Scouting: Maine South at Barrington
CLASS 8A QUARTERFINAL
No. 2 Maine South (11-0) at No. 6 Barrington (9-2)
When: 6 p.m. today at Barrington Community Stadium
Road to the quarterfinals: Maine South d. No. 15 Stevenson 63-29, No. 7 Loyola 26-7; Barrington d. No. 11 St. Patrick 21-14, No. 14 New Trier 7-2
Playoff history: Maine South, which won titles in 1995 and 2000 and was second three straight years (2003-05) is 6-3 in quarterfinal games after a 21-14 loss to Mt. Carmel last year. Barrington, which was second in 6A in 1998, is 2-4 in the quarterfinals and is making its fourth trip since 2003. Barrington beat Maine South 42-34 in the second round in 2006.
Outlook: Here come the high-flying Hawks and Vanderbilt-bound QB Charlie Goro (72 percent passing, 2,600 yards, 35 TDs, 4 INTs; 402 yards rushing, 9 TDs) to give Barrington's defense led by LBs Jason Bromm, Cam Good and Tim Oakley and S Brett Seeger its ultimate test. "That would be OK with me, maybe I'll call Dave (Maine South coach Inserra) and see if he would take that suggestion," Barrington coach Joe Sanchez joked of Goro returning to WR, where he played in the playoff meeting two years ago. "What makes them different than years past is their balance." Especially with junior Matt Perez, who has rushed for 815 yards and 16 TDs and has 1,800 all-purpose yards and 24 TDs. "He's just a special kid," Inserra said of Perez's impact that could be even greater if the weather is bad. "We're able to run the ball and with a passing attack that's a little shorter and quicker-release, it allows us to throw in tough conditions as well." Perez, Joey Orlando (59 catches, 815 yards, 10 TDs) and Sam Chwarzynski (34 for 610, 8 TDs) are Goro's top targets. And no lead is safe against the Hawks as Stevenson went from 22-7 up to a 63-29 first-round loss and New Trier led by a point in the third quarter before losing 55-24. "They have such quick-strike ability and they challenge you for every yard of the field," Sanchez said. Barrington hopes to have RB Sam Ojuri (1,319 yards, 19 TDs) and QB Cody Seeger (1,617 yards, 12 TDs) and his crew of receivers do the same to a Maine South defense led by Central Suburban South defensive player of the year and two-way lineman Zach Timm and linebackers Corby Ryan and Nick Catino. "They're extremely explosive and watching them on film, at times their drives are 1- and 2-play drives," Inserra said. "They have so many different packages you have to game-plan for but it goes through Seeger and Ojuri."
Advancement: The winner would travel to No. 1 Bartlett or host No. 13 Schaumburg in a semifinal.
- Marty Maciaszek
CLASS 7A QUARTERFiNAL
No. 4 Carmel (10-1) at No. 1 Geneva (11-0)
Game time: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Radio: WKRS 1220 AM (stream broadcast www.wkrs.com)
Last week: Carmel def. Woodstock 10-7; Geneva def. Rockton Hononegah 46-28
Advancement: Winner will play either No. 2 Cary-Grove (11-0) or No. 6 Crystal Lake South (9-2)
Scouting Geneva: Vikings senior Michael Ratay is one of the state's best running backs. He's rushed for an amazing 2,414 yards (9.6 yards per carry) and an equally stunning 39 touchdowns. Dating back to last year, Ratay is aiming for his 18th consecutive game of 100-plus rushing yards. Against Hononegah, for the second time in two years, Ratay pulled off a "TD trifecta," rushing for 3 scores, catching a touchdown pass and throwing one on a halfback option. Fullback Drew Fagot (78 carries, 524 yards, 5 touchdowns) and the Vikings offensive line pave the way for Ratay while junior quarterback Brandon Beitzel (73-of-131, 1,111 yards, 9 interceptions, 9 touchdowns) has been put in a position to maximize his strengths. Jason Holmes leads the Vikings receivers in receptions (21), yards (364) and touchdowns (5).
Scouting Carmel: The Corsairs received good news a day before their game against Woodstock last Friday night when starting quarterback Andrew Nerup was cleared to play after missing just one game - the team's playoff opener against Wheeling - with mono. "He probably had it (for two weeks) before we even recognized it, because he was cleared in two weeks," coach Andy Bitto said. "He's a tough kid. He was feeling sick, and what the heck did I know." With Carmel leading Woodstock only 3-0 in the third quarter, Bitto called on Nerup, who immediately directed the Corsairs to their only touchdown. For the season, Nerup has rushed for 671 yards and 12 TDs. Fullback Mike Taylor (1,474 yards, 16 TDs) leads the rushing attack.
- Joe Aguilar