Preview: Tri-Cities are teams

Yorkville (1-7, 0-6) at Kaneland (4-4, 3-3)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today

Last year: Kaneland 49, Yorkville 6

Last week: Sycamore 29, Yorkville 6; Geneva 42, Kaneland 7

Players to watch: Kaneland sophomore quarterback Joe Camiliere surpassed 2,000 yards passing on the season last week. With 2,108 yards so far in his debut season, Camiliere isn't far off from where Boone Thorgesen (2,382 yards) and Jody Henningson (2,345 yards) were after 8 games in 2006 and 2007, respectively. With Yorkville coming to Maple Park, Camiliere should have more time to throw the ball to Ryley Bailey (38 catches, 477 yards), Blake Serpa (32 catches, 338 yards) and Pat Fleming (24 catches, 312 yards) tonight than he did last week at Geneva. Also look for Tyler Suerth, Brock Dyer, Eric Tattoni and Camiliere and Serpa to get opportunities to move the chains on the ground. Yorkville's offense centers around quarterback Luke Parece and Daniel Swope. Other playermakers who will try to hurt the Knights include Everett King, Justin Aloisio and Tyler Probst.

Outlook: It's simple. Kaneland needs to win and hope it has enough playoff points to earn an opportunity to play in the postseason. "We think we'll have enough but you never know. We just need to get a win," Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly said. The Knights have to keep the Foxes and their sputtering offense gasping for its life. Last week Sycamore held Yorkville to negative-37 yards in the first half. "We have to be ready to play and if we don't play our best we could get beat," Fedderly said. "We're not taking it lightly. It's a playoff game for us and we're taking it very serious. We have a lot of respect for Yorkville." The Foxes have given up 29 or more points in all 7 of their losses and haven't scored more than 21 points in any game this season. The Knights (1,140) have only played two teams this season with smaller enrollments (Rochelle and Burlington Central) and they won both of those games. They've also beaten DeKalb and Sycamore, schools with bigger enrollments and now they hope to make Yorkville (1,295) their third victim. "Obviously we were disappointed with the result (again Geneva) but we took a look at things and did improve on something and came out healthy," Fedderly said. "The main thing is to not look past Yorkville. We can finish in the upper half of the division with a winning record and get into the playoffs and you have to feel good about that."

Bottom line: Kaneland has too much offense and Yorkville too many questions with its own offense to likely pull off the upset and end the Knights hopes of playing in Week 10.

St. Charles North (5-3, 3-2) at Neuqua Valley (4-4, 3-3)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today

Last year: Neuqua Valley 45, St. Charles North 0

Last week: St. Charles East 21, St. Charles North 0; Neuqua Valley 48, Streamwood 21

Players to watch: St. Charles North has to find a way to move the ball with some consistency and score some points. Jordan Huxtable (125 rushes, 839 yards, 11 TDs) was held to only 11 yards on 10 carries last week. Huxtable and the offensive line will have a chore tonight against a playoff-hungry Neuqua Valley team. Quarterback Sean McGushin (48-of-89 passing, 684 yards, 5 INTs, 7 TDs) has been throwing the ball more often in recent weeks and the team got on a nice boost last week with the return of Jon DeMoss (17 catches, 280 yards, 3 TDs). The North Stars could also use a big play or two from Jeff Stolzenburg (18 catches, 271 yards, 2 TDs), Nick Neari (5 catches, 102 yards, TD) and Eric Battle (12 catches, 148 yards) to lessen the load on Huxtable and the running game. Neuqua Valley quarterback Alex Lincoln has thrown 16 touchdown passes in his past four games and has a pair of excellent receivers in Conner Yearian and Western Michigan-bound Josh Schaffer. In the backfield Nate Pena has been busy, especially with running back Cody Hammond nursing a leg injury in recent weeks.

Outlook: Is that David Crosby singing, "We have all been here before?" You couldn't blame either team for experiencing a little déjà vu because tonight's contest is nearly identical to the one played a year ago. Once again, Neuqua Valley needs a victory or it can pack away its equipment for 2009. And, once again, the North Stars are likely in the playoffs, regardless of what happens, but unlike last year, a loss tonight and they'll head into potential postseason play in the midst of a two-game slide. "We know it's going to be tough because they're playing for playoff life," St. Charles North coach Mark Gould said. "It was the same situation last year and they turned it up a notch. We want to make a better showing then we did last week and we don't want to be sent down to St. Louis or somewhere like that." The North Stars have not been able to run the ball against certain teams and it's haunted them. In their three losses this season to Cary-Grove, Bartlett and St. Charles East the North Stars are averaging a minuscule 2.1 yards per carry (81 rushes, 172 yards). Furthermore, they haven't scored against their toughest competition, with their offense getting the ball into the end zone only twice during those three losses. "Some team's linebackers have stepped up harder and we're still struggling making adjustments," Gould said. "The frustration comes from not being able to capitalize on the opportunities we have had to punch it in." After yielding 239 rushing yards to Wes Allen last week, the North Stars will need to stop the dangerous passing game of the Wildcats. Neuqua Valley is averaging nearly 41 points during the past four weeks. "They've got a couple kids playing receiver phenomenally well," Gould said. "They like to throw it up in the end zone and their running game has come along."

