Scouting this weekend's DuPage County playoff football games

By Kevin Schmit and Dave Oberhelman

kschmit@dailyherald.com

doberhelman@dailyherald.com

No. 2 Glenbard West (10-0) at No. 10 Palatine (8-2)

Class 8A

Game time: 2 p.m. Saturday.

First round: Glenbard West 34, Fremd 14; Palatine 39, Huntley 17.

Outlook: Palatine surprised by winning the Mid-Suburban West title, but behind league offensive player of the year Chris Cornelius the Pirates are thriving in the playoffs. Cornelius, who's rushed for more than 1,200 yards, didn't play last week due to injury, but he should return this weekend. Defensively, the Hilltoppers need to do a better job of getting off the field on third down. The disruption of interior linemen Jack Kane and Alex Morreale should help if the Pirates look to the air with quarterback Nick Orlando. Glenbard West quarterback Kyle Kramer is doing a nice job keeping defenses honest — and keeping opponents from loading the box against Sam Brodner, who boasts nearly 1,400 rushing yards.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner between No. 6 Barrington (9-1) and No. 3 Maine South (10-0).

No. 4 Naperville Central (8-2) at No. 1 Waubonsie Valley (9-1)

Class 8A

Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday.

First round: Naperville Central 34, Brother Rice 21; Waubonsie Valley 21, Metea Valley 14.

Outlook: Waubonsie Valley won the regular-season opener 20-6 by forcing six turnovers, but a big difference now is the development of Redhawks junior quarterback Conor Joyce, who was pivotal in last week's win. Naperville Central linebackers Bobby McMillen and Dan DelGrosso will be wary of quarterback Zack Bennema, but they'll focus on the run. Waubonsie Valley will probably make a game-time decision on injured tailback Tony Durns, who's run for 1,146 yards, 13 touchdowns and is also a kickoff return force. Max Ihry's 121 yards rushing against Metea gives the Redhawks more to prepare for, coach Paul Murphy believes. Filling gaps, Kenny Woodruff made 16 tackles last week, 4 for loss.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner between No. 3 Hinsdale Central (8-2) and No. 2 Simeon (9-1).

No. 3 Hinsdale Central (8-2) at No. 2 Simeon (9-1)

Class 8A

Game time: 6 p.m. Saturday.

First round: Hinsdale Central 28, Benet 11; Simeon 28, Downers Grove South 7.

Outlook: Coming off their first playoff win since a 2008 run to the Class 8A final, the Red Devils face their first Chicago Public League playoff opponent in 20 years. Hinsdale Central quarterback Matt Rafferty has the perfect target in Thomas Ives, who snared two long touchdown passes last week, but Rafferty also spread the ball to three different receivers for touchdowns. Running back Juwan Edmond showed he has no problem using that noted wrestling strength to drive for a tough first down, and it'll definitely be tough against an extremely physical Simeon team. Defensively, the Red Devils need to slow running back Dion Earls Jr. If the Wolverines aim to throw it, Alex Byrnes is a ballhawk in the secondary.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner between No. 4 Naperville Central (8-2) and No. 1 Waubonsie Valley.

No. 3 Addison Trail (9-1) at No. 11 Libertyville (7-3)

Class 7A

Game time: 3 p.m. Saturday.

First round: Addison Trail 7, Lake Zurich 3; Libertyville 47, Lincoln Park 0.

Outlook: Addison Trail's first playoff win since 2004 wasn't easy, but the Blazers eliminated one of 7A's perennial powers. Libertyville presents a new challenge because while the Bears nearly won with their vaunted defense, the Wildcats boast an explosive offense headed by dual-threat quarterback Riley Lees, who's rushed for 1,400 yards and 29 touchdowns and thrown for nearly 1,300 yards. Bobby Rinaldi and a lightning Blazers defense will chase the junior all day. Addison Trail's offense leans on the one-two ground punch of Malik Pierre-Louis and Mike Hundley. As quarterback Ryan Zygowicz becomes more comfortable in his third start, receivers Jake Atiyeh and Jaavion Bradley will be bigger factors.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner between No. 15 Fenwick (6-4) and No. 10 Carmel (7-3).

No. 5 Normal Community (8-2) at No. 13 WW South (6-4)

Class 7A

Game time: 2 p.m. Saturday.

First round: Normal Community 42, Plainfield North 34; WW South 17, Lincoln-Way North 10 OT.

