Scouting Elk Grove @ Machesney Park Harlem
No. 13 Elk Grove (6-3) at No. 4 Machesney Park Harlem (8-1)
When: 7 p.m. today
Last week: Elk Grove d. Buffalo Grove 14-7; Harlem d. Rockford East 41-8
Playoff history: Elk Grove is 7-8 and is making its first appearance since 2004 for first-year coach Brian Doll. Harlem is 4-7 and is making its second straight trip under Jim Morrow.
Outlook: Elk Grove feels as if it's been in the playoffs already since it had to win its last two games to end a four-year drought. But the Grenadiers aren't just happy to be making the trip and like their chances with dangerous dual-threat QB Nick Meyer (1,503 yards passing, 12 TDs; 907 rushing, 16 TDs) and his crew of receivers in Matt McEnery (31-489, 4 TDs), Eddie Solorio (21-364, 2 TDs), Joey Bishoff (20-297, 2 TDs) and RB Mike Wary (17-180, 4 TDs) against Harlem's defense led by LB Harrison Wentland, two-way lineman Matt Parks and CB Tyler Cox. "This is a big challenge for them defensively," Doll said. "It's turned into, 'Is Nick going to run the ball or pass the ball,' and they haven't faced a spread team all year." Getting big junior RT Peter Ioakimidis back last week from injury is also a boost against a Harlem team which hasn't been in a game closer than 19 points since losing its NIC-10 opener 22-10 to unbeaten Rockford Boylan. The Huskies are also a bit different from traditional Rockford-area teams as senior QB Keenan Kellett (1,051 yards, 15 TDs, 7 INTs) is the only player in NIC-10 history to throw for more than 14 TDs in two seasons (18 last year). Cox (17-362, 4 TDs) and Casey Beck (17-288, 7 TDs) are his top targets and they use a balanced group of running backs to challenge Meyer, Bishoff and LB Kyle Pfister on defense. "We do spread the ball around quite a bit and we don't really have one key guy," Morrow said. "We like the defense to have to defend everybody."
Advancement: The winner would host No. 5 South Elgin (7-2) or travel to No. 12 St. Charles North (6-3) in the second round.