Scouting Week 3 in Lake County
Antioch (2-0) at Warren (2-0)
When 7:30 p.m. today
Last week Antioch def. Waukegan, 41-20; Warren def. Highland Park, 35-21.
Outlook It's defending champ versus defending champ. Antioch won the North Suburban Conference's Prairie Division title last year and Warren won the Lake Division. "I think there's a lot of big anticipation for this game," Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. "This is going to be as big of a crossover in the North Suburban as there's been in awhile. It will be a playoff type of atmosphere." - Besides their titles from last year, another thing Antioch and Warren have in common is a heavy emphasis on the run. Antioch rolled up 398 rushing yards on Waukegan last week while Warren wasn't far behind with 375 yards against Highland Park. Both teams have plenty of options in the backfield with a workhorse (or two) leading the way. Antioch fullback Steve Lorenzini finished with 188 yards on 29 carries last week while Greg Kennedy and Tom Lindal tallied a combined 48 carries for Warren. Kennedy wound up with 211 yards (on 28 carries) and Lindal had 132 yards on 20 carries. In two games, Kennedy has rushed for 391 yards and Lindal has gained 226 yards on the ground. Each running back has rushed for 4 touchdowns.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Grant (0-2) at Lakes (1-1)
When 7:30 p.m. today
Last week Grant lost to Plainfield North, 28-21; Lakes lost to Harvard, 21-14.
Outlook Grant's 0-2 record means nothing to the coaches and players at Lakes. What does mean a whole lot is the fact that the Eagles have never beaten Grant at the varsity level. "We would never take Grant lightly - no matter what their record is," Lakes coach Luke Mertens said. "They're just very well coached and they're very physical, one of the most physical teams in the conference. Plus, out of all the teams in the (North Suburban Conference) Prairie Division, they probably had the toughest nonconference schedule. They played some really good teams."-Grant was actually in a position to win both of its first two games but turnovers came into play. And against Crystal Lake South in the season opener, the Bulldogs also had a hard time doing what they do best: running the ball. They were limited to just 19 rushing yards. Last week, they fared much better and standout fullback Dan Hourihan rolled up 108 rushing yards himself. Quarterback Justin Cokefair can also be a dangerous runner-Lakes would also like to focus on rushing the ball but last week got its two touchdowns on passing plays, one to Andrew Tubek and the other to Mike Hough. "They run that spread offense that is really tough to defend," Grant coach Kurt Rous said of Lakes. "They caused some turnovers last week, they can throw the ball and they run it well, too. They're a good team. They always are."
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Round Lake (0-2) at Wauconda (1-1)
When 7:30 p.m. today
Last week Round Lake lost to Maine West, 35-13; Wauconda def. Chicago Orr, 14-7.
Outlook Wauconda wants to make the most of this game. It's one of only three home games for the Bulldogs. "We took two buses of fans to Orr (last Saturday)," Wauconda coach Dave Mills said. "We got a lot of support there. But we're excited to be at home."-After falling behind at Orr, the Bulldogs got back into the game thanks in part to a strong performance out of quarterback Brian Kent. He completed 13-of-18 passes for 140 yards. He also ran the ball for 55 yards, including a 2-yard score in the fourth quarter that proved to be the game-winner. - Mills would love his team not to procrastinate like that again. "We have to play with a sense of urgency," Mills said. "That's what we're trying to get across right now."-With all the young players on its roster, the Round Lake coaches are in teaching mode, too. "They play a lot of young guys," Mills said of Round Lake. "They've all got talent, but it's nice to have that experience, too."-Mills is preparing for a Round Lake Wing-T offense that is getting increasingly proficient at controlling the clock."
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Marist (2-0) at Carmel (1-1)
When 7:30 p.m.
Last week Marist def. Plainfield Central, 42-14; Carmel def. Libertyville, 28-14.
Outlook Carmel coach Andy Bitto can't imagine that his school's parking lot will be overflowing for the Marist game like it did last week when the Corsairs took on neighborhood rival Libertyville. Bet rest assured, there will be plenty of fans again. Marist is quickly becoming one of Carmel's top rivals in the East Suburban Catholic Conference. Last year, Marist dealt Carmel its only loss of the regular season, preventing the Corsairs from winning the league title. "That game last year just showed us that you have to be prepared every week because you never know which game could cost you. Marist is a team we'll have to deal with for a while. It's a good program."-Marist likes to pass the ball and can do so proficiently with quarterback Mike Perish at the wheel. The 6-foot-4 senior has already been offered a scholarship by Bowling Green. He's got a pair of good-sized targets to focus on _ 6-foot-3 wide receiver Nick Valla and 6-foot-2 wide receiver Dan Piko-The Corsairs will likely put the focus of their offense on a sophomore again. Sophomore Jordan Kos rolled up 176 yards and 2 touchdowns on 20 carries against Libertyville.
