Scouting South Elgin at Metea Valley
South Elgin (3-0, 1-0) vs. Metea Valley (1-2, 1-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last year: first meeting
Last week: South Elgin 48, Lake Park 0; Metea Valley 39, East Aurora 6
Outlook: Times change. For example, here's a sentence that would have made readers scratch their heads five years ago: South Elgin and Metea Valley are tied for the lead in the Valley Division of the Upstate Eight. It's a three-way tie with Waubonsie Valley, actually. The conference's two newest schools meet for the first time in a Valley Division game in Aurora. South Elgin, in its fifth season of varsity football, enters ranked No. 9 in Class 8A. The explosive Storm have outscored their first three opponents 149-38. The Mustangs, playing their first season of varsity football without the benefit of a senior class, are fresh off the program's first win last week at East Aurora. The Storm will play without wide receiver Kenny Lowden (mono) and tight end/defensive end Derek Hurschman (ejection last week), but middle linebacker Justin Wright returns after sitting out the Lake Park game with a sprained ankle. Quarterback John Menken also returns. He will start, but able backup Zack Gross will likely see some playing time, according to South Elgin coach Dale Schabert. Gross, also a safety, will start in the defensive secondary. "Both will play QB," Schabert said. "They both have some qualities that are unique. Zack filled in great last week and showed he can play. We think it's not a bad idea to use them both in ballgames the rest of the year. We had been considering that well before last week." Metea Valley capitalized on 4 turnovers last week and took a 26-0 lead into halftime. Tre'Sean Mackey rushed for 95 yards and 3 touchdowns. "They haven't been home since Week 1 and they're coming home after their first victory, so their expectations will be even higher now," Schabert said of the Mustangs. "When we got our first win (in 2007), everything got better the next week, and I'm sure it's the same with them. They have a chance to shock the Valley. (Metea Valley coach Ted) Monken will have them ready."