Outlook: A week after containing Plainfield North's potent offense the Tigers are matched with a Normal team that scored 29 of its 42 points in the fourth quarter of last week's comeback win, its eighth straight. Six-foot-two, 210-pound quarterback Josh Kirshenbaum led the charge by throwing for 300 yards and 5 touchdowns. The good news is WW South's secondary is making its presence felt with Jake Kyllonen and Eric Lipinsky, who recently returned from injury. As always, WW South's offense will try to feed playmakers Keishawn Watson, J.J. Johnson and Mike Campos while quarterback Josh Prueter runs the show. Last week's game may have been Prueter's finest effort so far this season.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner between No. 1 Providence (9-1) and No. 9 St. Rita (7-3).

No. 5 Glenbard South (8-2) at No. 13 Lake Forest (7-3)

Class 6A

Game time: 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

First round: Glenbard South 31, Riverside-Brookfield 7; Lake Forest 42, Belvidere North 21.

Outlook: While Lake Forest quarterback Dan Carollo has had his moments throwing the ball, the key to Glenbard South making its first quarterfinal appearance since 2009 is slowing Wes Janeck and Lake Forest's ground game that last week piled up 250 rushing yards. The Raiders' defense dominated against Riverside-Brookfield thanks to the return from injury of Jake Kapp and Jimmy Ebbole, and the avalanche of turnovers forced by Andrew Wrona and Dillon Valdez. Glenbard South will come at the Scouts from all angles on offense with quarterback Kyle Carli, two-way standout Jack Curtis and Sean Cooke, who was one of four players who rushed for at least 35 yards against the Bulldogs.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner between No. 1 Nazareth (10-0) and No. 9 King (8-2).

No. 2 DeKalb (9-1) at No. 10 Hinsdale South (8-2)

Class 6A

Game time: 7 p.m. Friday.

First round: DeKalb 21, Marmion 20; Hinsdale South 38, Crystal Lake Central 15.

Outlook: The Hornets will be the latest team to try slowing standout Barbs running back Dre Brown, who's rushed for more than 1,700 yards and is committed to Illinois. He'll be the best skill player Hinsdale South's defense has faced all season, and the key for lineman Josh King and linebacker Eric Dubose will be to get him down before he reaches sprinter's speed. Stopping Brown is unlikely, so the Hornets will focus on preventing explosion plays from him. The defense gave an appreciative offense short fields in last week's win. Hornets quarterback Rob Regan took full advantage by accounting for 3 touchdowns. Having Marcus Curry healthy in the backfield is a huge boost for Hinsdale South.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner between No. 6 St. Francis (8-2) and No. 3 Lakes (9-1).

No. 6 St. Francis (8-2) at No. 3 Lakes (9-1)

Class 6A

Game time: 3 p.m. Saturday.

First round: St. Francis 26, Grayslake North 24; Lakes 38, Prairie Ridge 14.

Outlook: St. Francis seeks its first quarterfinal appearance since the Spartans won Class 5A in 2008, Lakes since 2011. St. Francis' offense has an edge in facing a 3-3 stack defense a second straight week. Spartans coach Mike Fitzgerald expects Eagles like top tackler Dan Recker to crowd the box and force the pass into man coverage. With Clint Bobowski throwing for 1,848 yards, 729 to Michael Shaw, that's not a bad alternative, but Fitzgerald still stresses running with Bobowski, Will Purdom and, perhaps back from injury, Steven Fassnacht. On offense Lakes has run for 2,285 yards, while its leading ground gainer, quarterback Jordan Mercure, has also thrown for 1,379 yards, 22 touchdowns.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner between No. 2 DeKalb (9-1) and No. 10 Hinsdale South (8-2).

No. 6 Montini (7-3) at No. 3 Joliet Catholic (8-2)

Class 5A

Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday.

First round: Montini 56, DuSable 8; Joliet Catholic 48, St. Laurence 13.

Outlook: Now five of six years these two will meet in the playoffs, Montini is 4-0, including 2009 and 2011 title wins. A focus is how Broncos offensive linemen Grant Branch, Sam Detmers, Mario Galli, Michael Johnson, Joe Spivak and Justin Cajigas deal with East Suburban Catholic Conference defensive lineman of the year Chase Krumviede and defensive MVP, linebacker Mike Gruben. Broncos linebackers Sam Asta, John Embrey and Terrell Johnson will see steady off-tackle runs by Nick Borgra, who has run for 1,064 yards and 16 touchdowns. Broncos quarterback Chuck Norgle looks to counter JCA's 17-interception defense by targeting quick receivers who spread defenses wide and deep.

Advancement: The winner advances to play the winner between No. 15 Marian Central (6-4) and No. 10 Sterling (7-3).