Scouting Week 2 Lake County football games
Warren (1-0) at Maine South (0-1)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Scouting this game: A game that most certainly qualifies as a Blue Plate Special. The Blue Devils opened plenty of eyes with a 30-point win over Hersey last week and now hits the road to Park Ridge to face perennial state power Maine South, which lost 49-22 to 8A runner-up Lincoln-Way East. “I really like the way our team showed resilience (against Hersey),” Warren coach Bryan McNulty said. “We started off rocky, especially in the kicking game and on defense, but settled in well. We will need to get better at everything this week. The score did not show it, but we were sloppy in a lot of ways.” The Warren headliner was junior running back Aaron Stewart, who ran 30 times for 363 yards and 5 touchdowns. McNulty was happy with the play of junior corner Chris McBride. “Chris played technically sound and tough,” he said. Junior athlete X’Zavion Montgomery, McNulty thought, was exceptional in all three phases of the game, while the coach also lauded tight end Andrew Slack’s strong blocking.
Antioch (0-1) at Zion-Benton (0-1)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Scouting this game: Antioch, which dropped a close 12-7 defensive battle to Schaumburg last week, looks to get back on track in Zion against a Zion-Benton squad that lost 41-20 to Evanston and is now 1-9 over its last 10 games. “We need to score points,” Sequoits coach Brian Glashagel said. “Our defense played very well in Week 1, but our offense couldn’t get anything going.” Antioch junior quarterback Colin Arquilla threw for 108 yards on 21 attempts with 1 touchdown. “Colin had a solid game for his first start as a varsity QB,” Glashagel said. Senior defensive back Wyatt Ertl had 6 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception, while senior defensive back James Adams registered 9 tackles. Zion-Benton is the only football-playing high school in Illinois that starts with the letter “Z.”
Glenbrook North (1-0) at Grant (0-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Scouting this game: Grant is coming off a 42-27 loss to Lake County neighbor Mundelein where it committed 4 turnovers. “We need to take care of the football,” Grant coach Tim Norwood noted. “We also need to be more physical at the line of scrimmage. We need to be better at both entering into Week 2.” Norwood did like what he saw overall from an offensive standpoint where the Bulldogs racked up 311 passing yards. “We were able to spread the ball out,” he said. Junior tailback Tyler Zdon was very involved in the offense where he ran 11 times for 80 yards and caught 5 balls for 179 yards and 2 scores. Junior wideout Max Hembrey had 5 catches for 77 yards and 1 touchdown.Northbrook-based Glenbrook North, out of the Central Suburban South, edged Lane Tech 14-7 at home last week. The Spartans went 2-7 a year ago.
Elgin (0-1) at Grayslake North (1-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Scouting this game: Grayslake North coach Brian Johnson had plenty to be pleased with in last week’s 35-14 win over Vernon Hills. “Vernon Hills is a great team to start the season with,” he noted. “They did some things we didn’t expect and were able to make the necessary in-game adjustments. I really like our intensity and that we maintained it throughout the game.” Knights signal-caller Mitch Hughes got it done with his arm and feet last week, hitting on 13 of 15 passes for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns and also ran in another score. Cam Bates was the key beneficiary of Hughes’ pinpoint accuracy, hauling in 6 balls for 128 yards and 1 touchdown. He also had a rushing touchdown. Johnson was also impressed with the team’s efficiency on offense. North scored a touchdown on its first 5 offensive drives. The Knights were led on defense by Ernesto Gonzales (16 total tackles) and Juan Marquez (14 total tackles). “Ernesto and Juan were monsters on defense flying to the football,” Johnson pointed out. Elgin lost 35-14 to Fenton in Week 1 and is 1-9 over its last 10 games dating back to last season.
Vernon Hills (0-1) at Lakes (0-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Scouting this game: A pair of Lake County squads look to get back on track in Lake Villa. Lakes coach Jason Ellerman took plenty of positives away from a Week 1 loss to Lake Forest. “I thought our kids competed well throughout the game,” he said. “There was no head hanging on the sidelines. I thought our defensive line and linebackers played well and matched the Lake Forest offensive line’s physicality. We need to be able to run the ball more consistently and sustain drives on offense. Our defense needs to create turnovers and play better in the secondary and on special teams, we need to make extra points and not kick the ball out of bounds.” Speaking of defense, Ellerman was thrilled with the defensive line play of senior Brayden Thornton and juniors Feliciano Qattawi and Kellen Hardy. “Our defensive line had a great game, keeping middle linebacker Zach Raffone (senior) clean to lead the team in tackles,” Ellerman said. Vernon Hills dropped a 35-14 decision to Grayslake North in Week 1.
Round Lake (0-1) at Maine East (1-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Scouting this game: In the deceptive practices category: Round Lake coach Matt Milazzo noted the scoreboard was guilty last week. “Our opening game score (42-0 loss to West Chicago) did not indicate how we played he first 2 1/2 quarters,” he said. “It was a 12-0 game halfway through the third quarter. We have to get better at the details of what we are doing to compete for a full game. Our focus this week is executing our schemes and techniques every day of the week, and coaches and players not allowing less than perfect to be good enough.” Milazzo was impressed with how Eyan Koch and Jordan Tapia (key kickoff return to start the second half) ran the ball. Kevin Rodriguez also drew high marks after his first varsity start at quarterback. “Kevin did well in his first varsity start and playing in a new offense,” Milazzo said. “I thought he made some really nice reads and handled the game well for his first start. He also had a great punt at the end of the first half.” Maine East plays in the Central Suburban South. The Blue Demons went to Aurora and downed East Aurora 34-6 in Week 1.
