Prep football title picks
Nothing can be considered an annual event until the second time around.
Some will undoubtedly consider picking this weekend's winners in the state football championship games as an annual turkey on Thanksgiving weekend.
So let's give thanks there's nothing at stake here other than some laughs and probable embarrassment. Anyone who has seen the boys state basketball tournament picks and other predictions through the years has known that for awhile.
Now let's move on to the games this weekend at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium in Champaign. We'll begin with the ones involving Daily Herald coverage-area teams.
Class 7A
Wheaton Warrenville South (13-0) vs. Lake Zurich (12-1), 4 p.m. Saturday: This WW South edition is trying to do what the 1998 team led by Jon Beutjer and the 2006 team led by Dan Dierking accomplished. Steamroll its way not only unbeaten but virtually unchallenged to a state title.
The closest anyone has come to the defending 7A champion Tigers was 20 points in the quarterfinals by Glenbard West, which was a victim of bad timing the last two years as it also lost a heartbreaker for last year's state title.
The numbers by WW South, including 25 straight wins, are staggering. Illinois-bound quarterback Reilly O'Toole has hit 75 percent of his passes for 3,005 yards with 40 touchdowns and two picks.
Titus Davis (52 catches, 1,135 yards, 16 TDs) and Travis Kern (44 for 753, 8 TDs) are O'Toole's top targets. Oh, by the way, the Tigers can run the ball with Matt Rogers (1,182 yards, 20 TDs) behind Kansasbound tackle Luke Luhrsen, Eric Luhrsen and Dom DeAngelis.
And they can get after it defensively from nose tackle Sparty Chino to ball-hawking free safety Caleb Bednarz.
Defense has been the trademark of a Lake Zurich team that beat WW South 7-3 for the 2007 title and is making its third trip to state in 5 years.
Hard-hitting linebacker JJ Raffelson, Jack Lynn, Taylor Coleman and defensive tackles William Hussey and Kiah McGee have helped the Bears run their 3-5-3 to near perfection. They shut out St. Rita last week and shut down two prolific offenses from Simeon and Prospect in their playoff run.
Aiding the defense has been the solid running of the school's career rushing leader in Jacob Brinlee (1,477 yards, 14 TDs), Mike Shield and John Mularz. Zach Till can beat you with the pass if you load up on the running game.
The pick: Lake Zurich's defense will need another peak performance. But WW South has been at another level all year and will win its seventh title as champs of this year's toughest class 35-14.
Class 6A
Marmion (12-1) vs. Rockford Boylan (13-0), 1 p.m. Saturday: The road to Marmion's first title game hasn't been easy. It had to recover from a Week 9 loss to Montini, stop a potential game-winning 2-point try from Thornton Fractional South in the second round and in the last two weeks hand Lemont and Danville their only losses.
The Cadets will try to take down a third straight unbeaten behind running back-linebacker T.J. Lally (1,264 yards, 16 TDs), who is also their leading tackler. Nick Scoliere and Garrett Becker are also running threats behind tackles Garrett Glasgow and Jake Winkel, QB Bobby Peters has 10 TD passes and A.J. Friedman could be an X-factor with 8 field goals.
Rockford teams have struggled for respect in recent years because of a lack of competition in the NIC-10. Boylan's only regular-season challenge was 28-22 against Belvidere in Week 7.
But the Titans proved they could play by knocking off defending 6A champ Cary-Grove in overtime and Prairie Ridge the last two weeks. Tyreis Thomas has rushed for 1,460 yards and 12 TDs and the rotation of QBs Peter Cimino and Lamont Toney has put them in a title game for the first time since they were second in 1975.
The pick: Can't go against the way the Cadets are handling all the tests so far behind Lally. They'll get their first title 31-14.
Class 5A
Montini (11-2) vs. Chatham Glenwood (10-3), 10 a.m. Saturday: Montini goes from winning one of the great title games as a 4-loss underdog to favorite against surprising Glenwood from just south of Springfield.
Both teams lost their first two games Montini to Joliet Catholic and Loyola; Glenwood was blown out by Springfield Griffin and Springfield High.
Montini recovered to win out behind the latest round of standouts from the Westerkamp family. Matt has thrown for 2,600 yards and 27 TDs and his cousin Jordan has caught 82 passes for 1,485 yards and 18 TDs.
Joe Borsellino and Anthony Taylor are also big receiving threats. Linebackers Alex Walters, Doug Diedrick and Frank Bruscianelli lead a tough defense.
Glenwood also lost 49-21 in Week 8 to unbeaten Rochester. But it has a dangerous running game with Devin Von Nordheim-Moore (1,426 yards, 17 TDs) and Tony Giovanelli (1,094 yards, 23 TDs).
The pick: Glenwood giving up 324 points on the way to the title game is a bit alarming. No drama for the Broncos and coach Chris Andriano as they get their fourth title 42-14.
Class 8A
Maine South (11-2) vs. Mt. Carmel (11-2), 7 p.m. Saturday: A shot at a third straight state title didn't look too good for Maine South when it lost to Schaumburg 29-17 and WW South 44-7 to start the season.
A shot at an 11th title didn't look too good for Mt. Carmel when it lost to Simeon in the opener and to St. Rita in Week 6.
But here they are two of the state's premier programs playing for a title. Maine South has won 11 straight since going with sophomore Matt Alviti (2,842 yards, 23 TDs) at quarterback and 5-foot-4 Paul Preston is a running threat behind 6-7 Boston College-bound tackle Victor Nelson.
Mt. Carmel has its vaunted option game directed by QB Chris Sujka (1,344 yards rushing, 30 TDs) and complemented by Michael Banks (1,154 yards, 16 TDs).
The pick: Maine South clearly has a bright future with Alviti and a lot of other key players coming back. But Mt. Carmel will end an eight-year title drought 28-21.
Class 4A
Rochester (13-0) vs. Rock Island Alleman (13-0), 7 p.m. Friday: Rochester has a lethal combination in QB Wes Lunt (2,923 yards, 29 TDs) and RB Colton Glazebrook (1,512 yards, 36 TDs). Justin Quintana has rushed for 19 TDs for Alleman.
The pick: Rochester's offensive diversity wins it 35-21.
Class 3A
Carthage Illini West (13-0) vs. Stillman Valley (13-0), 4 p.m. Friday: Two programs with a combined nine state titles and traditionally strong, multipronged running game. Ser Whitaker and Kyle Huss have combined for 39 TDs for Illini West and Adam Cox and Nate Bond have 46 for Stillman Valley.
The pick: This one shouldn't take long with all the running. Take Stillman Valley 22-21.
Class 2A
Maroa-Forsyth (11-2) vs. Sterling Newman (13-0), 1 p.m. Friday: Maroa-Forsyth is back after finishing second last year with QB Logan Stelzriede (2,485 yards, 27 TDs) and RB Gary Scott (1,905 yards, 21 TDs). Newman has the running game of Joe Blessman (1,454 yards, 18 TDs) and Tim Wilson (1,212 yards, 20 TDs).
The pick: Newman's running game controls it 28-14.
Class 1A
Tuscola (12-1) vs. Lena-Winslow (12-1), 10 a.m. Friday: Jud Wienke (2,793 yards, 35 TDs) is the latest stud QB from defending champ Tuscola as his brother John had huge numbers for the 2006 champs. Trey Griffin and Quinn Haas have combined to rush for 34 TDs for Le-Win.The pick: Another title for Tuscola and Wienke 34-17.