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Scouting Lake County first round football playoff games

Class 6A

No. 9 Grayslake North (7-2) at No. 8 Antioch (7-2)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Seeds: Grayslake North is the No. 9 seed in the top half of the Class 6A bracket; Antioch is the No. 8 seed.

Scouting Grayslake North: Our Lake County Blue Plate Special of the Week is one of three 7-2-on-7-2 first-round matchups in the 32-team Class 6A bracket and a rematch of the Week 6 tilt that Antioch won 22-18 in Antioch. Senior quarterback Mitch Hughes has thrown for 2,008 yards and 24 touchdowns and also has 6 rushing TDs. Senior Landon Dovel has run for 1,090 yards and 11 scores, while senior Cam Bates has 1,057 receiving yards on 51 catches to go with 17 total touchdowns (13 receiving, 3 rushing and 1 kickoff). Senior Tyler McBride has 88 tackles. North coach Brian Johnson noted Antioch “has quite a few weapons on offense and do a really good job of spreading the ball around,” he said. “They always seem to find explosive plays. We need to be able to limit those explosive plays and generate some of our own. They are well-coached and will always have something up their sleeve that we need to make adjustments to. We need to be able to win on special teams and limit mistakes.” Johnson explained that Dovel, a running back, took it upon himself to become the scout-team QB the last several weeks, “and has set a great example with accountability and responsibility towards his teammates to improve their performance,” he said. Sophomore Beckett Dovel (defensive back-running back) was cited for outstanding play the last few games, Johnson noted. “The game is getting slower and slower for him and it is showing in his increased efficiency grade in his reads. It’s hard to keep him off the feel.” Johnson added senior defensive lineman Juan Marquez “has been phenomenal down the stretch,” he said. “He seems to get stronger and stronger throughout the year, which is a credit to his work ethic and dedication to the weight room. He has a really good first step and has led the team in QB pressures.” North is 1-2 against playoff teams this season.

Scouting Antioch: After winning 6 games in a row, the Sequoits lost to Grant in Week 8 but came back to close out the regular season last week with a win at Grayslake Central. Antioch has scored 40 or more points in 5 games this season and 50 or more in 4 games. Antioch is 2-2 against teams that made the playoffs. The Sequoits are in the playoffs for the eighth year in a row (not counting COVID 2020 year) under coach Brian Glashagel and 13th time in his 18 years there.

Up next: Winner gets either No. 16 Chicago Senn (5-4) or No. 1 Cary-Grove (9-0) in the Class 6A second round.

No. 11 Grant (6-3) at No. 6 Burlington Central (7-2)

When: Saturday, 6 p.m.

Seeds: Grant is the No. 11 seed in the top half of the Class 6A bracket; Central is the No. 6 seed in the top half.

Scouting Grant: Grant hits the road in the Class 6A first round for a Saturday night tilt on Rocket Hill west of Elgin. “Burlington Central is a senior-heavy football team that is big and strong,” Grant coach Tim Norwood said. “We will need to match how physical they are on both the offensive and defensive lines. We also need to take care of the ball on offense and get takeaways on defense.” Grant’s offense has been diversified and dynamic this season. Quarterback Matthew Gipson has thrown for 2,036 yards (65% of passes completed) and 24 touchdowns. “Matthew has really taken care of the ball the second half of the season and made great decisions,” Norwood said. His favorite target is Max Hembrey (41 catches, 905 yards, 10 TDs, 22.1 yards per catch, 100.6 yards per game). Tyler Zdon has run for 1,319 yards (9.2 yards per carry) and 19 touchdowns and averages 147 yards per game. Norwood explained junior free safety Zach Collins moved over from the offense halfway through the season “and has really helped solidify our secondary,” he said. “He works hard and continues to improve each week.” Logan Myers leads the team with 107 tackles and has 3 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions. Kolton Selders has 5 tackles for loss, while Erik Rodriguez has 3 interceptions. Grant is 1-2 against teams that made the playoffs.

Scouting Burlington Central: The Rockets reside in the rough-and-tumble Fox Valley Conference and are enjoying their finest season since 2011 when a Rich Crabel-led squad made the playoffs and finished 7-3. This is Central’s first winning season since 2017. “It seems Grant is kind of a similar story to us,” Central coach Brian Iossi said. “New coach in the last few years who has turned the program around. From what I have gathered, last year was the first time they made the playoffs in a while and that’s kind of our story this year. They run the ball really well and have some really nice looking athletes. Key for us is going to be playing our game and continue to play the way we have played all season. We put a huge focus into worrying about us and doing our job play in and play out. This is just like any other game for us.” Central is 2-2 against playoff teams with losses coming to unbeaten perennial state power Cary-Grove and Jacobs in FVC play. The Rockets did beat another perennial state threat in Prairie Ridge.

Up next: The winner gets either No. 14 Chicago Amundsen (5-4) or No. 3 Geneva in the Class 6A second round.

No. 15 Deerfield (5-4) at No. 2 Libertyville (8-1)

When: Friday, 6:30 p.m.

Seeds: Deerfield is the No. 15 seed in the top half of the Class 6A bracket: Libertyville is the No. 2 seed in the top half.

