Scouting: Week 5 in Cook County

Preview: Rolling Meadows at Wheeling

Mid-Suburban East Conference Rolling Meadows (2-2) Wheeling (2-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Meadows lost to Fremd 14-7; Wheeling d. Hoffman 39-3

Outlook: One of last year's MSL East co-champions gets a shot at making an immediate statement with four teams entering the race at .500. Wheeling rebounded from losses to Schaumburg and Fremd as S Mike Zimmer's play in all three phases typified last week's performance. "The guys played well in all aspects of the game," said Wheeling coach Dave Dunbar. "Everybody played very well." Zimmer and Mike Barton returned punts for TDs and Matt Splon had a big momentum-changing interception to start the second half. Wheeling QB Matt Holmes (490 yards passing, 3 TDs; 224 rushing, 6 TDs), RB Weston Ross, WR James Kurtz (19 catches, 230 yards, 2 TDs) and Zimmer will go up against a tough Meadows defense that hung tough in losses to Barrington and Fremd. "Their defense is always good," Dunbar said. "Upfront they're tough and fly around to the football and they get after you." Meadows couldn't capitalize on a bunch of early chances to increase a 7-0 lead but has dangerous threats in QB Jimmy Garoppolo (487 yards passing, 3 TDs; 265 rushing, 3 TDs), RB Daquan Edwards (163 yards, 4 TDs) and WRs Mick Viken (12 catches, 223 yards, 2 TDs) and Steve Orchell (12 for 133, 2 TDs). "(Garoppolo) runs the ball well and takes care of the ball," Dunbar said, "and he makes the right read on the zone play with the running back." Meadows has won nine straight in a series it leads 16-8.

Preview: Buffalo Grove at Prospect

Mid-Suburban East Conference Buffalo Grove (2-2) Prospect (2-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at George Gattas Stadium

Last week: BG lost to Barrington 39-14; Prospect lost to Schaumburg 54-33

Outlook: Another pivotal early game in the East race as Prospect comes off the most points its allowed since 1995 and tries to avoid its first 3-game losing streak since 1999. "That was really unbelievable and I can't really explain it," Prospect coach Brent Pearlman said of last week's 54 points allowed. "It's not like we have terrible personnel. But we don't play with a lot of confidence and we don't have guys flying to the football." And the Knights will be challenged again by RBs Josh Hampton and Kevin Mulligan, QB J.P. Kulick (504 yards, 5 TDs) and WR Mike Cornely. "The timing of playing Barrington right before going into the East is going to help us," said BG coach Jim Farrell. "We had small amounts of success and learned some hard lessons a few times." The Bison defense led by Alan Baxter, John Pischak and Kyle Czarnecki will try to contain Prospect QB Miles Osei (842 yards passing, 9 TDs; 353 rushing, 5 TDs) and his crew of WRs that is without John Coen for the rest of the year with a separated shoulder. "Our best defense is keeping Miles on the bench," Farrell said. "That's our mindset. He's a great high school football player and a great athlete." Prospect has won three straight and 10 of 12 to take a 12-10 series lead.

Preview: Elk Grove at Hersey

Mid-Suburban East Conference Elk Grove (1-3) Hersey (0-4)

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

Last week: Elk Grove lost to Conant 20-13; Hersey lost to Palatine 56-14

Outlook: In the wide-open MSL East the winner will build some early confidence. Elk Grove has lost 3 straight but played well last week and got a boost last week as Josh Anderson rushed for 77 yards and a TD. "They're really physical and they get behind that offensive line and run it," said Hersey coach Mark Gunther. "I'm impressed with their quarterback (sophomore Nick Meyer). Defensively they hit you and they're physical." Hersey finished a rough crossover schedule with Fremd, Schaumburg and Palatine (combined 9-3) but has shown progress offensively with QB Steve Nelson and WR Kyle Mengarelli. "Our schedule has been really strong and I felt at times we played really well with those teams and had opportunities," Gunther said. "Going through the stuff we've been through will certainly have prepared us." Elk Grove has won 7 of 9 to take a 14-9 series lead.

