Scouting Lake Zurich @ Rolling Meadows

Posted October 29, 2009 11:00 pm

By Marty Maciaszek

No. 11 LZ (6-3) at No. 6 Meadows (7-2)

When: 7 p.m. Saturday at Robert A. Hoese Athletic Field

Last week: Meadows d. Prospect 46-38; Lake Zurich d. Vernon Hills 42-0

Playoff history: Lake Zurich is 13-11 with a 7A title in 2007 under Bryan Stortz when it beat visiting Meadows 10-7 in the second round. The Bears are making their eighth straight trip and Meadows is 7-10 and is making its seventh straight trip under Doug Millsaps.

Outlook: Both teams are streaking into the matchup with Lake Zurich having won four straight and Meadows winning five in a row en route to the Mid-Suburban East title. The Bears have continued their tradition of tough defense behind Andy Blechschmidt (team-high 79 tackles) and sophomore DB Zach Till (4 INTs) in their 3-5-3. "They force you into hitting some big plays against them," Millsaps said. "They've faced some pretty good quarterbacks and receivers and done a good job." But Meadows senior Jimmy Garoppolo (1,733 yards passing, 16 TDs; 562 rushing, 7 TDs) is on a roll right now with his deep crew of receivers in Tony Taibi (44-751, 9 TDs), Marius Salkauskas (38-377, 2 TDs), Artie Checchin (24-330, 2 TDs) and Scott Shewmon (17-237, 2 TDs). Plus the Mustangs get RB Garrett Peterson (399 yards, 6 TDs) back after sitting last week as a precaution (knee). "If he runs 12-13 times a game and does all he's supposed to do that'll really help the passing game," Millsaps said. Will the Bears, who play their home games on turf, be able to get their running game going led by junior Jacob Brinlee (1,191 yards, 20 TDs) and Adrian Ruiz (448, 8 TDs) in the mud against the Mustangs' tough defense led by DL Erick Louis-Charles and LB Colin Buscarini? "We struggled a bit last week but everyone does against Prospect," Millsaps said. "I would expect our kids to line up and be physical and play the run pretty hard."

Advancement: Lake Zurich would be at home and Meadows would be on the road in the second round against the winner of No. 14 Glenbrook North (6-3) and No. 3 Crystal Lake South (8-1).

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