Scouting Marmion at Marian Central

Marmion (3-0, 1-0) at Marian Central (2-1, 1-0)

Game time: 7 p.m. today.

Last year: Marmion 41, Marian Central 27.

Last week: Marmion 22, St. Francis 0; Marian Central 20, Aurora Christian 6.

Outlook: Like Marmion coach Dan Thorpe said in the preseason about the whole Suburban Christian Conference Blue division, the Cadets won't be able to sneak up on anyone as perhaps they did last year in winning the title. "We know they (Marian Central) looked past us last year, and we surprised them," Thorpe said. "So that won't happen this year. We know we've been on their calendar." Even more than last game - in which Marmion held St. Francis to 3 passing completions in 21 attempts, with Mike Carbonara's pick-6 interception and 63-yard return - this figures to be a battle. "Huge, physical, brawlers," Thorpe typified such Hurricanes as tight end Scott Stochl (6-2, 205), tailback Corey Cavitt (5-9, 195), quarterback Ben Krol (6-7, 225) and two-way tackle Ryan McKee (6-3, 235). His roster that offers 6-foot-3, 245-pound-and-up brothers Graham and Ryan Glasgow, defensive tackles Mike Eberth (6-1, 235) and Blake Mickey (6-2, 240) and two-way stud T.J. Lally (6-1, 235) are certainly no shrinking violets. But after a game in which Mitch Loehmann's two long gainers provided 149 of the Cadets' 163 yards rushing and A.J. Friedman punted 9 times, Marmion will look to improve offensively. Marian Central's lone loss came against a good Benet team, 33-21. "Benet just outscored them and that is not in our forte," Thorpe said. He's looking for defensive ends Ryan Glasgow and Nick Scoliere to pressure Krol, for the offensive line to open those same holes Loemann ran through, and for Friedman's kicking game to pin Marian back. "It's going to be a 15-round event," Thorpe said. "It could be very close."

Next week: Marmion at Guerin (2-1), Sept. 25; Marian Central at Immaculate Conception (2-1), Sept. 25.