play action, so the Elgin secondary has to keep from biting on the fake. Fullback/linebacker Cody Thomas remains sidelined with injury, but the Maroons will get a lift from junior defensive lineman Julian Smith, who missed the West Aurora game. Bierman credited the efforts of several players, including two-way performers Erik McGinn (OL/LB), Hector Hernandez (OL/DL) and senior Tom Roth (QB/S). Last week Roth completed 15-of-35 passes for 235 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception and made several tackles from his safety position.

South Elgin (0-2) at East Aurora (0-2)

When: today at 7:30 p.m. at East Aurora Stadium

Last year: South Elgin 42, East Aurora 2

Last week: Vernon Hills 41, South Elgin 3; Yorkville 21, East Aurora 8

Outlook: South Elgin hopes to get on track with a win at East Aurora, the team the Storm beat for its first varsity victory last season. Injuries at running back and tailback mean an assortment of ball carriers will get auditions against the Tomcats. The offense has been effective between the 20s, but drives have either stalled out in the red zone or ended in turnovers too many times. "That's got to get fixed," South Elgin coach Dale Schabert said. "Once we get that done, we'll start putting some points up and the confidence will come." A Storm defense that has been vulnerable against the run must protect against East Aurora's speed. South Elgin allowed 362 yards rushing to Vernon Hills last week and might be without 2007 leading tackler Sean Kolber for the second straight week, though he could be cleared medically by game time. East Aurora led Yorkville 8-0 last week, but 4 fumbles and 29 total yards in the second half ended that upset bid. The Tomcats had another problem last week. Two arrests were made on the East Aurora sideline and play was halted briefly because "East High players were fighting when parents jumped in," according to the Aurora Beacon-News, which quoted a Yorkville police report.

Streamwood (0-2) at St. Charles North (1-1)

When: today at 7:30 p.m.

Last year: St. Charles North 34, Streamwood 7

Last week: Dundee-Crown 21, Streamwood 7; St. Charles North 26, McHenry 12

Outlook: The Sabres open Upstate Eight Conference play against the North Stars, who have won the last six meetings in this series. Streamwood's lone win against St. Charles North was a 14-12 victory in 2001. Look for wide receiver Derrick King to get more touches at running back. He carried 22 times for 135 yards and a touchdown last week. "He's a pretty talented athlete and we just felt the easiest way to get him the ball more was to move him into the backfield," Streamwood coach Cal Cummins said. "It's an adjustment because he hasn't carried the ball. It's a change for him. But he's athletic and some of the things he didn't do very well last week still turned out well because he can make plays." St. Charles North quarterback Nic Neari ran for 2 touchdowns and threw a short pass for another in the North Stars' victory over McHenry. North has committed 7 turnovers in 2 games. Streamwood quarterback Noel Rivera was intercepted twice last week, and one of those picks was returned for a touchdown. Otherwise, he completed 11-of-23 attempts for 116 yards. Joey Hanover was his favorite target with 3 catches for 55 yards.

Burlington Central (0-2) at Byron (0-2)

When: today at 7 p.m.

Last year: Burlington Central 20, Byron 14

Last week: Sycamore 33, Central 14; Rock Island Alleman 18, Byron 14

Outlook: The Rockets are 0-2 for the first time since 1995 after tangling with Western Sun Conference teams Kaneland and Sycamore. "We think our lines on both sides of the ball have performed pretty well, but both weeks they've been physically overmatched," Central coach Aaron Wichman said. "We should match up a little better with Byron." The Tigers are running the ball more than last season, when they operated almost exclusively out of the shotgun spread. The Byron offense still spreads the field occasionally, but it more often utilizes a traditional scheme. Last week Byron ran 29 times and threw 13 passes. Tailback Kyle Smith had 22 carries for 155 yards and a touchdown against Alleman, and quarterback David Boyle completed 6-of-13 passes for 35 yards and a touchdown. Brady Scheffler caught 5 of those passes for 35 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown reception. The Rocket defense will be without starting weak-side linebacker Brandon Westergaard, who broke his arm and is wearing a soft cast that will keep him out at least three weeks. Central's offense is close to a breakout performance, according to the head coach. "Really the thing we have to clean up offensively is making sure we're in the right spots at the right time," Wichman said. "As far as effort and running hard, they've been doing those things. The offensive line is coming together now that we've had two weeks to work together. I tell the kids we live in a world of instant gratification, and if you don't get results right away people aren't used to that. So we're working at getting better."

Hampshire (0-2) at Oregon (2-0)

When: today at 7 p.m.

