Scouting Kaneland @ DeKalb

Kaneland (4-2, 3-1)at DeKalb (1-5, 0-4)

Game time 1 p.m. Saturday

Last year Kaneland 49, DeKalb 21.

Last week Glenbard South 21, Kaneland 7; Geneva 55, DeKalb 0.

Outlook The rains that plagued the area last week affected both of these Western Sun Conference opponents, in the form of fumbles and, mainly for Kaneland, dropped passes after a 7-7 halftime tie with a quality Glenbard South team. Knights coach Tom Fedderly was making no excuses, however, and as this Saturday could also see wet and mud - this game is not at Northern Illinois University with its artificial surface, but at DeKalb's turf for homecoming - these teams may face the same challenges. What also hurt Kaneland last week was Glenbard South 240-pound brute Austin Teitsma right in the middle of the Raiders defense. If Kaneland wants to continue to run the ball as Fedderly said - not just with quarterback Joe Camiliere, but with Brock Dyer, Blake Serpa and Eric Tattoni, back from a bum knee that held him out of Glenbard South - even the Teitsmas of the world have got to be blocked. DeKalb first-year coach Marty Sanders runs a variety of offensive looks, Fedderly said, from a full-house backfield to wishbone to spread. Frank Petras is the Barbs' experienced quarterback, and he targets a receiver-kick returner, Dylan Donnelly, who is a playmaker in the mold of Kaneland's Ryley Bailey. Bailey scored the Knights' touchdown last week on a 43-yard screen pass from Camiliere. But mainly Fedderly said DeKalb likes to run the ball, and he's seeking a productive afternoon from his linebacker corps of Serpa, Dyer, Derek Bus, Tyler Callaghan and 220-pound senior Brett Ketza. Motivation certainly shouldn't be a factor - even against a team that lost 55-0 last week - because the Knights still have playoff eligibility to shoot for, as well as next week's game against Geneva that in all probability will decide the final title of the Western Sun Conference. "This is a big game for us," Fedderly said. "We've got to rebound after that tough loss. That was an emotional loss for us... We've got a lot to play for."

Next week: Geneva (6-0, 4-0) at Kaneland.