Scouting Saturday's Fox Valley playoff games
Class 4A
No. 15 Rock Island Alleman (5-4) at No. 2. St. Edward (9-0)
When/where: Saturday at 1 p.m. at Greg True Field
Playoff history: Alleman makes its fifth straight playoff appearance and 21st overall. The Pioneers' postseason record is 35-20 and includes five state runner-up finishes. St. Edward makes its sixth playoff appearance and fourth in six years. The Green Wave postseason record is 1-5.
Outlook: This matchup of Catholic schools pits St. Edward, a playoff participant four times in six years, against Alleman, one of Class 4A's perennial contenders. The Pioneers knock on the championship door with regularity, having finished second in the state five times, most recently in 2012. They made it to a semifinal last season before losing to eventual state champion Rochester. Alleman struggled early in the season in the wake of heavy graduation turnover. Complicating matters, top running back Kylee Dorsey was lost to injury in Week 2. Still, Alleman's triple option generated 1,487 rushing yards in 412 attempts (3.6 avg.), led by senior Luke Saskowski (138 carries, 532 yards). Dorsey (5-foot-10, 200 pounds) returned to the lineup late in the season for coach Dave DeJaegher, who has directed Alleman to 12 straight winning campaigns. "Early in the season we had a lot going on, a lot of inexperienced players seeing action for the first time and we played three good playoff teams our first 3 games," DeJaegher said. "It's definitely been a process developmentally. We've just gotten better as the season has gone on. We fought our way into the playoffs after getting a three-way tie for our (Western Big 6) conference. I'm real proud of the kids." The Pioneers don't throw the ball often. They've completed 13 of 46 attempts with 4 interceptions. Alleman, one of three teams in the Class 4A field of 32 that has allowed more points (163) than it has scored (162), went 1-4 against playoff teams. St. Edward played only one playoff team: Riverside-Brookfield (6-3), which made the Class 6A playoffs. The Green Wave blew out R-B 33-7 in Week 3. St. Edward's nine opponents finished with a 32-49 record. "We didn't face a lot of good teams, but we faced a few and played well," St. Edward coach Mike Rolando said. "(The Pioneers) are significantly bigger on the line of scrimmage so we'll have to use our speed. If we run into a team that's bigger and better and pushes the ball down the field on us, there's nothing you can do. But our kids have a chip on their shoulders because they've heard the criticism, people saying we didn't do it (finish 9-0) in the SCC (Suburban Christian Conference), people saying we did it against a weaker schedule. It's all motivation. We won't be looking past this team. We'll be prepared. We're giving this team all the respect they deserve, but we're going to go out there and try to get the win." St. Edward has rushed for 1,998 of its 3,527 total yards on 284 carries (7-yard avg.). The pace setter is running back Dwayne Allen. The shifty junior has 1,253 yards and 15 touchdowns in 157 attempts (8-yard avg.). The offense is directed by efficient senior quarterback Joe Mullen (6-0, 160). Mullen has completed 56.1 percent of his passes (83 of 148) for 1,526 yards and 25 touchdowns. He has been intercepted only 6 times. "They're a very good football team," DeJaegher said. "They are 9-0 for a reason. They are really well coached. Their running back presents a lot of problems. They are able to throw the ball very, very effectively. If you come up, you have to deal with their passing game. We played pretty good defense all year, but that's certainly going to be tested."
Advancement: The winner plays No. 7 Coal City (8-2), which beat Mendota 40-14 Friday night. St. Edward would host Coal City.
Class 5A
No. 10 Sterling (6-3) at No. 7 Burlington Central (6-3)
When/where: Saturday at 1 p.m. at Rocket Hill
Playoff history: Sterling makes its 27th playoff appearance and first since 2012. The Golden Warriors' postseason record is 16-26. Burlington Central makes its 16th playoff appearance and first since 2011. The Rockets' postseason record is 10-15.
