Scouting: Lincoln-Way North @ S. Elgin

Lincoln-Way North (2-2) at South Elgin (3-1)

When Saturday at 1 p.m. at Millennium Field, Streamwood

Last first meeting

Last week St. Charles East 21, South Elgin 14; Lincoln-Way North 40, Thrornwood 0

Outlook South Elgin plays the second homecoming game in school history against nonconference opponent Lincoln-Way North, which is in its second season of varsity football. After losing their first 11 games, the Phoenix enter this contest with confidence and a 2-game winning streak. In season-opening losses to Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way East (combined 7-1 record), they were outscored 55-0. In wins over Stagg and Thornwood (combined 1-7) they outscored their opponents 61-7. Like last week's opponent, St. Charles East, Lincoln-Way North prefers to run the ball. However, unlike St. Charles East the Phoenix's biggest lineman is tackle Jake Bice (6-3, 255), a big difference from the 300-pounders the Storm defense had difficulty stopping last week. "They're a good running team," South Elgin coach Dale Schabert said. "We're going to have to stop the run. The kids were upset about (the loss to St. Charles East), and we've had an excellent week of practice. No loss is good. We've done the moral victory thing, but we can learn from what went wrong and make adjustments to it. The kids can't wait to get back out there and play." The Storm ran the ball for 196 yards last week, led by junior Brad Birchfield's 162 yards on 19 carries. He has rushed 58 times this season for 272 yards and 2 touchdowns. Junior quarterback John Menken completed 7-of-11 passes in the second half after a first half in which he did not complete a pass and was intercepted twice. Menken scored on a 1-yard run and threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Sheldon Chaney.