Scouting: Lake Co. Week 2 playoffs

Class 6A

No. 5 Huntley Red Raiders (9-1) at No. 13 Grant Bulldogs (7-3)

When: 7 p.m.

Last week: Huntley def. Batavia, 70-63; Grant def. Vernon Hills, 32-31 (2OT).

Playoff history: This is Huntley's second-ever playoff appearance. In their very first trip to the playoffs in 2001, the Red Raiders advanced to the Class 4A semifinals before losing to Driscoll. Last year, Huntley failed to qualify for the playoffs with a 4-5 record. 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 Grant lost 21-7 to Lemont.

Scouting Huntley: The Red Raiders are coming off one of the wildest games in IHSA playoff history, combining with Batavia for 133 points - and the numbers got even gaudier. Huntley rushed for a Class 6A playoff-record 713 yards. Fullback Jordan Neukirch and running back Brett Kleckner ran laps around the defense, rolling up 266 yards (on 23 carries) and 248 yards (on 13 carries), respectively. Neukirch scored his fourth touchdown with 40 seconds left to break a 63-63 tie. The Red Raiders, who also got 138 rushing yards (on 7 carries) from quarterback Brandon Luczek, scored on all five of their second-half possessions. Huntley is scoring 35.8 points per game, tops in the Fox Valley Conference. The Red Raiders won the FVC Fox Division title with a 4-1 record. Their only loss came to Johnsburg (4-5) in the regular-season finale.

Scouting Grant: Grant also wasn't lacking for excitement in its first-round playoff victory, needing double overtime to beat North Suburban Prairie Division rival Vernon Hills - which beat Grant 7-6 in the Week 9 regular-season finale. Wide receiver Tommy Bychowski showed that he is fully recovered from the mono that kept him out most of the season by scoring twice in the extra session. He scored the Bulldogs' touchdown in the first overtime. Then, when Grant decided to go for the win in the second overtime, he caught a pass from quarterback Justin Cokefair for a 2-point conversion. Fullback Dan Hourihan also came up big for the Bulldogs, gaining 195 yards on 25 carries. He also scored 2 touchdowns. Before Vernon Hills' offensive outburst last week, the Grant defense was allowing just 14.4 points per game, a North Suburban Prairie Division low.

Quoting Grant: "If we need to score 70 points to win, we're in trouble," Grant coach Kurt Rous said. "We have to stop their rushing attack. We'll have just about everyone in the box. If we force them to throw, I think we'll be OK."

Advancement: Winner faces winner of No. 1 Lemont vs. No. 9 Morgan Park in quarterfinals.

No. 7 Highland Park Giants (8-2) at No. 2 Antioch Sequoits (10-0)

When: 7 p.m., Saturday

Last week: Highland Park def. Prairie Ridge, 35-28; Antioch def. Harlan, 68-6.

Playoff history: This is Highland Park's sixth consecutive playoff appearance. The Giants had their best showing ever in 2005 when they advanced to the Class 7A quarterfinals before losing to Prospect. That year, they beat Lake County heavyweight Carmel in the first round. 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.

Scouting Highland Park: Highland Park showed some grit in scoring its go-ahead touchdown against Prairie Ridge last week with 1:21 left. The Giants, who were down 28-27, made good on a 2-point conversion to make the margin 7 points instead of 6. Quarterback Anthony Kopp and running back Courtney Frison came up with the play of the day when the situation couldn't have looked more dire. They combined for the Giants' winning touchdown on a third-and-25 from their own 17-yard line. Kopp hit Frison with a pass across the middle, and Frison broke 2 tackles, reversed his course and sprinted down the sideline for an 83-yard touchdown. Frison finished with 100 yards on 16 carries and scored 2 touchdowns. Highland Park, which is averaging 35.7 points game but giving up 24.1 points per game, is on a seven-game winning streak. The Giants won the Central Suburban North with a 5-0 record.

Scouting Antioch: While Highland Park was knee-deep in suspense until the final seconds of its opening-round victory, Antioch threw suspense out the window within the first few minutes of its playoff opener, going ahead 21-0 with 10:35 left in the first quarter. The Sequoits rolled up 35 points in the first quarter. Top running back Cameron White took the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and added to his school-record touchdown total by scoring 5 touchdowns before being pulled at halftime. With 65 yards against Harlan, fullback Steven Lorenzini joined White (1,380 yards on the season) in the 1,000-yard club. The Sequoits are averaging 43.7 points per game and are allowing just 15.8 points per game, both North Suburban Prairie Division bests.

Quoting Antioch: "I don't think we've seen anyone run a spread offense as well as Highland Park does," said Antioch coach Brian Glashagel. "They've got a lot of weapons, and I really like the way (Frison) runs. He's an open-field guy. The key for us is that if our front four linemen can get pressure on their quarterback, we'll be in good shape."

Advancement: Winner faces the winner of No. 6 Glenbard South vs. No. 3 Hubbard in the quarterfinals.

Class 7A

No. 4 Carmel Corsairs (9-1) at No. 12 Woodstock Blue Streaks (7-3)

When: 7 p.m., Friday

Last week: Carmel def. Wheeling, 45-33; Woodstock def. Machesney Park Harlem, 29-22.

