Scouting Glenbard North at West Aurora

Glenbard North (6-0, 4-0) at West Aurora (3-3, 1-3)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today

Last year: Glenbard North 42, West Aurora 6.

Last week: Glenbard North 14, Glenbard East 7; West Aurora 29, West Chicago 28.

Outlook: Continuing its backs-to-the-wall playoff push, West Aurora will be challenged by the blue-collar Panthers and their smashmouth ways. Behind a bruising offensive line, Glenbard North backs Evin Natick and Phil Jackson are each capable of putting up big numbers. When Natick went down last year before playing the Blackhawks, Jackson ran for more than 200 yards as just a sophomore. Panthers quarterback Matt Ng is crafty and a triple-threat, but stopping the run is the key for West Aurora linebackers Brandon Warren, Kendall Williams, Manny Escobedo and D.J. Nelson. Last week West Aurora held West Chicago to around 25 yards rushing in the first half, but 250 in the second. Offensively against Glenbard North the Blackhawks again try to sustain a running game, using misdirection behind linemen Nelson, Williams, Austin Beebe, Glenn McCarthy, Cal Wagner, Alex Chollet and D.J. Pennington. Coach Buck Drach hopes to get Tyson Lassiter and Warren through cracks into the second level. Last week Lassiter broke a 58-yard touchdown run that was called back by penalty. Penalties have hurt the Blackhawks as much as punter Alex Pope has gotten them out of sticky situations and the turnover situation improved, too. But last week was about Nate Zinzer. The 5-foot-4, 130-pound junior defensive back/receiver had 2 crucial interceptions, caught 4 passes for 130 yards and 3 touchdowns and, after West drove the length of the field to score on Warren's 2-yard run, made the game-winning 2-point catch from Josh Campbell. "The only thing he didn't win was homecoming king," Drach said. Now for another win. "That's what we told the kids last week," Drach said. "You've only got to win one game to get into the playoffs, and that's the next one."

Next week: Glenbard North at Wheaton Warrenville South (6-0, 4-0), Oct. 15; West Aurora at Glenbard East (3-3, 1-3), Oct. 15.