5 high school football games to watch this weekend
We made it. Week 9 is here, another regular season of high school football has flown by, and Saturday night teams around Illinois will find out their playoff draws.
Before we get to Saturday, we have some important games to look forward to Friday - especially for all those 4-4 teams trying to get that all-important fifth victory.
Larkin (3-5, 3-5) at West Chicago (4-4, 4-4)
Of all the good stories this fall, West Chicago is certainly near the top. The Wildcats haven't been to the playoffs since 2002. They missed a chance for a fifth win last week against East Aurora - the Tomcats reaching five wins for the first time since 2001 - despite big games from Vincent Muci (19 carries, 155 yards) and receiver Louis Zeitler (3 receptions, 127 yards).
Two other DuPage County schools - Lake Park and Waubonsie Valley - are sitting at 4-4. They both have tough tests playing at Wheaton North and Naperville North, respectively.
Maine West (8-0, 4-0) at Niles North (3-5, 1-3)
It's not just the playoff bubble teams worth watching Friday.
Maine West can become the first team in school history to finish the regular season 9-0; the 1969 team went 8-0. Maine West rallied from a 3-0 halftime deficit last week to beat Niles West and clinch at least a share of the CSL North title.
Neuqua Valley (5-3, 4-1) at Naperville Central (7-1, 5-0)
These teams met in Week 5 with the Redhawks winning 21-7 - a victory that was key in their DuPage Valley Conference championship. The Wildcats haven't loss since that game; they became playoff eligible last week by beating DeKalb. Nick Williamson's 76-yard interception return for a touchdown got them going, while quarterback Ryan Mohler passed for a pair of touchdowns and ran for two more.
Stevenson (6-2, 4-2) at Libertyville (5-3, 3-3)
Warren will go down as the North Suburban Conference champion this year, but both of these NSC teams have had strong seasons. Playing each other in Week 9 should help both hit the playoffs tested and ready for a run.
Blaise LaVista caught 3 touchdowns last week from quarterback Quinn Schambow for Libertyville. Stevenson coach Brent Becker is concerned about the Wildcats' passing attack; he's also hoping for a seventh win and home playoff game behind senior leaders like Ethan Aghakhan, Armand Burris and Ben Owens.
Geneva (6-2, 4-2) at St. Charles North (6-2, 4-2)
Another matchup - now moving to the DuKane Conference - between two teams enjoying excellent seasons but not quite good enough to topple a conference heavyweight, this time Batavia.
Both these teams hope to be playing into November. North Stars QB Ethan Plumb has thrown for 1,967 yards with 26 total touchdowns while his counterpart Blake Stempowski directs the attack for Geneva, whose two losses are by a combined four points.