Playoff history: Woodstock is making its second straight playoff appearance after missing in 2006. Before that, the Blue Streaks had made the playoffs the previous six consecutive years. The Blue Streaks have been ousted in the first round in their last three appearances but have made extended playoff runs before. In 1983 and in 1997, Woodstock won state championships. 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.

Scouting Carmel: Carmel, which is averaging 34.4 points per game, is coming off a spectacular effort by its offense, particularly on the ground. The Corsairs rolled up 496 rushing yards against Wheeling. Senior fullback Mike Taylor finished with 250 yards on 31 carries, while running back Eric Stevenson added 150 yards on 13 carries. The high-octane triple option offense seemed to barely miss a beat under the direction of backup quarterback Larry Amato, who started in place of Andrew Nerup. Nerup was sidelined with mono and is questionable for the Woodstock game, pending evaluation from his doctor. Speaking of sidelined players, the Corsairs will be without their top receiving threat for the rest of the season. Arizona-bound senior Jack Baucus landed awkwardly when he caught a pass against Wheeling, wound up tearing the ACL, MCL and meniscus in his knee and is out for the rest of the season.

Scouting Woodstock: The Blue Streaks have said that one of their top goals of the season was to get a home playoff game, which they have. They will face Carmel in their first home playoff game since 2003. The Blue Streaks put themselves in this position by throwing the ball well and surviving a couple of special teams miscues last week. Quarterback Derek Brown completed 9 of 16 passes for 185 yards. That helped offset a fumbled punt return and a blocked punt, which Harlem turned into 9 points. Woodstock, which placed third in the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division with a 3-2 record, is averaging only 20 points per game but is allowing just 10.2 points per game. The defense, which includes a gigantic line, boasts 2 shutouts and has allowed 7 or fewer points in six games. The Blue Streaks have won three of their last four games.

Quoting Carmel: "Woodstock's defense is really big and really good," said Carmel coach Andy Bitto, who pointed to imposing Woodstock linemen Mike Liedtke (6-feet-4, 220 pounds), Parker Woodall (6-4, 305) and Jamie Ville (6-2, 260). "We're going to have our hands full. But our strength is inside with our offensive line. It should be a great battle in the trenches."

Advancement: Winner faces the winner of No. 1 Geneva vs. No. 9 Rockton Hononegah in the quarterfinals.

Class 8A

No. 5 Warren Blue Devils (9-1) at No. 13 Schaumburg Saxons (6-4)

When: 5 p.m., Saturday

Last week: Warren def. York, 21-9; Schaumburg def. Glenbrook South, 20-16.

Playoff history: 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. Schaumburg missed the playoffs last year and is making its fourth appearance since 2000. In 1999, the Saxons were the Class 6A runners-up, losing to Naperville Central.

Scouting Warren: The Blue Devils scored all 21 of their points against York in the first half and then the defense went to work, Warren held York in check largely by forcing 4 turnovers. The Blue Devils, who are allowing a North Suburban Lake Division-low 14.1 points per game, were active and pressured York's quarterback incessantly. Offensively, the player of the game for Warren was senior Aaron Montgomery. He had one of the best 60-second stretches of the season when he rushed for a touchdown, picked off a pass on defense on the very next play and threw a halfback option touchdown pass on the next play. Sophomore running back Tom Lindal rushed for 120 yards on 15 carries, and wide receiver Ryan Maguire hauled in a pretty 39-yard touchdown pass from Zach Shaw. The Blue Devils are averaging 29.1 points per game.

Scouting Schaumburg: Schaumburg placed fourth in the Mid-Suburban West with a 2-3 record and narrowly qualified for the playoffs with a 5-4 record. The Saxons are 2-2 in their last four games and are averaging 30.3 points per game while allowing 30 points per game. The Saxons earned some respect by knocking off a heavyweight in Glenbrook South. In a wild finish, the two teams scored 4 touchdowns in the final 3:43. Schaumburg's Mike Valenti recovered a Glenbrook South onside kick to put an end to the scoring and the game. Valenti was a key factor before that. He caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Anthony Iannotti (104 passing yards), and he also intercepted 2 passes. On the season, Iannotti has passed for more than 2,000 yards. But the Saxons aren't just a passing team. Sophomore running back Shepard Little ran for 124 yards on 29 carries against Glenbrook South and has more than 1,200 yards on the season. Defensively, the Saxons showed some heart, making 5 fourth-down stops against the Titans.

Quoting Warren: "Schaumburg is a very hot team right now," said Warren coach Dave Mohapp. "They're where you want to be at this point of the season. They're executing offensively, their defense was really tough against a very tough Glenbrook South team and they're playing great team football. They have all the pieces. They should feel very confident right now. I feel good about our defense, but offensively, we stubbed our toe a bit last week and couldn't get much going after halftime. We've gone back to fundamentals in practice this week to try to get our core stuff back on track. I'd like to see a stronger showing offensively from us this week."

Advancement: Winner faces the winner of No. 8 Fremd vs. No. 1 Bartlett in the quarterfinals.