Preview: Fremd at Schaumburg

Mid-Suburban West Conference Fremd (3-1) Schaumburg (3-1)

When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Conant's Feutz Field

Last week: Fremd d. Meadows 14-7; Schaumburg d. Prospect 54-33

Outlook: Schaumburg puts its 3-game winning streak to the test against a Fremd team with three straight outright and five straight overall West titles and a 19-game division winning streak. "Our kids have a healthy level of confidence," said Saxons coach Mark Stilling. "But they also have a tremendous amount of respect for Fremd." And Fremd's defense, which got a boost last week with the return of DE-LB Ben Perna to go with LB Jonathan Diegel and a series of big early red-zone stops, certainly respects Schaumburg's weapons of QB Anthony Iannotti (74 percent passing, 787 yards, 9 TDs, 0 INT; 217 rushing, 2 TDs), RB Shepard Little (485 yards, 8 TDs) and WR Josh Spandiary (22 catches, 259 yards, 2 TDs). "They use their people very well and the passing game seems to have good chemistry with Iannotti and Spandiary," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci. "They do a lot of good stuff." Fremd's offensive diversity with QB Mike Tauchman (581 yards passing, 4 TDs; 262 rushing, 3 TDs), RB Mike Gyetvay (292 yards, 5 TDs), WR Andrew Corso (20 for 350, 2 TDs) and kick-return threat Evan Wright (3 TDs). "Gyetvay is one of the hardest-running kids around and Tauchman isn't your old-school Fremd quarterback but I like him - he's gritty and tough," Stilling said. "Tauchman and 'Jet' are legitimate ballcarriers." Schaumburg is back to full strength with Perish Bell, Warren Brewer and Trevor Henry back this week for a series where Fremd has won 6 straight and leads 13-8.

Preview: Barrington at Hoffman Estates

Mid-Suburban West Conference Barrington (4-0) Hoffman Estates (2-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Garber Stadium

Last week: Barrington d. BG 39-14; Hoffman lost to Wheeling 39-3

Outlook: Don't expect Barrington to look past this one after losing for only the third time in 19 meetings 14-12 at home last year. And the Broncos haven't looked back their last two games as they've lead a combined 70-0 after three quarters. "That's a very good sign to see us come out like that," said Broncos coach Joe Sanchez. "All three phases we've been able to come out strong. There's no doubt those guys remember last year's game but I don't think that's their greatest source of motivation." Getting back to the playoffs is, which the Broncos can actually qualify for with a win in their best start since they won their first eight in 2003. And Sanchez likes how everything has clicked from special teams with K Ryan Murach to the offense with QB Cody Seeger (73 percent passing, 521 yards, 6 TDs) and RB Sam Ojuri (276 yards, 3 TDs) to the defense anchored by LBs Jason Bromm, Cam Good and Alex Smith. Hoffman got its offense going a bit with 273 yards last week behind QB Frank Wadas and RBs Foyin Alade and Shamar McFarlane. "Watching this team it all starts with Wadas," Sanchez said. "He's a tough kid who's been in this position and he proved it against us last year." Barrington CB Jason Taylor returned from injury last week but OL Tyler Sinclair is still a week away.

Preview: Palatine at Conant

Mid-Suburban West Conference Palatine (3-1) Conant (2-2)

