Scouting St. Francis at Montini

No. 11 St. Francis (6-3) at No. 6 Montini (7-2)

Class 5A

Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday

Broncos fast fact: The toughest schedule (52-29) of any 5A team.

Spartans fast fact: Three straight playoff seasons a program high.

Outlook: Six games in three years between these teams means there should be few surprises. There is a trend in 2008 Montini won the regular-season game while St. Francis took the playoff meeting, and in 2009 it went the other way around. Each team went on to win a state title. In Week 4 this season Suburban Christian Conference Blue Division champ Montini led 21-0 the way the Broncos have done it all year Matt Westerkamp throwing to his cousin Jordan Westerkamp until interceptions by Dan Beck and Nick Donati helped the Spartans get back within a touchdown. That was the game Donati took over as St. Francis quarterback for Colin O'Donnell, which has made the Spartans better in three spots quarterback and O'Donnell at wingback and cornerback. Turnovers again may tell the tale. St. Francis backs Bobby Miller and Ben Trimble will vie to move the Wing-T against defenders Ross Ferraro and Alex Walters, hoping to ground the Broncos' spread offense.

Advancement: The winner plays the winner of No. 3 seed Sycamore (8-1) and No. 14 Lakes (6-3).