Scouting Lake County playoff games
Class 8A
No. 12 York Dukes (6-3) at No. 5 Warren Blue Devils (8-1)
When: 3 p.m., Saturday
Last week: York def. Oak Park-River Forest, 19-0; Warren def. Round Lake, 40-0.
Playoff history: York is making its fifth straight playoff appearance. Two years ago, the Dukes had one of their best runs in history, advancing to the semifinals before losing to Wheaton Warrenville South. Last year, York lost in the second round to Glenbard North. Warren is making its second straight playoff appearance after missing in 2006. Before that, the Blue Devils had made seven straight appearances, including a quarterfinal finish in 2001. Last year, Warren was ousted in the first round by Loyola.
Outlook: This is the first-ever playoff meeting between these two programs. York is allowing 22.8 points per game, second most in the West Suburban Silver, but seems lately to have tightened up its defense. Last week, the Dukes not only got a shutout, but also allowed just 92 yards of total offense while racking up 7 sacks. The York offense, which averages about 22 points per game, has shown nice balance between its passing and rushing games. Quarterback Tom Judge completed 10 of 18 passes last week for 134 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown pass to Zach Pruess. Running back Mike DeBernardis rushed for 98 yards on 11 carries. Warren, which went undefeated in the North Suburban Lake Division, didn't get much of a test last week in Round Lake, but the usual suspects still made some big plays. Sophomore running back Tom Lindal was unstoppable in rolling up 4 touchdowns. His yardage on the scores alone was 188 yards. The chemistry between quarterback Zach Shaw and his longtime pal Ryan Maguire was again on display. The two connected for a 31-yard touchdown pass. The Blue Devils are averaging an NSC Lake-best 30 points a game and are allowing just 14.7 points per game, second-lowest in the division behind Lake Zurich. They've had 2 shutouts and have allowed 6 or fewer points in three games this season.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
No. 15 Stevenson Patriots (5-4) at No. 2 Maine South Hawks (9-0)
When: 1 p.m., Saturday
Last week: Stevenson def. Mundelein, 56-0; Maine South def. Niles West, 52-0.
Playoff history: Stevenson is making its 20th straight playoff appearance. The Patriots advanced to the state championship game in 2002 before losing to Lockport. Since then, they have been ousted from the playoffs by Maine South three times, including twice in the quarterfinals. Last season, Stevenson lost in the first round to Fremd. Maine South has won two state championships (1995, 2000) but lately has been the bridesmaid. The Hawks played in state championship games three straight years from 2003-05 and was the runner-up each time. Last season, Maine South was eliminated by Mt. Carmel in the quarterfinals.
Outlook: Stevenson is not your typical 5-4 team. Not only did the Patriots play a rigorous nonconference schedule, the North Suburban Lake was as strong as it has ever been this season. Five of seven division teams are in the playoffs. The Patriots started 0-2, then won three straight games but have been inconsistent lately in winning just two of their last four. Stevenson's offense can turn it on. The Patriots are averaging 29.2 points per game, second in the NSC Lake. Running back Mark Weisman is a workhorse. He had 31 carries for 189 yards two weeks ago against Warren and added another 89 yards (and 2 touchdowns) on 11 carries against Mundelein. Other solid options in the backfield include Matt Harris and Josh Vravick. Quarterback Zach Wujcik can be dangerous and has two nice options at receiver in Mike Bilton and Henry Wood. Bilton caught 2 touchdowns last week. Speaking of catching touchdowns, Maine South does plenty of that. The Hawks love the passing game, in part because they have a Division I prospect at the trigger. Quarterback Charlie Goro is headed to Vanderbilt next year. He's put up amazing numbers all season. Last week's 13 of 19, 247-yard performance was mild compared to his game against New Trier in Week 8. That's when he completed 25 of 40 passes for 470 yards and 5 touchdowns. On the receiving end of some of those scores were Joey Orlando, Matt Perez and Sam Chwarzynski. Not surprisingly, the Hawks score a lot of points, 48.3 per game, to be exact - best in the Central Suburban South. The defense allows just 11.9 points per outing, giving Maine South an average margin of victory of 36.4 points per game. Maine South has 3 shutouts and has allowed 8 or fewer points five times this season.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Class 7A
No. 13 Wheeling Wildcats (6-3) at No. 4 Carmel Corsairs (8-1)
When: 7 p.m.
Last week: Wheeling def. Hersey, 27-0; Carmel def. Nazareth, 35-3.
Playoff history: This is Wheeling's second consecutive playoff berth but only its sixth since 1985. The Wildcats have advanced past the first round only once, in 1994. Carmel won the Class 6A state championship in 2003. The Corsairs are making their ninth straight playoff appearance and are coming off a trip to last year's semifinals in which they lost to eventual Class 7A state champion Lake Zurich.