Wauconda (1-0) at Kaneland (1-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Scouting this game: Kaneland beat Wauconda 40-13 in Week 2 last year, the last time the Bulldogs would lose in the regular season. Wauconda brings momentum to Maple Park after a 44-34 win in its opener against Hinsdale South. This will be a rematch of two squads that won playoff games a year ago. Wauconda piled up 365 yards on the ground (7 yards per carry, 5 rushing TDs) against Hinsdale South and had 3 drives that extended 10 or more plays. “We were happy with how we ran the football and executed our offense,” Bulldogs coach Chris Prostka said. Prostka added special teams were a difference-maker as well with notable returns by Jaxson Miglans. “Our kickoff return team set us up with good field position throughout the game,” Prostka said. Wauconda’s defense had 3 takeaways with Jake Thorstenson and Noah Kosiek each snaring an interception and Will Sickmeir recovering a fumble. Brody Rudolph had 15 tackles in his first varsity start ,while Jacob Hawley busted off a 67-yard run and finished with 129 yards rushing. Luke Sickemier had two key catches in the second quarter, one a 58-yard TD and the other a fourth-down conversion. Zack Caise was solid on defense with a sack and 2 tackles for loss. Kaneland opened the season with a 20-14 long-distance win on the road against Washington, a 6A quarterfinalist a year ago.
Libertyville (1-0) at Richards (1-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Scouting this game: The Wildcats were 43-0 winners over Lemont in Week 1 and now take a long bus ride to Oak Lawn for a ballgame against a Richards team that edged Crete-Monee 27-26 on the road. Richards, out of the South Suburban Red, made it to the second round of the 6A playoffs last season. “We moved the ball well and defensively we limited the big plays. We can be more consistent in the run game and defensively we can keep working to tackle better,” Cats coach Mike Jones said. Libertyville quarterback Quinn Schambow was 11-for-15 passing for 298 yards and 5 TDs. Jones said Rhett VanBoening gave “a very consistent effort on both sides of the ball,” he said. Jones called Mason Strader the quarterback of the defense. “Mason played fast and physical,” he added. Blaise LaVista also was notable as a two-way player, grabbing 2 touchdown receptions and also making a big play at the goal line on defense.
Chicago Taft (1-0) at Stevenson (1-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Scouting this game: Stevenson put up the third-most points in the county in Week 1 — 52 against Bradford-Reuther out of Kenosha, Wisconsin. “Our game was a good picture of a team win,” Stevenson coach Brent Becker said. “The defense had 4 takeaways ,special teams put both sides of the ball in good field position, and offensively we were able to spread the ball around with multiple kids getting touches and scores.” The Patriots racked up 444 total yards of offense in that game with Aidan Crawley going 13-for-21 for 247 yards and 3 passing touchdowns. Christopher Thorndyke ran 12 times for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Frank Costabile had 7 rushes for 59 yards and a score. Zach Becker (3 catches, 73 yards) and Costabile (3 catches, 39 yards) each had a receiving touchdown, while Thomas Simmons caught 4 passes for 104 yards. John Concialdi was a star on defense with 3 interceptions and a forced fumble, while DeAngelo Washington also was impressive, registering 10 tackles.
Mundelein (1-0) at Johnsburg (1-0)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Scouting this game: Mundelein got off to a good 2024 start with a 15-point win against Grant in Week 1. Mundelein scored touchdowns on 6 straight drives on offense and also created 4 turnovers on defense. Logan Young had more than 200 all-purpose yards (10-for-13 passing) and had 4 total touchdowns. “He’s a captain and leader of our offense,” Mundelein coach Johnny Cowhey said. “Logan did a great job leading the offense and being calm.” Defensive back Jake Junia had 2 interceptions in his first start at safety after two years at linebacker. “Jake did a great job of taking opportunities while the ball was in the air and laid some big hits in the run game,” Cowhey said. Two-way linemen Drew Berek also was notable against Grant. “Drew was mauling people up front on both sides,” Cowhey said. “He was dominant as a guard and made plays in the middle for our defense.” Johnsburg, out of the Kishwaukee River Conference, made the short jaunt over the Wisconsin state line and downed Wilmot Union High School in Week 1.
Bremen (0-1) at Grayslake Central (0-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Scouting this game: Central dropped a Week 1 decision to Carmel and looks to get back on track against Bremen out of south-suburban Midlothian. “Our team definitely struggled Game 1, but I think both them and the coaches see a path to being a good team and will continue to fight to do so,” Central coach Brent Pearlman said. “We can come together and handle adversity in a positive way and as a team as a whole.” Pearlman lauded Romey Reyes for his hard running with the football against Carmel. He also was impressed with the trio of Sam Ulrich, Nick Isaacson and Marcus Heuser on the offensive line. Bremen plays in the South Suburban Blue and was a 6A playoff qualifier a year ago as a 5-4 team. Bremen lost to Chicago Taft 35-7 last week.
Lake Zurich (0-1) at Glenbrook South (0-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Scouting this game: The Bears dropped a 31-0 game to Fremd last week. “Overall, we did not play up to our standard,” Lake Zurich coach Ron Planz said. “Fremd had a great plan and their players played hard — hats off to them. This week, it is about getting back to who we are and making sure we uphold the Lake Zurich tradition.” Planz noted two statistics hit him hard. “Too many turnovers for us and not enough rushing yards,” he said. “It’s hard to win that way.” Glenview-based Glenbrook South, out of the Central Suburban South, lost to 2023 Class 8A semifinalist York by 18 points last week. South qualified for the Class 8A playoffs last year with a 4-5 record.
Other Lake County Friday Games
Lake Forest (1-0) at Carmel (1-0), 7:30 p.m.