Outlook: The Rockets are back in the playoffs for the first time in three seasons after finishing second in the Big Northern East. They welcome a team that finished second in the West Division of the Northern Illinois Big 12 behind undefeated Geneseo. The Golden Warriors run a spread offense, but the idea isn't necessarily to throw the ball. Sterling quarterback Sterling Thornton (6-foot-1, 180 pounds) has indeed completed 60 of 127 passes for 739 yards and 4 touchdowns, but he is a bigger threat with his feet. The junior has rushed for 996 yards. Running back Rafael Escalante has rushed for 406 yards and 7 touchdowns. "A lot of our stuff goes through our quarterback," third-year Sterling coach Johnathon Schlemmer said. "He's a pretty good runner and he also throws the ball so we're spread based, but we try to spread people out to run more than we do to throw it. Offensively, we're trying to be a little more multiple than we have been in the past years since I took over." Central's defense holds opponents to 13.9 ppg. That unit hopes to get safety Adam Skirmont back in the lineup. He was injured in a Week 8 loss to Johnsburg and did not play last week at Rockford Christian. Central coach Rich Crabel said Skirmont participated in practices this week and was "getting a little better day by day." A Sterling defense that holds opponents to 16.9 ppg is anchored by ends Joe Brouilette (6-0, 220) and Brett Gould (6-3, 195), two seniors who also play tight end when the offense lines up in double-tight formation. "They have some very athletic kids," Crabel said. "We have to be balanced but some people have been able to throw the ball on them a bit. Defensively, we have to take care of that quarterback. They are good up front. I think it's a great opportunity for us." Central's offense relies more on the running game (1,804 yards) than the passing game (1,167), but the Rockets can do both, exemplified by senior Trevor Davison. The running back has rushed for 642 yards and 10 touchdowns on 117 carries. He also has 19 receptions for 259 yards. Junior running back Jason Berango (657 yards, 10 TD) is the team's leading rusher, and 6-4 senior Brenden Bushy (31 rec., 527 yards) has 7 of the Rockets' 8 touchdown receptions this season. Quarterback Robert Doubek hit Bushy for a 41-yard scoring strike last week. "From what we've seen on film, they do a lot of things really well," Schlemmer said. "They're multiple in the same way we try to be. It looks like they're trying to run the ball and they've got a couple of guys back there that are very, very capable of doing that. When they have to put the ball in the air, (Bushy) is really good at going up and getting it. And their quarterbacks are capable of getting him the ball."
Advancement: The winner plays No. 15 Marian Central (6-4), which beat No. 2 Chicago Solorio Academy 42-0 Friday night. Burlington Central would play at Marian Central.
Class 7A
No. 16 Niles North (5-4) at No. 1 Cary-Grove (9-0)
When/where: Saturday at 1 p.m. at Al Bohrer Field
Playoff history: Niles North makes its third playoff appearance and first since 1992. The Vikings' postseason record is 1-2. Cary-Grove makes its 21st playoff appearance and 11th straight. The Trojans' 35-19 postseason record includes a Class 6A state title in 2009 and runner-up finishes in 2004 (7A) and 2012 (6A).
Outlook: Cary-Grove begins its quest for a state title against a school making its first playoff appearance in a generation. While the Trojans seek their 11th straight first-round playoff victory, Niles North is thrilled to be playing postseason football for the first time in 22 years after qualifying in Week 9 with a 56-49 victory over Deerfield. The Vikings' reward? A road game against the team ranked No. 1 in Class 7A by The Associated Press. "Obviously, you want more, but it's going to be tough against these guys," Niles North coach Marc Egofske said. "What a defense. They fly around, they hustle and sprint to the ball. It's fun to watch them, but on Saturday I have a feeling it's going to be a different story. It's going to be 'Wow, they're fast.' But our kids are up for the challenge, and I think we've got some weapons, too." Niles North has rushed for 2,026 yards and 32 touchdowns and thrown for 1,895 yards and 14 scores. Last week, senior quarterback Tony Granato (5-foot-10, 171 pounds) completed 22 of 25 attempts for 403 yards and 3 touchdowns without an interception in the Deerfield game. For the season, he has completed 123 of 180 passes (68.3 percent) for 1,860 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has been intercepted 6 times. Called "an intelligent football player" by his coach, Granato directs a read offense that feature lots of play action. His top receivers are 6-1 senior Yomade Adefeso (49 receptions, 677 yards, 6 TD) and 5-9 sophomore Jordan LaBelle (31 rec., 530 yards, 2 TD). The Niles North backfield is the healthiest it has been all season. The key ball carrier is 6-1, 208-pound Barrington Wade. The junior battled a hip injury that limited his activity last spring and summer, then he missed 3 games this fall when a locker room bench dislodged and broke his toe. He ran for 175 yards and 5 touchdowns last week on 24 carries to improve his season totals to 823 yards and 18 TD in 120 attempts (6.5 avg.). Junior