Outlook: This isn't the first time these two teams have faced off, but it might as well be since Carmel's 22-20 and 13-9 wins were in 1975-76. Wheeling won five of its last six games, which helped in the Mid-Suburban East race. The Wildcats finished 4-1 in the league, just behind champion Prospect. Scoring points out of its spread offense doesn't seem to be a problem for Wheeling, which is averaging 25.6 points per game. Quarterback Matt Holmes can run the ball effectively and connects often with receiver Michael Zimmer. After a Week 3 stumble against Marist, Carmel has won its last six games. On the season, the Corsairs boast an average margin of victory of 21 points per game. Like Wheeling, the Corsairs can put up the points. They average 33.2 points per game. Carmel runs the triple option offense and gets regular contribution from a variety of running backs, including Mike Taylor, Jimmy Miller, Sean Madison and Eric Stevenson. Quarterback Andrew Nerup isn't afraid to unleash the passing game every once in a while. Last week, he connected with Matt Felicelli for a 48-yard touchdown pass. The Carmel defense is also tough. The Corsairs are allowing 12.2 points per game and have given up 7 or fewer points three times this season.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
No. 10 Lake Zurich Bears (6-3) at No. 7 St. Charles East Fighting Saints (7-2)
When: 7 p.m., Saturday
Last week: Lake Zurich def. Zion-Benton, 34-13; St. Charles East def. Dolton, 42-0.
Playoff history: Lake Zurich is the defending Class 7A state champion. The Bears defeated Wheaton Warrenville South 7-3 in the 2007 title game. The year before, the Bears also played in the state championship game. They are making their seventh consecutive playoff appearance. St. Charles East is making its fourth straight playoff appearance since St. Charles High split into two schools. Since splitting, the Saints' best postseason run was in 2005 when they reached the quarterfinals.
Outlook: Both of these teams are hot. St. Charles East has won six of its last seven games, while Lake Zurich has won its last four games. St. Charles East is clicking particularly well on defense. The Saints have given up a total of just three points in the last three games and are coming off two straight shutouts (Dolton and St. Charles North, 21-0). St. Charles East has 3 shutouts on the year and has allowed 6 or fewer point in a total of five games this season. The Saints' offense has more than held its own, averaging 33.1 points per game, tops in the Upstate Eight. Running back Wes Allen is a workhorse. Two weeks ago against St. Charles North, he rolled up 238 yards and 2 touchdowns on 46 carries. He has more than 1,600 yards on the season. The Saints can also pass the ball. Quarterback Tim Russell, who has started recently in place of the injured Dan White (ankle), has rolled up more than 700 passing yards. St. Charles East head coach Ted Monken is the brother of Vernon Hills coach Tony Monken. Lake Zurich has overcome a laundry list of injuries to average 26.1 points per game. Some of the Bears' top offensive players have been affected. Running back Andrew Maloney missed a game earlier in the season with a bad ankle. But he scored 2 touchdowns last week against Zion-Benton. Fellow running back Kyle Williams was slowed earlier in the season with a broken hand. He scored 2 touchdowns in a Week 8 victory over Grant. Defensively, Lake Zurich has been tough all season, allowing an NSC Lake-low 13.9 points per game. The Bears have 2 shutouts credit and have allowed 7 or fewer points in three games. Tackle Franko Nava has been a standout for the defense.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
No. 14 Libertyville Wildcats (5-4) at No. 3 Rockford Boylan Titans (9-0)
When: 1 p.m., Saturday
Last week: Libertyville def. Lake Forest, 24-7; Rockford Boylan def. Machesney Park Harlem, 40-14.
Playoff history: Libertyville won the Class 7A state championship in 2004 and missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 1996. The Wildcats have advanced past the second round five times since 1985 but not since the state championship year. Rockford Boylan is making its fourth consecutive playoff appearance after missing in 2004. Before that, the Titans had made 13 consecutive appearances. Boylan's best-ever finish was in 1975. That year, the Titans placed second in the state.
Outlook: Libertyville, which got off to an 0-3 start, may be one of the best 5-4 teams in the state. The Wildcats play in the rugged North Suburban Lake Division, which qualified five of seven teams for the playoffs. The Wildcats won five of their last six games. Libertyville's only loss during that span was a Week 7, 10-0 defeat to Warren, which won the division. Libertyville coach Randy Kuceyeski says his team is running the ball better than it has in the last two years. That has a lot to do with the play of junior running back James Zotto, who ran for 2 touchdowns and 95 yards (on 15 carries) against Lake Forest. The Wildcats can also throw the ball. Quarterback Campbell Stemper completed 7 of 11 passes last week for 113 yards. Boylan is a powerhouse in the Rockford area. The Titans just won their third consecutive undefeated Northern Illinois (NIC-10) conference title. All nine of Boylan's games were league games, and the Titans dominated the competition. They averaged 43 points per game and allowed just 8.3 points per game for an average margin of victory of 34.7 points per game. Boylan has 3 shutouts and has allowed 9 or fewer points in five games. Offensively, the Titans love to run over people. Last week in a victory over previously undefeated Machesney Park Harlem, Boylan rolled up 454 rushing yards. Will Sahlstrom had 159 yards, while Paul Barmore added 124 yards. Each runner had only 9 carries. Boylan quarterback Zach Lane is back. He was the Titans' leading rusher and passer until he hurt he knee early in the season and had to sit out for three weeks. He returned in Week 8 against Hononegah.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Class 6A
No. 13 Grant Bulldogs (6-3) at No. 4 Vernon Hills Cougars (8-1)
When: 7 p.m.