Bottom line: The Wildcats are playing extremely well and have their backs against the wall. That doesn't bode well for a North Stars team that has struggled against the upper echelon teams.

Thornridge (1-7) at St. Charles East (6-2)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today.

Last year: St. Charles East 39, Thornridge 0

Last week: T.F. South 45, Thornridge 16; St. Charles East 21, St. Charles North 0

Players to watch: Thornridge quarterback Kendall Reid (5-foot-9, 150 pounds) isn't the prototypical size for a quarterback but his athleticism behind center allows him to present some problems for opponents. The trouble with the Falcons is they haven't been consistent in moving the ball again this season. Marzene Winston has been the leading rusher and a top receiver for the Falcons while defensive lineman Dwight Pace (6-foot-2, 205 pounds) and the rest of the visiting defense will need the ultimate yeoman's effort to keep the Saints out of the end zone. Wes Allen should be able to catch his breath after carrying the ball 44 times last Friday. The senior now has 1,601 yards on 242 rushes and 23 touchdowns. Kyle Wiebe (54 rushes, 367 yards) and wideouts Paul DeBord (21 catches, 274 yards) and Tyler Nutting (20 receptions, 268 yards) continue to benefit from the strong offensive line play of the Saints. Tim Russell (56-of-101, 693 yards, 6 INTs, 5 TDs) is expected to get the nod at quarterback. He started in place of Dan White last week (sprained ankle). According to Saints coach Ted Monken, White should be able to take some snaps tonight to prepare for the postseason.

Outlook: Wrapping up their regular season with a nonconference game against Thornridge should give the Saints an opportunity to work on a few things in preparation for the playoffs. The Falcons are giving up more than 34 points per game and have been shutout three times. Furthermore, they've struggled in moving the ball on offense, are averaging less than 10 points a contest and their multisport athletes are just about ready to turn in their cleats for high-tops. "They've had a rough season and been struggling and deep down know it'll be tough," Monken said. "It's good to prepare like you regularly do and hopefully we can take care of business and get a lot of players in."

Bottom line: In addition to getting win No. 7, the Saints priorities for tonight are to stay healthy and keep the field in good condition for next week's home playoff game.

Aurora Christian (8-0, 6-0) at Wheaton Academy (4-4, 4-2)

Game time: 7:30 p.m., West Chicago High.

Last year: AC 54, WA 6

Last week: Aurora Christian 2, Luther North 0; Wheaton A. 40, Lake Forest Academy 13

Outlook: Go ahead Jordan Roberts, said Warriors coach Ben Wilson, set a new career passing record. Just not on big plays that hurt the Warriors. Quarterback Brian Pell and his playoff hopefuls will also flash a passing game, the likes of which AC hasn't seen. Roberts will set another state passing record with 101 yards, giving him the most of any quarterback in state history. Roberts would have set the record last week if not for Luther North forfeiting the game.

Immaculate Conception (4-4, 3-3) at Aurora Cen.(0-8, 0-6)

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

Last year: IC 28, ACC 0

Last week: St. Francis 45, IC 21; Marmion 40, Aurora Central 14

Outlook: One might predict an easy IC win, but Knights coach Bill Schmidt recalls a 2003 defeat to St. Francis, another winless team with nothing to lose, that kept IC from the playoffs. The Knights better play intense defense against ACC QB Mike Adams.

St. Francis (7-1, 5-1) at Marian Central (4-4, 3-3)

Game time: 7:30 p.m.

Outlook: St. Francis looks to officially end Marian's fall from preseason Class 5A No. 1 to done. The Spartans moved closer to a home playoff game (and possible SCC co-title) with star turns by Brett Robinson, Stan Bobowski and usual suspect Ryan Ferguson.

St. Edward (3-5, 1-5)

at Marmion (3-5, 1-5)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today.

Last year: Marmion 24, SE 14

Last week: Montini 33, St. Edward 27; Marmion 40, ACC 14

Outlook: These are two of the better teams you will find not going to the playoffs. Marmion snapped a 5-game losing streak last week, while this St. Edward team is much improved from last year's 1-8 squad.

Glenbard North (5-3, 4-2)

at West Aurora (3-5, 1-5)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today.

Last year: GN 14, West Aurora 7

Last week: GN 14, Naperville C. 13; West Chicago 42, WA 28

Outlook: Last year's game featured two 4-4 teams vying for one playoff spot. Tonight's drama is far less.

The Panthers want a better seed and maybe get some rest for RB Tyler Doll's ankle.