Scouting Grant @ Vernon Hills

Grant (3-4, 3-1) vs. Vernon Hills (6-1, 5-0)

When 8 p.m. today at Carmel High School in Mundelein

Last week Grant lost to Lake Forest, 38-35; Vernon Hills def. Wauconda, 27-20.

Skinny A flooded field at Vernon Hills warranted a move, so the Cougars will be the home team on Carmel's artificial turf in Mundelein. (Note the different start time of 8 p.m.) - No matter the venue, this game holds plenty of significance in the North Suburban Prairie Division. Vernon Hills, currently sitting in first place, would win the division title outright with a victory. Grant could force at least a co-championship with a win against Vernon Hills and then a victory in its season finale against North Chicago. Lakes would also be in the co-championship mix if it wins its final two games as well. "We have to win this game," Grant coach Kurt Rous said. "Our backs are up against the wall, not just with the division, but with the playoffs. We've got to win out just to get five wins (and be eligible to earn a playoff berth based on playoff points)." - Grant is coming off a tough loss to Lake Forest in which it scored 15 points in the fourth quarter to nearly rally for the win. The Bulldogs got a big game out of quarterback Justin Cokefair, who ran for 196 yards and threw for 47 more. But Lake Forest quarterback Tommy Rees, who will be playing at Notre Dame next year, was a bit too much. He threw for 335 yards and 2 touchdowns. "We're not used to the kind of offense Lake Forest runs -that spread with all the passing," Rous said. "The nice thing about Vernon Hills is that they run pretty much the same offense that we do. Option. We should be ready for it because that's what we see in practice every day." - Vernon Hills is also coming off a tight game in which the win was secured when do-it-all utility man DaVaris Daniels, who was playing quarterback at the time, scrambled in the final seconds from about 15-yards out, fumbled the ball but then dove on it as it hit the end zone. "Wauconda really battled us hard last week," said Vernon Hills coach Tony Monken, whose team was held to just 160 yards of offense. "We've had some really tough games this season and the Grant game will be the same. It always is. We're going to have to watch for Cokefair but they've also got guys like Leo Minne and Dan Hourihan who run the ball well."- Although Vernon Hills favors the run, Grant will also have to watch out for receiver Evan Spencer, who has been a playmaker all season and scored 2 touchdowns last week.