Last week: Vernon Hills def. Grant, 7-6.
Playoff history: This is Grant's fourth straight playoff appearance. Last season, the Bulldogs tied their best showing in school history by advancing to the second round, where they lost 21-7 to Lemont. Vernon Hills is also making its fourth straight playoff appearance. The Cougars have advanced past the first round twice. In 2001, they reached the quarterfinals before losing to Rochelle. In 2001, they lost to Mt. Carmel in the second round. Last year, Vernon Hills lost to Richards in the first round.
Outlook: Doesn't this look familiar? The prep work for this game was probably a lot easier than for most playoff games, considering these two North Suburban Prairie Division teams faced off exactly one week ago in the regular-season finale. The outcome was so close that this game is nothing but a tossup. Grant, which started the season 5-0 but has lost three of its last four games - including the last two - missed an extra point to account for the difference. The good news for the Bulldogs is that star receiver Tommy Bychowski should be all the stronger. Last week, he was playing in his first game since being sidelined early in the season with mononucleosis. He hooked up with quarterback Justin Cokefair to haul in 5 passes for 72 yards. But the Bulldogs need to find a way to rush the ball better. Vernon Hills held Grant to 13 rushing yards. The Grant defense has been tough this season. The Bulldogs have given up 7 or fewer points in four games and are allowing an NSC Prairie-low 14.4 points per game. Vernon Hills can put up points in a hurry. The Cougars' 7-point performance last week was atypical. They're averaging 33.1 points per game. Quarterback PJ Marsek has shown that he can air the ball out, especially to speedy sophomore receivers DaVaris Daniels, who is coming off an ankle injury, and Evan Spencer. But the Cougars prefer to run the ball out of the option. In tough weather conditions last week, Marsek led the Cougars with 99 rushing yards, while Sebastian Evans added 73. Interestingly, the fiancée of Grant head coach Kurt Rous, Kirsten Rotan, is an athletic trainer at Vernon Hills. She used to be a trainer at Grant. "She really doesn't tell me anything," Rous said. "But then, I don't ask either."
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
No. 15 Chicago Harlan Falcons (6-3) at No. 2 Antioch Sequoits (9-0)
When: 5 p.m., Saturday
Last week: Chicago Harlan lost to Chicago Vocational, 40-6; Antioch def. Lakes, 50-7.
Playoff history: This is Harlan's first-ever playoff appearance. Antioch missed the playoffs the last two years with records of 0-9 and 3-6. Before that, the Sequoits made three straight playoff appearances. Antioch has advanced past the first round four times in its history, most recently in 2004 when it lost to Libertyville in the second round. In 1979, 1982 and 1985, the Sequoits advanced to the quarterfinals.
Outlook: Harlan has a long trip from Chicago's far South Side. But the Falcons likely won't mind since this is their first-ever playoff game. Harlan won five straight games from Weeks 3-7 but has lost its last two, to Chicago Clark and last week to Chicago Vocational. Harlan was one of three teams with a 4-1 record in Chicago Public, Illini (Heartland) league play, but the IHSA's conference representative designation went to Clark. Harlan boasts 2 shutouts and four games in which it allowed 8 or fewer points. Offensively, the Falcons are averaging 28.2 ppg. Quarterback Tashaun Johnson can be explosive. Against Clark, he completed 12 of 24 passes for 222 yards and 4 touchdowns. Three of those touchdown passes went to receiver George DeBerry. The Falcons can also do some damage on the ground with running back Tebin Scott. He's returned a kickoff 80 yards for a touchdown this season. Antioch, which won the North Suburban Prairie Division, is basking in its first undefeated season since 1983. The Sequoits are averaging a gaudy 41 points per game, most in the entire North Suburban Conference. Antioch's deep rushing attack punishes defenses from all angles. Running back Cameron White (134 yards on 13 carries last week) is one of the best in the area and just set a school record for touchdowns in a season (26). White is also vying to become Antioch's all-time leading rusher and needs just a couple of hundred yards to do so. Fullback Steve Lorenzini, who rolled up 184 yards on 18 carries last week, is on target to overtake the No. 3 all-time rushing spot at the school. And he's just a junior. Sophomore Vinnie Holm gives the Sequoits another dangerous option out of the backfield. For as powerful as its offense is, Antioch's defense, led by lineman Alec Paramski, has also been tough. The Sequoits are allowing 16.9 points per game but have allowed 8 or fewer points in three games.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw