Scouting Mendota at Grayslake North

Mendota (4-2) at Grayslake North (3-3)

When: 7:30 p.m., today

Last week: Mendota def. Rock Falls, 19-7; Grayslake North lost to Prairie Ridge, 31-0.

Skinny: Grayslake North, which has scored just 6 points in back-to-back losses the last two weeks, will get a boost with the expected return of QB A.J. Fish (198 rushing yds., 5 TDs, 199 passing yds.) and RB David Collins (490 rushing yds., 4 TDs), both of whom missed last week's game with injuries. The Knights have realistic playoff expectations and need a win tonight, but are playing a Mendota team that has won four straight after opening the season with road losses to Walther Lutheran and Richmond-Burton. Trojans ninth-year coach John McKenzie has led his team to four straight playoff berths and five in six years. Mendota went to the Class 4A state quarterfinals last year. At 3-0, the Trojans are in first place in the NCIC. They've scored only 88 points, but have allowed just 111. "They have a strong tradition and a history of winning football," Grayslake North coach Steve Wood said. "I expect it to be a good game. They like to run the ball and play pretty good defense."