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

Last week: Palatine d. Hersey 56-14; Conant d. Elk Grove 20-13

Outlook: Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly summed this one up nicely. "I told our kids it's going to be a Tylenol game," Donnelly said. "It'll be a headache game because it's going to be physical." But Palatine's high-powered offense presents plenty of headaches as it comes off its most points since it scored 63 in 1992 and is looking for its fourth straight 40-plus point game for the first time since 1996. Matt Rossi (838 yards passing, 7 TDs; 244 rushing, 5 TDs), RB Jack Hansen (321 yards, 7 TDs) and WRs Jose Munoz (23 catches, 441 yards, 4 TDs), Jamie Silveira and Mike Luschen present a formidable challenge. "Offensively every place you look they have pretty good skill kids," said Conant coach Bill Modelski. "The trick for us is to try to limit their big plays. We have to really make an effort to control the clock. That's going to be really huge." The Cougars will try to do it with QB Sean Smith (353 yards passing; 292 rushing, 3 TDs) and RB Kendall Lane (276 yards) on a Palatine defense that will be without MLB Ryan Cortez (back) and DL Brock Tenca (torn finger tendon) this week. "Bill does a good job of getting those kids ready to play," Donnelly said. "The last time we went over there they just kicked our rear ends (48-6)." But Palatine bounced back last year 21-0 to end a 9-game losing streak in a series Conant leads 17-12.

Preview: St. Viator at Marist

East Suburban Catholic Conference St. Viator (2-2, 0-2) Marist (3-1, 1-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: St. Viator lost to Joliet Catholic 42-13; Marist lost to Nazareth 35-21

Outlook: St. Viator hits the road again without all of its weapons as leading rusher Nick Niro will miss his second straight game with a high ankle sprain and OL Dan Schatz blew out his ACL last week. Junior QB Julian Sipiora (563 yards passing, 5 TDs) had to carry most of the load last week. "We are what you call a hodgepodge," said Viator coach Chris Kirkpatrick. "(Sipiora) will have to do it again this week. You do what you can with what you've got." Marist had its early-season roll under first-year coach Pat Dunne stopped last week. The Redhawks, who gained attention with their 21-8 win over Carmel in Week 3, can throw it with Mike Perish, who has 330 yards passing and 5 TDs the last two weeks, and run it with Billy Seiler. The 3-4 defense is led by NIU-bound NG Nabal Jefferson (6-1, 270). "They're a very good team and we have to play well," Kirkpatrick said. "It's going to be a long bus ride and we've just got to find a way to win." Viator's 33-7 win last year was its fourth straight in the series.

Preview: Glenbrook North at Maine West

Central Suburban North Conference Glenbrook North (1-3) Maine West (1-3)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Glenbrook North d. Waukegan 33-31; Maine West lost to Glenbrook South 47-7

Outlook: A Jimmy Schmidt field goal with 1:17 left kept Glenbrook North from an 0-4 start but Maine West coach Chris Hare isn't fooled by the record of a team that has been at or near the top of the CSL North the last decade. "It's not like they're losing to teams that are toward the bottom," Hare said of Glenbrook South, Maine South and Woodstock. Paul Jung rushed for 193 yards and a TD and QB Cole Phillips had 2 TDs rushing and 1 passing last week. Maine West will get an offensive boost with RB Calvin Williams back after missing the last two weeks (ankle) to help sustain drives. "Our thing is putting positive plays back to back to back and we haven't done that yet," Hare said. "We move the ball but then we get caught in negative situations too much." Hare said Maine West junior LB Chris Royal was OK after suffering a bad concussion last week. Glenbrook North has won five straight and eight of the last nine meetings.

Preview: Leyden at Willowbrook

West Suburban Gold Conference Leyden (2-2, 1-1) Willowbrook (0-4, 0-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Leyden d. Morton 27-6; Willowbrook lost to Downers Grove South 40-6

Outlook: Looks as if it should be another easy one for Leyden as Willowbrook has been outscored 115-29 in an uncharacteristic start, right? "It's one of those games you look at on paper and say they're 0-4, we should kill them," said Leyden coach Tom Cerasani, whose team has beaten Willowbrook just once the last eight years. "We can't afford to take anyone lightly." The Eagles' defense led by Adam Schammert and Jeff Cascella will have to be ready for junior QB-FS Brian Monette. "If we can contain him we should be OK," Cerasani said. Junior Angel Maldonado (473 yards, 8 TDs) rushed for 241 yards and 4 TDs last week as the offensive line played well and FB Eric Bolanos was the unsung hero. "He had a tremendous game blocking," Cerasani said. "He must have knocked guys down five or six times." Cerasani wants to see the turnovers cut (3 lost fumbles last week) to make a run at a second straight playoff trip.