Last meeting: Hampshire 28, Oregon 0, 2005

Last week: Oregon 44, North Boone 19; Winnebago 21, Hampshire 13

Outlook: Hampshire is off to its first 0-2 start since 2002, when the Whip-Purs lost their first 5 games. It's a foreign feeling for a program that went at least 2-0 the last four seasons. "We're definitely used to coming out of the gate a little bit better," Hampshire coach Dan Cavanaugh said. "We've got some things to work on." The Whip-Purs will try to upend run-happy Oregon, which rushed 59 times last week for 371 yards and 6 touchdowns against North Boone (1-1). Carries are split between Nick Snyder, Nick MeEown and Carson Andrew, but Snyder led the group with 17 carries for 155 yards and 2 touchdowns last week. He has rushed for 320 yards in 2 games. "I don't think they've thrown a pass yet this year, but they haven't had to," Cavanaugh said. "They have been very impressive running the ball." Cavanaugh said his team has yet to hit its stride offensively, but he sees improvement in first-time varsity quarterback Evan Brenner and the offense overall. The Whips have cost themselves with turnovers and penalties that have nullified big plays. Nevertheless, Oregon remains wary of Hampshire fullback Joe Moore and wingback James Goebbert. "Nobody's really stopped Moore, just limited him from going nuts," Oregon coach John Bothe said. "We'll just have to be really disciplined and the battle has to be won on the line of scrimmage. We have to slow down their running game. They're solid on offense and have a good, aggressive defense." Returning lineman Justin Dvorak is a key player for the Oregon defense.

St. Edward (2-0) at Immaculate Conception (1-1)

When: Saturday at 1 p.m. at Jack Lewis Stadium

Last year: IC 21, St. Edward 20

Last week: St. Edward 48, Hiawatha 0; IC. 25, Walther Lutheran 7

Outlook: It's been a somber week for the St. Edward family following the passing of Richard Budish III, 45, the father of junior guard Rich Budish IV. The team canceled practice Wednesday to attend the wake and supported the Budish family at the funeral on Thursday morning. "This is far more important than football for our football family and we'll do what we can to help the Budish family," St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said. "This crew has been through a lot together the last three years. I know they'll want to boost Rich's spirits with a win and keep the ball rolling." From a football perspective, the Green Wave still have much to prove despite starting 2-0 for the first time since 2002. The Suburban Catholic Conference tests begin Saturday afternoon with the league opener in Elmhurst. The Wave is led offensively by the 1-2 punch of fullback Moises Quiroga (17 carries, 159 yards, 2 TDs) and Jimmy Mathisen (27-140, 4 TDs). The Knights have some strong offensive linemen in Robert Peachy (6-0, 205), Matt Purdom (6-5, 260), Robert Rivera (6-2, 290) and Marco Medina (5-10, 255). They paved the way for fullback Carlos Rodriguez and tailback Paul Hornstra to combine for 304 of IC's 367 rushing yards last week against Walther Lutheran. The Knights haven't lost to the Green Wave since 2003, but they aren't taking their old rivals lightly. "If people don't take St. Edward seriously this year they're gonna get beat," IC coach Bill Schmidt said. "They're a good football team and they're 2-0 for a reason. They're trying to turn the corner this season and we're happy to be the first (SCC team) to play them. We're excited about the challenge and wouldn't want it any other way."

Dundee-Crown (1-1) at Grayslake North (0-2)

When: today at 7:45 p.m.

Last week: Dundee-Crown 21, Streamwood 7; Antioch 40, Grayslake North 6

Outlook: This is the first meeting on the gridiron between these Fox Valley Conference schools. The Chargers have a chance in this divisional crossover to move above .500 three games into a season for the first time since 2002. The Chargers' 7 points allowed last week were the lowest by a D-C defense since Week 4 of the 2005 season. Linebacker David Hopkins made a team-high 12 tackles and an interception against Streamwood. The D-C offense rushed for 132 yards last week, led by senior Ian Salvatini's 65 yards on 18 carries. Salvatini also caught a 74-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Logan Kissack. Third-year fullback Tommy Newman will suit up for the first time this season after serving a suspension. That's good news for the Charger running game, which should find headway against a Knights defense that allowed Antioch running back Cameron White to amass 261 yards on 9 carries last week. Grayslake North did rush for 273 yards of its own between five running backs. Because Dundee-Crown played a Saturday afternoon game, the coaching staff had the opportunity to see Grayslake North play Antioch last Friday night. "The first time they had the ball they drove right down the field, but penalties killed them," D-C coach Mike Davis said of the Knights. "They're pretty good. They have big linemen that can move and backs that can run. And they were beating Lakes the week before until the end of the game. It's at their place and they'll be fired up. If we can stop their run, we'll be all right. We've had a good week of practice, so we hope to play a good game."

