Looking far and wide to find good playoff matchups
Here are a handful of tasty matchups from outside the Daily Herald coverage area as we enter Week 11, or Round 2 of the IHSA state football playoffs.
Class 8A
Mt. Carmel (8-2) at Lincoln-Way East (9-1): The Caravan has rebounded quite nicely from a two-game regular-season losing streak earlier this season. The offense has been steady all season behind senior quarterback Jordan Lynch (a NIU verbal commit). Junior RB Milton Greer is coming off his best game of the season, having gained 204 yards in the Caravan's 42-21 win over Naperville central.
The defense for Mt. Carmel is also solid and features senior defensive lineman Anthony Battle (Northwestern) and senior safety/linebacker Dimitrius Carr.
Lincoln-Way East and coach Rob Zvonar have taken the Griffins to the postseason in every year since the school opened in 2000, quite a feat to say the least. The 2008 version of the Griffins features a very balanced offensive attack behind senior quarterback Spencer Stanek and a deep group of running backs and skill position players.
Defensively, the Griffins have allowed just 106 points in 10 games, and the overall tram speed for the Griffins defense is impressive. Keep an eye out for East senior safety Ezra Thompson (Miami of Ohio).
Class 7A
Thornton (8-2) at St. Rita (9-1): The Thornton Wildcats and veteran coach Bill Mosel decided to change the offense from an option running attack to the no-huddle shotgun spread passing game, and the Wildcats have never looked back.
Senior quarterback Darren Jones remains one of the state's top uncommitted prospects, and the remaining offensive skills are impressive for Thornton. Senior fullback Greg Fuller (Illinois) along with senior wide receiver Jamal Gray give the Wildcats offense a big-play threat on the ground or in the air.
St. Rita's only loss this season was to Loyola Academy, and the Mustangs are a no-nonsense/hard-nosed group that will look to run the ball first, but this is a team that is also capable of putting the ball in the air.
Senior quarterback Larry Garrett is a player to watch along with senior running back Johwon Akul and a big and physical offensive line.
Class 6A
Oswego (8-2) at Rock Island (10-0): If you happen to wind up in the Quad Cities this weekend and are looking to fit in a quick playoff game, this one looks to be tailor-made for you.
The two styles of offense will remind you of a throwback game from the 1970s between say Oklahoma and Nebraska, with nothing but run, run and run some more. Oswego and coach Dave Keely will line up offensively out of a Power I look with twin tight ends and will look to run the ball directly at the Rocks.
Oswego senior fullback/linebacker Tim Riley is verbally committed to Northwestern, and Riley might just be the state's best combination of toughness and ACT score in the state.
Rock Island and veteran coach Vic Boblett are also a big fan of the option game. While the Rocks might not be as big and as physical as say Oswego, they once again bring great speed to the table. For Rock Island keep an eye out for three-year varsity starting senior quarterback Ben Sparkman along with a talented backfield featuring senior running back Charles Nunn and senior running back Kendrick Kearn.
Class 5A
Sterling (9-1) at Morris (6-4): Here's another game that shouldn't take too long to play on Saturday since both teams will look to run the ball a majority of the time.
This second-round playoff game will feature two teams that will play each other in 2009 in conference play; Morris is leaving the Southwest Prairie Conference after this season for the NCIC Reagan.
Sterling and coach Greg King will look to establish the Golden Warriors' running game behind standout Division I prospect offensive tackle Tyler Loos and a host of talented skill position players.
Morris and coach George Dergo a few weeks ago didn't even look like they would make the state playoffs, yet the Redskins are still alive in the state playoffs. Senior running back Adam Tondini has returned from injury and is a key performer for the Redskins.