Scouting Lake Zurich @ Rolling Meadows
No. 11 Lake Zurich (6-3) at No. 6 Rolling Meadows (7-2)
When: 7 p.m., Saturday
Last week: Lake Zurich def. Vernon Hills, 42-0; Rolling Meadows def. Prospect, 46-38.
Playoff experience: Lake Zurich is making its 13th playoff appearance, eighth straight and fourth in as many years under coach Bryan Stortz. Out to defend its 2007 Class 7A state championship, Lake Zurich suffered a 17-13 loss to St. Charles East in Round 1 of the state playoffs last year. Rolling Meadows is in the playoffs for the 11th time and seventh straight year under coach Doug Millsaps. The Mustangs dropped their 2008 playoff opener to Geneva, 27-7, in Class 7A.
Skinny: The two teams met in the second round of the playoffs two years ago with Lake Zurich pulling out a 10-7 win en route to capturing its first state championship. ... Lake Zurich allowed a North Suburban Lake Division-low 119 points during the regular season. The Bears' defense is led by Andy Blechschmidt, J.J. Raffelson, Jack Lynn, Mike Shield, Connor Mihaljevic, Brian Poulter, Zach Till and Robby Wilson, all of whom have at least 30 tackles. Till, a sophomore defensive back, leads the team with 4 interceptions. Blechschmidt has made a team-best 79 tackles, including 60 solos. ... Lake Zurich's option offense boasts dangerous junior wingback Jacob Brinlee, who's been one of Lake County's top players all season in his second on varsity. Brinlee has scored 20 touchdowns, 17 via rushing the ball. He's gained 1,191 yards on the ground, averaging 9.1 per carry. Fullback Devian Ruiz has also had a strong year, rushing for 448 yards (4.6 average) and 8 TDs. ... Lake Zurich's defense gets the tough task of trying to contain talented Rolling Meadows quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. The 6-foot-3, 208-pound senior was electrifying in the Mustangs' 46-38 win over Prospect last Friday, completing 28 of 37 passes for 336 yards and 2 TDs, while also rushing 20 times for 98 yards and a pair of scores. ... Lake Zurich started the season 2-3 but won its last four games to qualify automatically for the postseason. ... Rolling Meadows, the Mid-Suburban East champion, is on a five-game winning steak.