- Patricia Babcock McGraw
Lake Forest (0-2) at Libertyville (1-1)
When 7:30 p.m. today
Last week Lake Forest lost to Kenosha (Wis.) Bradford, 56-48; Libertyville lost Carmel, 28-14.
Outlook A week after watching Carmel throw just 5 passes all night, Libertyville's defense could see that many pass attempts on Lake Forest's opening possession in this opening North Suburban Lake Division game. Notre Dame-bound quarterback Tommy Rees had a monster game last Friday against Kenosha Bradford, throwing for 526 yards and 6 touchdowns. He completed his first 12 passes, finishing 39 of 53. His top target was wide receiver Connor Moutvic, who had 15 receptions for 204 yards and 3 TDs (22, 23 and 17 yards). In Lake Forest's season-opening loss to Palatine, Rees was intercepted four times. ... Libertyville spotted Carmel a 28-0 lead, as the Wildcats were victimized by two late second-quarter turnovers, both of which led to field goals. Wildcats junior QB A.J. Schurr threw a pair of fourth-quarter TD passes and showed good scrambling ability all night.
- Joe Aguilar
Zion-Benton (0-2) at Lake Zurich (1-1)
When 7:30 p.m. today
Last week Zion-Benton lost to Minooka, 49-6; Lake Zurich d. Wheaton North, 35-9.
Outlook Lake Zurich will be looking to hand Zion-Benton its 19th straight loss in this North Suburban Lake Division opener. The Zee-Bees' last win came in Week 2 of the 2007 season, against Niles West. Zion-Benton opened this season with a 19-14 defeat to Deerfield. ... Lake Zurich junior running back Jacob Brinlee is off to a great start in his second varsity season. Brinlee returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown and rushed for 99 yards and a score against Wheaton North. The Lake Zurich defense did an effective job on Ohio State-bound QB Taylor Graham of Wheaton North and had played in both of the team's games this season. The Bears have allowed just 19 points.
- Joe Aguilar
Stevenson (2-0) at Mundelein (0-2)
When 7:30 p.m. today
Last week Stevenson d. Glenbrook South, 50-49, in overtime; Mundelein lost to Marmion Academy, 24-8.
Outlook It's Stevenson's high-powered offense against the Mustangs' powerless offense in this North Suburban Lake Division opener. While the Mustangs got their first points of the season last Friday in Aurora - QB Brian Santiago had a 1-yard run and completed the conversion pass to Blair Metzger - the Patriots have scored 84 points the first two weeks of the season. Several Patriots had big offensive games against Glenbrook South. Included were fullback Mark Weisman (28 carries, 224 yards, 3 TDs), wide receiver Nate Johnson (game-winning conversion catch, 6 receptions for 210 yards and 2 TDs) and running back Matt Harris (2 TDs).
- Joe Aguilar
Grayslake Central (1-1) at Crystal Lake South (2-0)
When 7:15 p.m. today
Last week Grayslake Central d. Woodstock North, 27-0; Crystal Lake South d. Bartlett, 40-0.
Outlook Grayslake Central's improved defense gets a big test tonight against the mighty Gators in this Fox Valley Conference crossover. Crystal Lake South has outscored its first two opponents by a combined margin of 64-7. The Gators opened with a 24-7 win over Grant. ... Grayslake Central opened its season with a 12-7 loss at Johnsburg, before blanking first-year Woodstock North last Friday. The Rams did all their scoring in the first half, with QB Mike Gentile rushing for a score and throwing a TD pass. Both Gentile and running back Vinnie Culhane carried the ball 9 times for 72 yards and a touchdown. Gentile was 6-of-11 passing for 126 yards and a TD throw to C.J. Stempeck. Kevin Hein led the Grayslake Central defense with 8 tackles and an 86-yard fumble return for touchdown.
- Joe Aguilar
McHenry (0-2) at Grayslake North (1-1)
When 7:15 p.m. today
Last week McHenry lost to St. Charles North, 34-13; Grayslake North lost to Woodstock, 22-6.
Outlook It's Pink-Out Night at Grayslake North, as the Knights look to raise awareness of breast cancer. Grayslake North has allowed just 19 points. McHenry, which used to be a perennial power in the FVC, opened the season with a 15-6 loss to Larkin. The Warriors feature QB Thomas Rose (395 passing yards), whose top targets are Trevor Marunde (10 catches) and Dana Kohn (9). Kohn leads McHenry with 144 rushing yards.
- Joe Aguilar