Preview: St. Francis (6-1, 4-1) at Immaculate Conception (4-3, 3-2)

St. Francis (6-1, 4-1) at Immaculate Conception (4-3, 3-2)

Suburban Catholic Conference

Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday, Plunkett Park, Elmhurst.

Last year: St. Francis 36, IC 26.

Last week: St. Francis 28, St. Edward 12; IC 40, Marmion 38.

Outlook: It's a good football team that wins when the opponent shuts down its top weapon. Astoundingly, St. Edward held 1,200-yard back Mark Kachmer to 16 yards on 9 carries. Adjusting, the Spartans scored on a Jeff Reckards-to-Brett Robinson touchdown pass, reverses by Tony Vargyas and Ryan O'Donnell - on handoffs by Kachmer - and David Sufranski's return of Jason Lombardi's blocked punt. "St. Edward controlled the ball," said Spartans coach Greg Purnell. IC is fully capable of the same. That is, if Matt Purdom, Marco Medina, Dan Delaney and their beefy offensive line mates can handle the quickness of St. Francis defensive linemen like Lombardi and Joe Pfeiffer. Linebacker Ryan Ferguson, a force similar to IC's Antonio Taylor, has 28 solo tackles the last two games. If IC quarterback Will Cronin passes - coach Bill Schmidt has worked it in more - St. Francis has great closing speed. IC's best bet is a steady diet of Paul Hornstra and Carlos Rodriguez, who ran for 390 total yards in the Knights' wild win over Marmion. Because chances are Kachmer won't be shut down again.