Scouting Week 3 Lake County football games
Libertyville (2-0) at Stevenson (2-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Last year: Stevenson 35, Libertyville 28
Scouting Libertyville: A certain Lake County Blue Plate Special. The Wildcats are off to a hot 2-0 start after outscoring its first two opponents (Lemont and Richards) by a combined 91-15 count. This week, a heck of a North Suburban opener in Lincolnshire against fellow unbeaten Stevenson. Libertyville quarterback Quinn Schambow has thrown for 666 yards (32 of 45) and 12 TDs, including a 21-for-30, 365-yard, 7-TD effort against Richards last week. Steven Garvic (10 catches, 243 yards, 4 TDs) has been a frequent target. “Stevan has been a difficult receiver to defend,” Libertyville coach Mike Jones said. Rhett VanBoening has been key on both lines, Jones added. “Rhett has been very consistent in his play and has taken on a leadership role,” he said. Defensively, Caleb Baczek has provided consistent jolts at outside linebacker. “Caleb has been physical, a leader and a playmaker on defense,” Jones said. “I love his motor.” Jones continues to see overall progress. “There is still room for improvement,” he said. “We need to eliminate penalties and keep trying to minimize big plays on defense.”
Scouting Stevenson: The Patriots piled up 94 points in wins over Kenosha Bradford and Chicago Taft. Stevenson is averaging more than 400 yards of total offense, but an even more eye-opening stat is the 8.4 yards per play average against Bradford that ballooned to 9.5 against Taft. Aidan Crawley has passed for 427 yards with 6 touchdowns, no picks and more importantly, has been sacked just one time. Christopher Thorndyke has run for 185 yards on 22 carries with 3 touchdowns, while Frank Costabile has 90 rushing yards on only 12 attempts and 3 touchdowns. Thomas Simmons has 7 grabs for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Zach Becker has 6 catches for 152 yards and a score. Stevenson was active on defense against Taft. Griffin Suren had 7 tackles and 5 more for loss, while Luke Nelson has 7 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. Caden Schultz had 4 tackles and 1 tackle for loss. Anthony Adams had 4 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and a pick, while Frank Concialdi had an interception as well.
Wauconda (1-1) at Grayslake North (2-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Last year: Wauconda 32, Grayslake North 7
Scouting Wauconda: The Bulldogs look to get back into the win column after a 16-7 loss at Kaneland Week 2. Brody Rudolph (14 tackles) and Connor Coty (9 tackles) led the defensive charge against Kaneland, while Nick Ori caught 6 passes for 87 yards. Jackson Rudolph has run for 190 yards and 5 scores in 2 games, while Jacob Hewley has 168 rushing yards. Brody Rudolph leads the team in tackles with 29 and has 2 tackles for loss, while Coty has 16 tackles on the young season. “Our team continues to show they are prepared to battle through adversity,” Bulldogs coach Chris Prostka said. “Week 1 and 2 were different games, and our team adapted throughout both. This past week against a good Kaneland team, we didn’t make enough plays to come out on top. We will learn from it and continue to improve.” Prostka calls Liam Carney the anchor of the Wauconda offensive line. “He continues to lead that group and the team,” he said. “On defense, he has played solid.” Carney has a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and blocked a punt in Week 1. Ori also has impressed on both sides of the ball. “Nick had a nice game catching the football against Kaneland,” Prostka said. “He is also an excellent blocker who is physical, as well as a solid corner for our defense.” Jack Thorstenson has been a contributor on defense and special teams. Prostka pointed out Thorstenson has been responsible for 2 takeaways, a pick against Hinsdale Central in Week 1 and a forced fumble last week against Kaneland.
Scouting Grayslake North: Plenty of good is happening on the Knights end, particularly in last week’s win against Elgin where senior Landon Dovel ran 14 times for 109 yards (33-yard long) and had 1 TD. Junior Beckett Dovel had 18 total tackles, while Nathan Newburgh, a senior, had 3 pass breakups. Junior Isaac Rios had an interception. Senior quarterback Mitch Hughes has thrown for 412 yards and 5 TDs while completing 71 percent of his tosses and running for 2 additional scores. Landon Dovel has run for 194 yards (2 TD), while senior Cam Bates has 11 catches for 208 yards and has 4 total TDs. Senior tight end Tyler McBride has 3 catches for 110 yards and 2 TDs (21 tackles on defense). Senior kicker Chris Von Briesen is a perfect 10-for-10 on extra points. “I see how our team is beginning to understand a shared purpose, which allows the players to push each other and support each other in positive ways,” Knights coach Brian Johnson said. “That is leading to great practices and increased effort. Our practice intensity remains high and our attention to detail is on point right now.” Junior Isaac Rios (2 interceptions), Johnson noted, had a great offseason in the weight room and running sprints in track greatly improved his speed. “You can see it in his performance on the field,” Johnson said. McBride starts at tight end and linebacker and also lived in the weight room in the offseason, Johnson noted. “Tyler is an iron man on the field,” he said. “He’s an inspirational leader on and off the field and is nailing reads on defense.” Two-way senior lineman Alan Gielczynski leads the team in QB pressures. “Alan has a great feel and improved speed and quickness,” Johnson said. “When combined with his intensity, he is a tough player.”
