Scouting Aurora CC at St. Francis

Aurora Central Catholic (2-5) at St. Francis (4-3)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today, College of DuPage

Last year: St. Francis 14, Aurora Central 7.

Last week: St. Edward 31, Aurora Central 0; Marian Central 33, St. Francis 26.

Outlook: Much like at Suburban Christian Conference crossover foe St. Francis, which still hungers for a playoff spot, there's lots to play for at ACC. A third win would be the Chargers' most since 2002 and if they were to win out the four victories would equal the 2001 team. “There's still plenty of reasons to show up, said ACC coach Brian Casey. One of them is to see whose ground-based offense prevails. These are similar looks, though Charger back Kyle Clechenko's wildcat forays are a wrinkle St. Francis coach Greg Purnell has yet to incorporate. The defensive challenges will be similar for St. Francis to limit Clechenko, Marcus Jefferson and Zach Tobin on the ground and force ACC quarterback Stewart deWaard to throw. The Chargers must contain Bob Miller, who has run for 13 touchdowns, and wingbacks Colin O'Donnell and Ben Trimble, and force Spartans quarterback Nick Donati to make things happen. The good news for ACC is that its defense is tougher against the run than the pass, though “good news is a relative term when St. Francis pulling guards Jack Porter and Nick Pfeiffer are bearing down. On the other hand, ACC defensive linemen John Belovich, Adam Blake and Kent Brauweiler are a strength, and Casey is confident in the ability to run the ball straight behind offensive linemen A.T. White, Izzy Rosa, Joe Cisneros, Steve Carroll and right tackle Blake. If only the drive-stalling red zone mistakes were to vanish. “Both of us, I'm sure, will want to run the ball well over half the time, so it could be fast. Don't be late, Casey said.

Next week: Guerin (2-5, 0-4) at Aurora Central, Oct. 22; Aurora Christian (4-3, 1-3) at St. Francis, Oct. 22.