Craig Dawkins filled in for Wade in the first 2 games of the season but broke his fibula in Week 3 against New Trier. He returned to the lineup last week and gained 22 yards on 6 carries. He has 574 yards and 8 touchdowns in 72 attempts. "They have some talented playmakers on offense and they put up a lot of points," Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said. "The way we've phrased it with our kids is that (the Vikings) only have to be right one time and it's 6 points. We've got to be right every time. So it's a challenge for us to stay disciplined, read our keys and get to the football when they throw it." Cary-Grove counters defensively with senior defensive backs Matt Sutherland (40.5 tackles, 2 Ints.), Willie Hartke (30.5 tackles, 4 Ints.) and Larkin Hanselmann (28.5 tackles, 4 Ints.). Fourth-year lineman Michael Gomez (6-0, 260) leads the defense with 4.5 sacks to go with 19 tackles. Notre Dame-bound Trevor Ruhland (6-4, 280) has 2 sacks and 12 tackles. Ruhland (33 pancake blocks) and Gomez (32 pancake blocks) are joined on the offensive line by senior center Scott Topole and juniors Owen Henriques (6-0, 190) and Peter Bardgett (6-0, 235). That group has paved the way for Cary-Grove's 3,213 rushing yards on 409 carries for an eye-popping 7.9 yards per carry. The ground game is led by sophomore fullback Tyler Pennington, who has gained 1,187 yards and scored 21 touchdowns in 154 tries (7.7 avg.). Also an all-area basketball player, senior quarterback Jason Gregoire (6-4, 180) has rushed for 450 yards and 6 touchdowns and completed 27 of 47 attempts for 532 yards and 6 more scores. He has been intercepted twice. Niles North's defense is led by senior linebacker Daniel Monyongo, who leads his team in solo tackles (45) and assists (43). The Vikings didn't have much luck last week stopping Deerfield's triple option offense. "The positive is that we're seeing a very similar offense in back-to-back weeks because you don't see offenses like this," Egofske said. "Cary-Grove, up front, really gets off the ball. The quarterback is a good basketball player. He's very athletic and very smart, and they've got that midline, inside-outside veer and they're very patient with it. They'll keep knocking you inside, inside, inside and you know they could go outside. And when they do it's like they go for the jugular and they've got 6 points. They know what they're doing over there."
Advancement: The winner plays the winner of No. 9 St. Charles North (7-2) at No. 8 Rolling Meadows (7-2). Cary-Grove would play at St. Charles North or host Rolling Meadows.
Class 8A
No. 10 Palatine (7-2) at No. 7 Huntley (8-1)
When/where: Saturday at 2 p.m. at Huntley athletic field
Playoff history: Palatine makes its 19th playoff appearance and first since 2012. The Pirates' 23-18 postseason record includes a runner-up finish in 1994 (Class 5A). Huntley makes its fifth playoff appearance and first since 2012. The Red Raiders' postseason record is 4-4.
Outlook: This matchup might not yield as many combined points as Huntley's 70-63 first-round playoff win over Batavia in 2008, but a shootout could be on tap nonetheless. Palatine went 5-0 to win the Mid-Suburban League West. The Pirates opened the season 1-2, including a 41-31 loss to playoff bound Libertyville and a 31-21 loss at Wheeling, which finished 3-6. They subsequently won 6 straight, including impressive wins against playoff teams Fremd (24-17) and Barrington (24-14). Palatine won 3 of 4 matchups against teams that made the postseason, helped by an offense averaging 29.5 points per game. Running back Chris Cornelius is the team's leading rusher with 1,239 yards, but the MSL West Player of the Year left last week's game with an injury and will be a "game-time decision," Palatine coach Rick Splitt said. "The good thing is that we have guys who have been there all year. We are expecting these guys to walk in there and do what they have been doing." Pirates senior quarterback Nick Orlando has thrown for 1,319 yards and 8 touchdowns. "They've got a great offensive line and some really highly skilled kids," Huntley coach John Hart said. "We've played probably three division-I running backs this year and (Cornelius) is probably the best high school running back of the group." The Palatine offense will challenge a Huntley defense limiting opponents to 16.6 ppg. Huntley averages 2 sacks and 6.6 tackles for loss per game, led by a stout defensive line. The Huntley offense averages nearly 45 points per game and has scored 55 or more points in 5 of 9 outings. Quarterback Anthony Binetti is a 55.5-percent passer (96 of 173) who has thrown 21 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions. He directs a balanced offense that has gained 1,721 yards through the air and 1,848 yards on the ground. He will face a Palatine defense that allows 22.1 ppg. "Defensively, they just slide to the ball," Hart said. "They keep everything in front of them and they're really, really physical. The defenses aren't similar, but the way they slide to the ball and how they hit reminds you a lot of a Cary-Grove team." Huntley is 3-1 in home playoff games.
Advancement: The winner plays the winner of No. 15 Fremd (6-3) at No. 2 Glenbard West (9-0). Huntley would play on the road in the second round regardless of the opponent.