Preview: Lake County games
Friday's games
Zion-Benton (0-6, 0-3) at Mundelein (0-6, 0-3)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Zion-Benton lost to Warren, 31-14; Mundelein lost to Lake Zurich, 34-0.
Outlook: One North Suburban Lake Division team gets its first win of the season tonight, and for the Mustangs, it's their last chance to get one at home in 2008. Mundelein has scored just 24 points all season and last Friday night at Lake Zurich was shut out for the second straight game (third time overall). The Mustangs have not won since Week 8 of last season, when they defeated - coincidentally - Zion-Benton, 43-19. In the loss to Lake Zurich, Mundelein did get 2 interceptions from R.J. Bonds and one each from Mike O'Donoghue and Bryan Whitson. Zion-Benton enters the game with a 13-game losing streak. The Zee-Bees have allowed 230 points (most in the NSC Lake), which might bode well for Mundelein's struggling offense.
- Joe Aguilar
Stevenson (3-3) at Lakes (2-4)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Stevenson lost to Libertyville, 28-21; Lakes def. North Chicago, 28-26.
Outlook: It's the first-ever meeting between the two teams in this North Suburban Conference crossover. Stevenson looks to rebound after its road loss at Libertyville last Friday night snapped a three-game winning streak. Lefty quarterback Zach Wujcik needs only 22 passing yards to surpass 1,000 for the second year in a row. His main receiver is veteran Mike Bilton (27 catches, 14.8 average). Patriots running back Mark Weisman has gained 565 yards (4.9 average) and has scored 10 touchdowns. Lakes running back Josh Gaido rushed for a career-best 4 touchdowns last Friday night in the Eagles' win over North Chicago. The victory kept alive Lakes' playoff hopes.
- Joe Aguilar
Prairie Ridge (4-2, 2-0) at Grayslake North (0-6, 0-2)
When: 7:45 p.m.
Last week: Prairie Ridge def. Crystal Lake Central, 24-0; Grayslake North lost to Johnsburg, 49-7.
Outlook: Prairie Ridge comes into the Fox Valley Fox Division game off an impressive win over Crystal Lake Central, which was undefeated. The previous week, the Wolves rolled up 59 points in a win over Johnsburg. Grayslake North continues to have its problems on both sides of the ball. The Knights did avoid a third straight loss by shutout last Friday night against Johnsburg and had some success running the ball. Glenn Mizowek rushed 24 times for 113 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown run, and Mike Morales gained 92 yards on 12 carries.
- Joe Aguilar
Johnsburg (2-4, 1-1) at Grayslake Central (0-6, 0-2)
When: 7:45 p.m.
Last week: Johnsburg def. Grayslake North, 49-7; Grayslake Central lost to Huntley, 44-6.
Outlook: Grayslake Central has allowed a Fox Valley Conference Fox Division-worst 239 points (39.8 per game)and now faces a Johnsburg team that boasts the dynamic duo of quarterback Jerad Grundy and tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz. Fiedorowicz, a 6-foot-7 junior who's played three varsity sports since his freshman year, did it all against Grayslake North last Friday night. He hauled in 2 TD passes from Grundy, threw a touchdown pass and scored on a 10-yard run. Grundy passed for 211 yards. Strong-armed QB Kevin O'Rourke of Grayslake Central can also throw the ball and has a top target, as well. O'Rourke has thrown for 704 yards, while wide receiver Justin Squillo has caught 37 passes. In the Rams' homecoming loss to Huntley last Saturday, Squillo had 9 catches for 135 yards.
- Joe Aguilar
Libertyville (3-3, 2-1) at Warren (5-1, 4-0)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Libertyville def. Stevenson, 28-21; Warren def. Zion-Benton, 31-14.
Outlook: This game suddenly takes on much more meaning than it once looked like it would. After all, Libertyville started the season with a whimper at 0-3. But with three straight wins, including an electrifying come-from-behind victory last week against Stevenson, the Wildcats seem to be back on track and anxious to create even more havoc in the North Suburban Lake Division-But Warren, which has been steady-Freddy in leading the Lake Division, will be a tough nut to crack. The Blue Devils boast one of the best defenses in the league and an offense that is well balanced between a running game that features sophomore Tom Lindal and a passing game that features one of the best 1-2 punches in the league: quarterback Zach Shaw and wide receiver Ryan Maguire. Those two connected for 3 touchdown passes last week against Zion-Benton-Libertyville quarterback Matt Persin is also coming off a solid performance in which he passed for 149 yards and a touchdown against Stevenson. The Wildcats' main offensive threat is running back James Zotto, who rolled up 133 yards and 2 touchdowns last week.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Lake Zurich (3-3, 2-2) at Lake Forest (4-2, 1-2)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Lake Zurich def. Mundelein, 34-0; Lake Forest def. Wauconda, 65-52.
