This week's games
Grant Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0) at Antioch Sequoits (5-0, 2-0)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Grant def. Round Lake, 42-7; Antioch def. Wauconda, 21-14.
Outlook: This is the big game in Lake County tonight as two of the top teams in the North Suburban Prairie Division try to stay atop the standings. Also, a playoff spot is on the line. The winner would become one of the first teams in Lake County to clinch...On paper, this is Grant's first big test. The record of its previous five opponents is a combined 3-22. However, the Bulldogs made their statement by winning most of those games decisively _ by an average of 16.6 points per game...Look for another big game out of Grant junior quarterback Justin Cokefair, who began the season as the back-up, made the most of a starting opportunity in Week 2 and has been on a roll ever since. Out of Grant's proficient option, he rushed for 241 yards last week against Round Lake, which gave up a total of 535 yards of offense to the Bulldogs...Antioch got its first big test last week against a tough Wauconda team and passed with flying colors. The Sequoits rushed for 286 yards on the backs of Steve Lorenzini (140 yards) and Cameron White (114 yards)...Clinching a playoff spot at the first possible opportunity would be quite a feat for Antioch, which finished 3-6 just a year ago...Grant rolled to a 10-1 dream season in 2007 and is the defending Prairie Division champion.
Stevenson Patriots (3-2, 3-0) at Libertyville Wildcats (2-3, 1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Stevenson def. Zion-Benton, 35-19; Libertyville def. North Chicago, 49-32.
Outlook: With Libertyville in the unusual position of being below .500, this game doesn't hold quite the prestige it usually does. But be assured, there will be plenty of electricity before kickoff. These two old archrivals always get their fans pumped for their grudge match...A victory here is important for both teams. Stevenson would keep pace with Warren for first place in the North Suburban Lake Division. And Libertyville would put some real teeth into the recovery it has made since limping out to an 0-3 start. The Wildcats have won their last two games, but Zion-Benton and North Chicago are a combined 1-9. So getting a victory over a team of Stevenson's stature would be a huge confidence boost...Libertyville junior James Zotto is coming off a big game in which he piled up 142 yards of total offense against North Chicago. He rolled up 93 rushing yards and caught 4 passes, including a 17-yard touchdown, for 49 yards. Quarterback Matt Persin also put up some nice numbers. He completed 8 of 13 passes for 161 yards. He hooked up with Eric Andrews for a school-record 74-yard touchdown pass...Stevenson has shown the ability to roll up the passing or the rushing yards and against Zion-Benton, it was the ground game that took center stage. On their way to 439 yards on the game, the Patriots rolled up 366 yards on the ground, led by Matt Harris (188 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Mark Weisman (163 yards, 3 touchdowns).
Notre Dame Dons (4-1, 2-1) at Carmel Corsairs (4-1, 2-1)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Notre Dame def. St. Joseph, 7-0; Carmel def. Marian Catholic, 50-7.
Outlook: Carmel seems to have regained its groove after a slip-up at Marist in Week 3. Last week against Marian Catholic, the Corsairs were machine-like on the ground, gobbling up 368 yards of rushing offense. New fullback Mike Taylor, who began the season as a halfback but has moved over to fullback because of injuries to other players, really stood out. He rolled up 210 yards on just 14 carries for an average of 15 yards per carry. He also scored 4 touchdowns. Eric Stevenson helped out by rushing for 94 yards on just 5 carries...Notre Dame has three shutouts to its credit, but its solid 4-1 mark may be a bit deceiving. The four wins came against teams that have a 7-13 record. And the Dons defeated perennial East Suburban Catholic Conference cellar dweller St. Joseph by just a touchdown last week....The Dons scored their only touchdown last week on a 15-yard pass from Eric Hennessey to Pat Lazzara. Meanwhile, Julian Burgos rushed for 127 yards on the day.
Grayslake North Knights (0-5, 0-1) at Johnsburg Skyhawks (1-4, 0-1)
When: 7:45 p.m.
Last week: Johnsburg lost to Prairie Ridge, 59-34; Grayslake North lost to Huntley, 41-0.
Outlook: After facing heavyweights for the last four weeks that have a combined record of 17-3, Grayslake North gets a bit of a break, at least on paper. Johnsburg is also limping into Week 6, having lost three straight games...In addition to searching for its first win of the season, and just the second win in school history, the Knights will be searching for the end zone. They have been shut out the last two weeks, including a 42-0 loss to Woodstock in Week 4. Last week, Huntley held the Knights to just 8 first downs...One highlight for North last week was the play of defensive end Lanre Johnson, and another was wide receiver Matt Robinson, who caught 2 passes for 49 yards...Johnsburg's passing game is led by quarterback Jerad Grundy and features all-state receiver C.J. Fiedorowicz, also a star basketball and baseball player for the Skyhawks.
Saturday's game
Huntley Red Raiders (5-0, 1-0) at Grayslake Central Rams (0-5, 0-1)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Huntley def. Grayslake North, 41-10; Grayslake Central lost to Crystal Lake Central, 46-7.
Outlook: The assignments don't get any easier for Grayslake Central, which has an undefeated team in its way as it searches for its first victory in since 2006. Scoring has been a big issue on both sides of the ball this season for the Rams, who are giving up 39 points per game but aren't finding the end zone very easily themselves. Over the last three weeks, Grayslake Central has averaged just 8.7 points per game...The good news for the Rams is that they've shown flashes of solid play. Last week against Crystal Lake Central, they were down just 7-0 in the second quarter and the defense turned away Crystal Lake Central with an impressive goal-line stand. But turnovers eventually doomed the Rams...Cassidy Melton scored Grayslake Central's only touchdown last week, on a 13-yard run. Crystal Lake Central's defense was so tough that the Rams' top rusher, sophomore Will Reed, had just 25 total yards...Huntley star running back Jordan Neukirch, who will be playing at Illinois State, gained 111 yards on just 5 carries in the first half last week against Grayslake North while teammate David Conrad ran in 3 touchdowns...Huntley had recorded two straight shutouts and is allowing just 10.2 points per game, best in the Fox Valley Conference.