Scouting Brother Rice at Waubonsie Valley

No. 12 Brother Rice (5-4) at No. 5 Waubonsie Valley (7-2)

Class 8A

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday.

Crusaders fast fact: Playoffs nine of coach Steve Nye's 12 years.

Warriors fast fact: Schedule (33-48) tied for second-easiest in 8A.

Outlook: Waubonsie Valley looks to end a pattern of first-round defeats over its last five playoff appearances. Coming off a huge 20-10 win over South Elgin for an Upstate Eight Conference Valley Division title share, the Warriors' fifth title in history, coach Paul Murphy has led Waubonsie to the playoffs four straight years and in five of his six seasons there. He compares Chicago Catholic League-hardened Brother Rice to Bartlett in its willingness to run the football. Crusaders quarterback Pat Parrilli will operate mainly Wing-T misdirection and also some spread. He'll have defensive tackle Devon Morgan in his grill as the Warriors use their edge in team speed. Cornerback Jakobi Johnson has punt-return touchdowns in each of the last two games, and quarterback Tommy Kolzow has a deep threat in Demetrius Gray and a short threat in Eric Josupait. The goal is to get Brother Rice out in the open. “We've got to make them run sideline to sideline,” Murphy said.

Advancement: Winner plays the winner between No. 4 seed Homewood-Flossmoor (7-2) and No. 13 Curie (5-4).