Scouting Fremd vs. Lake Park @ Conant

Posted November 05, 2009 10:00 pm

By Marty Maciaszek

Fremd (10-0) vs. No. 9 Lake Park (8-2)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday at Conant's Charles O. Feutz Field

Last week: Fremd d. No. 16 Naperville North 22-14; Lake Park d. No. 8 Belleville East 22-21

Playoff history: Fremd is making its 15th straight playoff trip and is trying to reach the quarterfinals for the fourth time. Last year it lost 21-7 in the second round to Bartlett. Lake Park is trying to make its fifth quarterfinal trip and first since its 2003 semifinalist made a stunning first-round comeback to beat Fremd 46-42. The Lancers haven't been in the playoffs since 2006.

Outlook: Fremd faced its biggest deficit of the season last week when it trailed 14-0 in the second quarter and moved record-setting RB Evan Wright (1,941 yards, 26 TDS) to run the offense in the wildcat formation the rest of the way. And the Vikings responded for their fifth 10-win season and fourth in the last five years. "If everything happens for a reason that was a great lesson for the kids," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci. "It definitely made us stronger and our focus this week was much, much better. The kids know it will be like this form here on out and they beat a good team." Now comes a Lake Park team which also rallied from a 14-0 halftime deficit on 2 TDs by RB Jake McNamara (553 yards, 3 TDs) and a TD run by Artie Monaco followed by the game-winning conversion pass from three-year starting QB Larry Nawrot (722 yards, 7 TDs, 6 INTs) to Clay Cooper (18 catches, 206 yards, 3 TDs). Monaco is a multiple threat who has rushed for 958 yards and 13 TDs, caught 13 passes for 280 yards and 3 TDs, returned two punts for scores and a kickoff for a TD. "Monaco is probably the closest they have to a game-breaker type kid," Donatucci said. "Offensively they're kind of like we are defensively. No one really stands out but they're good." Wright ran the wildcat briefly in the season finale against Palatine and was 3-for-3 passing with a TD in his first extensive action. "He handled it very, very well," Donatucci said. Both teams are familiar with playing at Conant - Lake Park won its season opener there 34-20 and Fremd won 31-14 in Week 7.

Advancement: Lake Park would host No. 4 Marist (8-2) or visit No. 5 Naperville Central (8-2) and Fremd would host the winner in the quarterfinals.

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