Lake Zurich (0-2) at Waukegan (1-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Last year: Lake Zurich 41, Waukegan 0
Scouting this game: Lake Zurich sits in an unusual recent position — winless after two weeks. The Bears lost by 15 to Glenbrook South last week. “We kept fighting until the end of the game,” Bears coach Ron Planz said. “We were able to score some points and get some stops. Hopefully, we can build off that moving forward.” Jackson Piggott has 14 catches for 179 yards and 2 TDs for the Bears. Cole Kenyon has completed 29 passes for 320 yards and 3 scores, while John Howe has rushed for 70 yards on 15 carriers through 2 games. Defensively, Connor Sole leads the way with 25 tackles. Coplan Oettinger has 16 tackles and 2 tackles for loss, while George DiCanio has 16 tackles and Evan Peterson has 14 tackles. Waukegan beat 0-2 Plainfield Central by 2 points in Week 1 and dropped a 40-14 game last week to 2-0 Maine West.
Grant (1-1) at North Chicago (1-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Last year: Grant 46, North Chicago 6
Scouting this game: Grant earned its first win last week against Glenbrook North and now heads to North Chicago to open Northern Lake County Conference play. Junior tailback Tyler Zdon ran for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns last week, while junior wideout Max Hembrey had 5 catches for 165 yards and 2 touchdowns. Junior inside linebacker Logan Myers had 6 solo tackles, 12 assists and an interception. Zdon is up to 212 rushing yards, while Hembrey has 242 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. Quarterback Matthew Gipson has thrown for 587 yards and 7 touchdowns and is completing 60.4 percent of his throws. Myers leads the defense with 32 total tackles through 2 games. “We have shown we can be explosive on offense, but we need to do a better job taking care of the ball,” Grant coach Tim Norwood said. The Bulldogs have committed 7 turnovers in 2 games, “which is too much,” he added. “Defensively, we are seeing progress with a lot of young guys starting, but we need to continue to improve.” It’s been swim or sink for North Chicago in the first 2 games. The Warhawks shut out Wheeling 32-0 in Week 1, but lost 31-0 to Addison Trail last week.
Antioch (1-1) at Round Lake (0-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Last year: Antioch 70, Round Lake 0
Scouting Antioch: After a tough 5-point loss to Schaumburg, Antioch hit the pay window with a Week 2 win against Zion-Benton. “We’re learning week by week,” Sequoits coach Brian Glashagel said. “We’re developing an identity. The goal is to get better week by week.” Quarterback Colin Arquilla has thrown for 219 yards in the first 2 games with a key beneficiary being senior wideout Mason Bussone (6 catches, 139 yards). “Colin is throwing the ball really nice for us,” Glashagel said. “Mason has made some big plays catching the ball for us.” Senior linebacker Nathan Gorski has 17 tackles so far. “Seventeen tackles in the first two games is great,” Glashagel said.
Scouting Round Lake: After losing 42-0 to West Chicago in Week 1, the Panthers lost 10-7 to Maine East last week. “We tackled and ran to the ball as a team better,” Round Lake coach Matt Milazzo said. “We had more kids play on defense this past week.” Will Cole had 3 sacks and 4 tackles for loss against Maine East. “Our defense played well, only allowing 6 points,” Milazzo said. “Will and Isaac Mercado applied lots of pressure against Maine East in the passing game.” Elian Barrera had an interception and helped limit the Maine East running game, Milazzo noted.
