Scouting Immaculate Conception @ Aurora Christian

Immaculate Conception (2-3, 1-1) at Aurora Christian (3-2, 2-0)

Game time: 7:15 p.m. Friday.

Last year Aurora Christian 22, Immaculate Conception 12.

Last week Marian Central 14, Immaculate Conception 7; Montini 41, Aurora Christian 8.

Outlook The first conference meeting between the 2008 Class 2A state champion and the 4A runner-up. Aurora Christian is the one team not to have lost in the SCC Gold, but the visiting Knights are among four teams at 1-1. IC lost a physical battle against Marian Central, though Conor Hendricks ran for about 80 yards with a 46-yard touchdown run. Surrendering only 14 points against Marian is pretty strong, and Knights coach Mike Alberts praised the defensive execution despite allowing 225 yards rushing. The thrust this week will be containing Aurora Christian's speed, not physicality. The Eagles are a big-play outfit headed by speedy brothers Johnny Magee and Sheldon Magee. Alberts is hoping outside linebackers Danny Palermo and Connor McDannel can turn things back inside. Last week Montini shut down Aurora Christian's ground game and forced Eagles sophomore quarterback Grayson Roberts to pass 46 times, intercepting 4. This week coach Don Beebe's Eagles are on their home turf instead of chopped-up grass. "Our backs are against the wall," Alberts said, "and this is the first game of what's going to make or break our season."

Next week Wheaton Academy at Immaculate Conception