Postseason pairings feature intriguing matchups
With nine weeks of regular-season high school football in the books, it's time to turn the page and look forward to postseason play.
Four conference champions and two other area teams are hoping to add a few more chapters to their 2009 scrapbooks.
Two games will feature rematches between familiar conference foes. Here's a closer look at this weekend's state playoff matchups:
Class 3A
(5) Aurora Christian (6-3) at (4) Winnebago (7-2), 1 p.m. Saturday.
There's no disputing the fact that Aurora Christian is a different team from the one that advanced to the Class 4A state championship game a year ago in Champaign.
However, coach Don Beebe's Eagles are still a formidable bunch, led by the Magee brothers - tailback John and wide receiver Sheldon, both juniors.
And Aurora Christian still has a guy named Roberts taking snaps behind center. This time, it's sophomore Grayson Roberts who leads the Eagles at quarterback rather than since-graduated older brother Jordan.
Averaging more than 30 points per game (30.7), the Eagles will face a stingy Winnebago defense that has allowed just 13 points per contest. After finishing 3-6 in 2008, Winnebago is back in the playoffs and fresh from a 256-yard rushing effort during last week's 28-6 victory over Rockford Lutheran.
If the Eagles want to make a run in 3A play, they'll have to slow RB Seth Gustafson, who has scored 10 TDs this season.
With a win, Aurora Christian will host either top-seeded Stillman Valley (9-0) or Rockford Christian Life (5-4) on Nov. 6 or 7.
Class 5A
(9) Sycamore (6-3) at (8) Kaneland (6-3), 6 p.m. Saturday.
This may be the final game ever between Western Sun Conference schools, because the conference is disbanding after the 2009-10 school year.
Kaneland won the first meeting 21-14 on Sept. 18 in Sycamore.
Now the Knights get to host the Spartans, but the game plan will likely remain the same - try to find a way to slow down speedy Markie Hayes, who gained 81 yards on 10 carries a little more than a month ago.
Kaneland's oldest rival will likely feature a different quarterback in junior Trevor Mathey. The Knights counter with versatile junior quarterback Joe Camiliere and receivers Ryley Bailey and Quinn Buschbacher, who caught a pair of touchdowns against Sycamore last month.
Expect another close game that could be decided by a freshman - Knights place-kicker Chad Swieca.
With a win, Kaneland will visit top-seeded Hillcrest (9-0) or No. 16 Wheaton Academy (5-4) on Nov. 6 or 7.
Class 6A
(15) Huntley at (2) Marmion (8-1), 7 p.m. Friday.
After claiming its first conference title since 1998, Marmion awaits Huntley, the largest Class 6A school, Friday night in Aurora.
Remember Huntley's last playoff appearance?
The Red Raiders outlasted Batavia in a wild 70-63 contest during the first round of the 2008 playoffs. Don't expect a repeat performance, considering Huntley averaged 20 points per game this season and Marmion's defense held foes to 15.8 points per contest.
The Cadets, who won eight straight games after losing their season opener (24-14) to South Elgin, are led by RBs Matt Pircon, Bobby Winkel and T.J. Lally.
Winkel and Lally also excel as linebackers for the Cadets, who figure to face a physical test against 6-foot-3, 225-pound RB Brett Kleckner and 6-2, 245-pound FB/TE/LB Marcus Popenfoose.
If Marmion wins, it'll visit Prairie Ridge or host Chicago-King on Nov. 6 or 7.
Class 7A
(6) Shepard (7-2) at (3) Geneva (8-1), 1 p.m. Saturday.
Making its sixth consecutive playoff appearance, Geneva will try to make a return trip to Champaign after its second-place showing in 2008.
But the road won't be easy. First, the Vikings must defeat a surprising Shepard team that made a six-game improvement (1-8 in 2008) under first-year coach Dom Passolano.
Perennial powerhouse Wheaton Warrenville South will likely await the Shepard-Geneva victor in second-round action.
Versatile RB/SS Michael Santacaterina (20 TDs) and senior LB Bret Shannon anchor the Vikings, who will be tested by Astros QB Dontae McCoy and WR Eyad Samad.
If Geneva wins, it will visit WW South or St. Laurence on Nov. 6 or 7.
(9) Rockton Hononegah at (8) St. Charles East (7-2), 1 p.m. Saturday.
The Upstate Eight Conference champion Saints began the season with back-to-back losses before reeling off 7 straight victories - 5 wins by 7 points or less.
The defensive-minded Saints, fueled by DL Jon Voytilla, Andrew Carrano, Josh Spudich and LBs Philip Bucaro, Sam Leopardo and Michael Caddy, allowed just 54 points (7.7-point average) during their winning streak.
Something has to give - St. Charles East's defense has allowed 10.6 points per game (95 total), while the Rockton Hononegah offense averages 36.6 points (329 total).
The Indians, led by QB Chase Robinson and RBs Bryan Rothmaler and Forrest Wiltfang, scored 34-plus points in all of their 7 victories but were held to 1 TD in losses to Harlem (26-7) and Rockford Boylan (23-7).
If the Saints win, they will travel to top-seeded Glenbard West or Rockford Guilford on Nov. 6 or 7.
(12) St. Charles North (6-3) at (5) South Elgin (7-2), 1 p.m. Saturday.
These UEC foes will be squaring off for the second time in three weeks at Streamwood's Millennium Field.
South Elgin, making its first-ever playoff appearance, won the first meeting 10-7 in overtime on a field goal by David Reisner. Storm WR Jake Kumerow will likely be shadowed by DBs Justin Miller and Patrick Killeen.
The North Stars, who are 0-3 against playoff qualifiers and 0-2 in overtime contests, are due to win a close one after Saturday's 14-13 loss in double overtime to St. Charles East.
But they'll have to avoid costly turnovers and penalties that have plagued them in recent weeks.
WRs Josh Mikes and Jeff Stolzenburg have proven big-play potential for junior QB Jake Bergren.
If the North Stars win, they will host Harlem or Elk Grove on Nov. 6 or 7.
Contact Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com.