Outlook: What gives? Something will have to as the highest-scoring offense in the North Suburban Lake Division collides with the division's stingiest defense. Lake Forest averages 32.2 points per game and is coming off a game in which it scored a whopping 65 points. But Lake Zurich if fresh off a shutout of Mundelein and gives up only 15.8 points per game-Lake Zurich got a much-needed win last week after suffering back-to-back close losses the previous two weeks. The Bears dropped games to Stevenson and Warren by a combined 10 points. Lake Forest also dropped back-to-back games against the same teams but lost to Stevenson 33-0 and to Warren 42-21-Lake Forest quarterback Tom Rees, who has been impressive most of the season, rolled up eye-popping numbers against Wauconda. He completed 21 of 38 passes for 428 yards. Meanwhile, two receivers - David Head (8 catches, 187 yards) and Connor Moutvic (7-130) - had 100-plus yard days for Lake Forest, as did two running backs, Eric Gerber (20 carries, 171 yards) and John Cavalaris (12-114)-Lake Zurich running back Andrew Maloney, who was out with an injury for a Week 5 loss to Warren, returned last week and scored on a 16-yard touchdown run.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Antioch (6-0, 3-0) at Vernon Hills (6-0, 3-0)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Antioch def. Grant, 28-14; Vernon Hills def. Round Lake, 49-21.
Outlook: This one isn't for all the marbles, but a lot of them. The dream of making the playoffs was realized by both Antioch and Vernon Hills last week. But the dream of running the table _ and possibly winning the North Suburban Prairie Division _ will end here for one of these teams. Expect plenty of intensity and emotion from start to finish. Also expect plenty of scoring. These teams score a ton of points - most in the entire North Suburban Conference. By far. Antioch is averaging nearly 40 points per game (39.5) and so is Vernon Hills (38.7). -Both teams also have two explosive, flashy weapons on offense. Vernon Hills has a jack-of-all-trades in sophomore DaVaris Daniels, who has played wide receiver, quarterback and running back this season - sometimes all in one game. He caught a touchdown pass and ran for one last week. Meanwhile, Antioch running back Cameron White might be the best in the north suburbs. He's averaging more than 100 yards per game and has moves that can leave a stadium full of fans in awe. He rolled up 136 yards on just 14 carries last week against Grant.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Round Lake (0-6, 0-4) at North Chicago (1-5, 0-3)
When: 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Round Lake lost to Vernon Hills, 49-21; North Chicago lost to Lakes, 28-26.
Outlook: A win would do wonders for either team right about now. Not only is Round Lake winless, but opponents are getting wins by an average of 28.5 points per game. Meanwhile, North Chicago hasn't won a game since Week 2, a 20-0 shutout of Simeon. Even more frustrating for the Warhawks is that they've had some close calls. They lost to Grant by just one point (7-6) and to Lakes last week by two points-A bright spot for Round Lake last week was the play of running back John Strickland, who rolled up 97 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns against Vernon Hills. Quarterback Matt Ortiz was able to run for a touchdown last week-North Chicago quarterback Deshawn Chambliss has shown flashes of brilliance this season. In a loss to Libertyville, he completed 20 of 30 passes for 332 yards and 3 touchdowns. Last week against Lakes, he passed for 3 touchdowns.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Saturday's game
Wauconda (3-3, 2-1) at Grant (5-1, 3-1)
When: 1 p.m.
Last week: Wauconda lost to Lake Forest, 65-52; Grant lost to Antioch, 28-14.
Outlook: The Bulldogs will win this game. OK, so that's not going out on very much of a limb. Here's another certainty: Both of these teams will show plenty of fire in this game because much is on the line. Wauconda must win its next three games in order to qualify for the playoffs with 6 wins. Grant needs a win not only to wrap up a playoff berth but to have any hope of staying in the race for the North Suburban Prairie Division title. Grant is just one game behind both Antioch and Vernon Hills, who are undefeated and square off on Friday-Wauconda is coming off a wild game last week against Lake Forest in which a total of 117 points per scored - 28 of them in the first 30 seconds of the game. Grant likely won't be as open to that style of play. Grant is all about methodical ball-control and its defense is one of the best in the Prairie Division, allowing just 14.3 points per game-Wauconda got a great game out of quarterback Garrett Dorsey last week. He completed 13 of 20 passes for 204 yards. He also scored 4 touchdowns - two on runs and two on kickoff returns (both 80 yards)-Grant is looking to reestablish its running game, which was essentially shut down by Antioch. The Sequoits allowed Grant to run for just 125 yards, well below its average. Grant managed to compensate slightly by going to the air with the Cokefair brothers. Quarterback Justin completed 8 of 15 passes for 129 yards. His brother Jimi caught 6 of those passes for 90 yards.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Carmel Catholic (5-1, 3-1) at St. Joseph (2-4, 0-4)
When: 1:30 p.m.
Last week: Carmel def. Notre Dame, 21-14; St. Joseph lost to St. Patrick, 34-17.
Outlook: St. Joseph, which posted its fifth straight 0-9 campaign last year, snapped its 45-game losing streak with a 42-13 victory over Ridgewood to open the season. Coach Mark Zavagnin's Chargers then made it two straight wins by beating Argo 44-23. Since then, however, they've lost four in a row. They host a Carmel team that has won three in a row. Corsairs fullback Mike Taylor has rushed for a team-best 644 yards (6.9 per carry) and 7 touchdowns. Quarterback Andrew Nerup also has 7 rushing TDs and has gained 397 yards on the ground. Carmel averages 305.6 rushing yards per game, while allowing only 73.6 per contest. Safety Jake Sinkovec leads the defense with 49 tackles (29 solos) and 2 interceptions. Patrick Cox (40 tackles) also has a pair of picks.
- Joe Aguilar