Scouting Walther Lutheran at Marmion

Walther Lutheran (2-4, 0-3) at Marmion (6-0, 3-0)

Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Last year: Did not play.

Last week: St. Francis 43, Walther Lutheran 13; Marmion 42, Aurora Christian 20.

Outlook: Walther Lutheran, on a four-game skid, has one of the top players in the Suburban Christian Conference, not to mention the Blue division, in Northwestern recruit Sean Cotton. Trouble is, there aren't a lot of other options around him, and a powerful team such as Marmion will make him pay the price. St. Francis did last week, going up 43-0 on the Broncos, who are directed in the interim by offensive line coach Steve Heuser while veteran head coach Bruce Tuomi recuperates from a lacerated spleen. Finally, against the Spartans' second-unit defense the never-say-die Cotton who plays quarterback but occasionally moves to wideout with Andre Cooper taking a few snaps and almost surely throwing to Cotton both threw for a touchdown pass to good, fast tight end Tyreese Russell and caught a touchdown pass from Cooper. Defensive tackle Will Moran showed good early pressure against St. Francis, but in Saturday's homecoming game the Marmion offensive line of Ryan and Graham Glasgow, Jake Winkel, Tyler Heinen and Mike Zolfo may prove to be just too much. It was for Aurora Christian in a 286-yard rushing effort. On the defensive side of the ball Marmion is just as solid, and the line which includes the team's second-leading tackler, Mike Eberth should contain Walther's blockers so linebackers T.J. Lally and Mike Shares can do their best to wrap up Cotton. Back to offense last week quarterback Brian Peters completed 9 of 11 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown, to Mitch Loehmann. That comes off a 4-for-8 tuneup against Guerin, and if the Cadets can improve the vertical dimension, watch out. "The passing game is coming along," said Marmion coach Dan Thorpe.

Next week: Guerin (2-4) at Walther Lutheran, Oct. 16; Chicago Christian (1-5) at Marmion, Oct. 15.