Crystal Lake South (1-1) at Johnsburg (1-1)

When: today at 7:45 p.m. at Johnsburg athletic field

Last meeting: CL South 28, Johnsburg 0, 2006

Last week: Glenbard North 34, CL South 17; Johnsburg 28, Richmond-Burton 17

Outlook: This is the first meeting between these Fox Valley Conference teams since the 2006 season opener. The Gators begin inter-division play in the FVC after two tough nonconference games against Glenbard North and Crete-Monee, the latter of which lost 7-6 to Rock Island last week. "We knew the early schedule wasn't going to be easy, but we think in the long run it's going to benefit us," Gators coach Jim Stuglis said. "We'll see (tonight) if it does benefit us." The Gators 3-3-5 defense will try to stop the passing attack of the aptly named Skyhawks. Johnsburg is led by quarterback Jerad Grundy, who is committed to the University of Miami (Fla.) on a baseball scholarship. He has a big target to throw to in 6-foot-7 junior C.J. Fiedorowicz, but another receiver has been more prolific. Of Grundy's 377 passing yards 206 have been racked up by Brad Potts compared to 116 yards for Fiedorowicz. "He really hasn't been a factor in the first couple of games in what they were trying to accomplish," Stuglis said. "I think everybody spends so much time trying to stop him that they forget about everyone else on the team. I think we're a little more balanced, but we have prepared some stuff in case (Fiedorowicz) starts going crazy. We'll try to stop him with our base stuff and see if we can cause some turnovers and get to the quarterback early." CL South running back Colin Masterson returns to the lineup this week, but Kevin Scott could miss the game due to an upper respiratory infection. Scott ran for 36 yards on 18 tough carries against Glenbard North last week.

Cary-Grove (2-0) at Grayslake Central (0-2)

When: today at 7:45 p.m.

Last meeting: Cary-Grove 49, Grayslake Central 6, 2006

Last week: Cary-Grove 38, Marian Central 17; Grant 42, Grayslake Central 28

Outlook: The Trojans played disciplined football last week in a quality victory over Marian. The option offense rushed for 337 yards and did not turn the ball over. Junior quarterback Tyler Krebs carried 17 times for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns. "Those yards were mostly from tackle to tackle. Tyler's a good inside runner," Cary-Grove coach Bruce Kay said. "He's done a great job of executing the triple option. He does all three phases well: he makes good reads, he can keep it and he pitches the ball well. He's playing as well as any junior quarterback we've had." Kay also credited the play of offensive linemen Cody Heche, Hayden Baker, Kevin McCowan, Augie Bobrytzke, Mike Schoch and tight end John Bryan, saying Cary-Grove hasn't had an offensive line perform this well this early since the 2004 season. The Trojans made a state title-game appearance that year. Grayslake Central is on a 13-game losing streak, but the Rams have scored 49 points this season, led by the quarterback rotation of Mike Gentile and Kevin O'Rourke. "They have some good speed and they make big plays on offense," Kay said. "And their defense is aggressive. I'm confident that we're going to be in for a battle." Cary-Grove's Alex Hembrey has rushed for 245 yards and 3 touchdowns.

McHenry (1-1) at Huntley (2-0)

When: today at 7:45 p.m. at Harmony Road Campus Field

Last meeting: McHenry 21, Huntley 14, 2006

Last week: Huntley 45, Elmwood Park 8; St. Charles North 26, McHenry 12

Outlook: These teams haven't met since Week 2 of the 2006 season. The balanced Huntley offense rushed for 245 yards and junior quarterback Brandon Luczak threw for 118 and 2 touchdowns against Elmwood Park. The Red Raiders are 2-0 for the first time since 2001, but they face their toughest test yet against the Warriors. "Those were two (nonconference wins) that we figured we had to get because we know it's going to get a lot tougher quick," Huntley coach Steve Graves said. The McHenry offense still runs the ball, but the Warriors are putting it in the air more than in the past behind quarterback Ryan Michel, who has thrown for 216 yards. He can just as easily tuck and run. "They've got a dual threat in that quarterback running and throwing," Graves said. "That really surprised us to see them in so much spread shotgun. They would definitely like to throw the ball this year, too, so that makes it equally tough. And their defense is just so quick and they have such depth. We only counted one two-way player. Even most of their subs are mostly one-way players."

Jacobs (1-1) at Crystal Lake Central (2-0)

When: today at 7:45 p.m. at Owen Metcalf Field

Last meeting: Jacobs 38, CL Central 27, 2005

Last week: Larkin 20, Jacobs 19; Crystal Lake Central 30, Lakes 14

Outlook: This is the first meeting between these longtime rivals since the Fox Valley Conference split into divisions. They last faced off in Week 6 of the 2005 season. Central is off strong efforts against Streamwood (0-2) and Lakes (1-1), but the level of competition jumps a notch this week against the Golden Eagles, who turned the ball over 4 times last week against Larkin. "Our execution needs to be sharper and we can't turn the ball over," Jacobs coach Dean Schlueter said. "That's an old adage, but we've been on both sides of it in the first two weeks. That's going to be the deal." Jacobs running back Jai Bradford rushed 9 times for 57 yards and 2 touchdowns, and quarterback Alec Starr completed 7-of-13 passes for 151 yards and rushed for a score. The Tigers' double-wing offense is based on misdirection. Jacobs will have to watch running back Anthony Niemo, who has rushed for 160 yards to go with 90 yards receiving. The hungry Golden Eagles look to bounce back after narrowly missing out on a 2-0 start. "In the two games we've played we've played extremely hard," Schlueter said. "Crystal Lake Central is talented on both sides of the ball. They're sound defensively and they'll come after you and smack you around. The turnovers are always going to be a huge factor for us. We can't lose that turnover battle."