Warren (1-1) at Lake Forest (2-0)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last year: Warren 34, Lake Forest 0
Scouting this game: No rest for the wicked for Warren. After a loss in a heavyweight battle to Maine South last week, the Blue Devils hit the road to face 2-0 Lake Forest in the North Suburban opener with the Scouts coming off a big road win against Carmel. “We definitely took a step back against a good Maine South team,” Warren coach Bryan McNulty said. “We needed to go in there and execute and we did not, which ultimately lies on me.” McNulty has seen good consistency on offense, though. “We are moving the football efficiently in both the run and throw game.” Standout junior running back Aaron Stewart is up to 564 rushing yards after racking up 201 yards on 31 carries with 3 touchdowns against Maine South. He has 8 touchdowns and is averaging 9.6 yards per carry. Quarterback Jack Wolf has thrown for 342 yards and 2 touchdowns, while wide receiver Ayden Edwards has 14 catches for 200 yards and a score. McNulty notes senior tight end Andrew Slack has been a major asset blocking on the edge, as well as being a dependable receiver. “Andrew has been excellent,” he said. Senior linebacker-running back Justice Humphreys, “has led the team in all three phases of the game and it shows,” McNulty said. Senior safety Cory Burton starred last week as well. “Cory had an outstanding week and played well against Maine South,” the coach said. Lake Forest beat Lakes by 23 points in Week 1.
Grayslake Central (1-1) at Lakes (1-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Last year: Grayslake Central 36, Lakes 22
Scouting Grayslake Central: After a tough loss to Carmel in Week 1, the Rams rebounded and notched a 1-point win over Midlothian Bremen. “This past week, we turned the ball over a couple times and had a couple of additional fumbles we were fortunate to get back,” Central coach Brent Pearlman said. “We need to eliminate turnovers in order for us to be successful. I think we have progressed over these past 2 weeks, but I would like to see that progress be faster and more.” Eric Baum was cited for strong play in the defensive backfield and at receiver. “Eric has been doing a nice job,” Pearlman said. “He has made some critical plays.” Pearlman added Issa Beye returned against Bremen on the defensive line, “and played well and is only going to continue getting better.” Freddy Ablohr also turned some coaching staff heads. “Freddy is one of those guys who is willing to do anything for the team,” Pearlman explained. “He puts the team’s interests above his personal interests, which is, of course, the foundation of all great teams.”
Scouting Lakes: Eagles coach Jason Ellerman has seen positive movement in the first 2 games, particularly last week’s 11-point win against Vernon Hills. “On defense, our communication and tackling has gotten a lot better from Week 1 to Week 2,” Ellerman said. “The offensive line seems to be becoming more consistent.” Zack Raffone leads the team in tackles with 14, while Dillan Davis and Mason Crowley have combined to rush for 177 yards. Ellerman noted quarterback Ean Ankney seems to be making more consistent connections with receivers Trent Miller, John Zutkis and Mason Gialo. Chase Davis, Ellerman added, has earned his way into dual roles on both sides of the ball. “Chase has really put in a lot of effort in understanding the playbook and putting himself in the rotation at cornerback and wide receiver,” he said.
Carmel (1-1) at Providence (1-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
About the Corsairs: Carmel has gone under a revolution since former Chicago Bear Jason McKie took over the program, guiding the Corsairs to the Class 5A quarterfinals in his third year on the job. Carmel entered the season with a lot of buzz, as heavily recruited sophomore Trae Taylor takes over the reins of the offense, but the Corsairs took what could be classified as a surprising loss to Lake Forest in Week 2. Carmel has plenty of weapons to deploy, including last year’s CCL/ESCC Purple Co-Most Valuable Player RB Donovan Dey, but it seems the Corsairs aren’t quite firing on all cylinders.
About the Celtics: Providence still seems to be finding its way, particularly on offense, although QB Leo Slepski did have a solid effort in the Celtics’ Week 2 victory over Lincoln-Way Central. Providence seems reliant on its defense and special teams to play a part in putting up some points for the effort, and while that wouldn’t work for most teams, Providence – like the Chicago Bears – does seem to have an incredible knack for having exactly that happen on a regular basis.
– Steve Soucie, Shaw Local News Network
Vernon Hills (0-2) at Wheeling (0-2)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Vernon Hills lost to Lakes 31-20, Wheeling lost to Hoffman Estates 42-7
Last year: Did Not Play
Outlook: Wheeling is off to a very slow start. The Wildcats have fallen behind early in both games thus far and have not been able to get out of the hole. Justin Ghbea had a touchdown pass for Wheeling last week. The Wildcats will need to focus on stopping Vernon Hills sophomore quarterback Collin McMurray, who is a dual threat and has thrown and rushed for a combined 318 yards.
– Dick Quagliano
Other Week 3 Friday Lake County Games
Mundelein (2-0) at Zion-Benton (0-2), 7 p.m.