Scouting Lake Zurich at Simeon
No. 5 Lake Zurich Bears (10-1) at No. 1 Simeon Wolverines (11-0)
When: 4 p.m., today
Last week: In second round action, Lake Zurich def. Prospect, 14-7; Simeon def. Schaumburg, 55-50.
Playoff history: Lake Zurich is making its ninth straight playoff appearance. The 2007 Class 7A state champions have advanced to at least the state semifinals in three of the last four years. The lone exception was a first-round exit in 2008. Last year, the Bears lost in the Class 7A semifinals to Glenbard West, 21-17. ... Simeon is making its 27th appearance in the state playoffs and 10th in a row (9-26 record). Before last Saturday night's win over Schaumburg, the Wolverines had not won a playoff game since 2001, when it defeated Chicago Harper in Round 1.
Head coaches: Bryan Stortz, Lake Zurich; Dante Culbreath, Simeon
Just the facts: Lake Zurich has won five straight, with its only loss to Stevenson (24-23) in Week 6. The Bears have scored 299 points (27.2 per game) and have surrendered just 94 points all season (3 shutouts). ... Simeon has scored a staggering 564 points (51.3 average) and allowed 171 (4 shutouts). The Wolverines have not scored fewer than 42 points in any game this season.
Lake Zurich leaders: Rushing: Jacob Brinlee (139 carries, 1,318 yards, 13 touchdowns), Mike Shield (93 carries, 427 yards, 8 touchdowns), Zach Till (89 carries, 377 yards, 6 touchdowns), Jon Mularz (52 carries, 308 yards, 3 touchdowns); Passing: Till (43 of 84, 666 yards, 6 touchdowns, 4 interceptions); Receiving: Jack Lynn (11 catches, 117 yards), Brinlee (8 catches, 141 yards, 1 TD).
Line on Lake Zurich: The Bears will try to keep Simeon's high-powered offense on the sideline and will try to do that with their option offense, led by 2009 all-stater Brinlee and first-year starting QB Till. The defense got a boost last week with the return of LB Danny Minogue. LB J.J. Raffelson has had a monster year for the Bears with 14 sacks.
Line on Simeon: The Wolverines showed their offense is for real by dropping 55 points on Schaumburg. QB Robert Gregory leads the attack. The 6-4, 185-pound junior burned Schaumburg for 5 touchdown passes and TD runs of 12 and 47 yards. Two of Gregory's TD strikes went to sophomore Aaron Banks. Senior Horatio Banks busted off a 40-yard TD run.
Joe Aguilar