Scouting Deerfield: The Warriors, out of the Central Suburban South, are 0-4 against playoff teams this season, but lost to a highly notable 8-1 Fremd team by only 8 points. “Libertyville is a talented team and very prolific team on offense,” Deerfield coach Steve Winiecki said. “They can score in many different ways. Their defense plays very physical.” Running back and linebacker Quinn Schimanski is Deerfield’s top rusher (5.5 yards per carry, 9 touchdowns) and a top defender (52 tackles, 2 picks, 3 fumble recoveries). Linebacker Nate Margulis has 88 tackles and 5 sacks and is the Warriors’ leading tackler the last two seasons. Quarterback Mac Jones has thrown for 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns, while tight end/defensive end Jack Berger is the leading receiver at 13.5 yards per catch and 5 touchdowns.

Scouting Libertyville: After a tough loss to Lake Forest in Week 8 (a possible Week 11 playoff matchup provided a Cats victory at home Friday), the Wildcats downed Warren last week to secure a share of the North Suburban title and a 3-win regular-season improvement over 2023. “Deerfield likes to go fast on offense, they have a balanced offense, an opportunistic defense and is well-coached,” Libertyville coach Mike Jones said. Jones loves the leadership that Myles Batesky has shown. “Myles has been a solid leader and captain all season,” he said. “He will hold people accountable and lead by example.” Jones liked how defensive back Ayden Newby played against Warren. He finished with 20 tackles. “I am very proud of Ayden’s development over the last year,” Jones said. Offensive lineman Sawyer Kopala also is making people take notice. “Sawyer has been very steady as a first-year starter on the offensive line,” Jones noted. Quarterback Quinn Schambow should go over the 3,000-yard passing mark for the season in this game. He’s completed 151 of 203 passes for 2,925 yards and 45 touchdowns against 2 interceptions. Libertyville has 3 receivers with 30 or more catches with Blaise LaVista leading the way with 46 catches for 1,105 yards. Stevan Gavric has 43 catches for 811 yards and Sam Seth has 30 catches for 471 yards. Caleb Baczek has 3 sacks on defense, while Jack Treutelaar has 2 sacks and Tommy Buenik has 2 interceptions. Libertyville is 4-1 against playoff teams this season.

Up next: Winner gets either No. 10 Chicago Mather (6-3) or No. 7 Lake Forest (7-2) in the Class 6A second round.

No. 12 Fenton (6-3) at No. 5 Wauconda (7-2)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Seeds: Fenton is the No. 12 seed in the top half of the Class 6A bracket; Wauconda is the No. 5 seed.

Scouting Fenton: Bensenville-based Fenton competes in the Upstate Eight Conference and was a dreadful 2-25 over the last 3 seasons (including an 0-9 record last year) before Mark Farrell returned for his second stint as head coach. “After watching films on Wauconda, we see a well-disciplined team that plays hard,” Farrell said. “Their defense plays fast and tackles well and their offense plays with a fast tempo. They run the ball well inside and out. We will have to play well in all three phases to beat them. As far as our program is concerned, we are starting to turn the corner.” Fenton is led by senior quarterback Nate Stewart, senior wideout-defensive back Jack Tinajero, junior running back-linebacker Omar Diaz, senior offensive and defensive lineman Thomas Klos and junior offensive and defensive lineman Josh Zuniga. Fenton hasn’t won a playoff game in 40 years. “We are excited to have an opportunity to play in the playoffs and the chance to break a long drought without a playoff win,” Farrell said. Fenton went 0-3 against playoff teams during the regular season.

Scouting Wauconda: The Bulldogs closed out the regular season with a pair of wins by a combined 90-16 count and earned a share of the Northern Lake County Conference title with Antioch. Wauconda went 2-2 against playoff teams in the regular season. Wauconda is in the playoffs for the fourth year in a row and is 34-8 during that timeframe.

Up next: Winner gets either No. 13 Kaneland (5-4) or No. 4 Belvidere North (8-1) in the 6A second round.

Class 8A

No. 24 Sandburg (5-4) at No. 9 Stevenson (8-1)

When: Friday, 7 p.m.

Seeds: Sandburg is the No. 24 seed in the Class 8A bracket; Stevenson is the No. 9 seed

Scouting this game: Stevenson is in the playoffs for the third year in a row and is looking to advance to the second round for the first time in those three appearances. Since a Week 3 loss to Libertyville, the team it shared the North Suburban Conference title with this season with identical 6-1 marks, Stevenson has won 6 games in a row. The Patriots welcome in an Orland Park-based Sandburg team that is one of 4 teams that qualified for the playoffs out of the Southwest Valley Conference Red Division (Naperville Central, Lincoln-Way West and Andrew being the others). Stevenson is 3-1 this year against teams that made the playoffs, while Sandburg is 3-4 (a robust 7 games against teams that made the playoffs).

Up next: Winner gets either No. 25 Chicago Curie (5-4) or No. 8 Glenbard East (8-1) in the Class 8A second round.

No. 27 Warren (5-4) at No. 6 Palatine (8-1)

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Seeds: Warren is the No. 27 seed in the Class 8A bracket; Palatine is the No. 6 seed

Scouting Warren: After a 3-game winning streak in the middle of the season, Warren went 1-2 to close out its 9-game regular-season slate. The Blue Devils are 1-4 this season against teams that made the playoffs. This is Warren’s 10th playoff appearance in coach Bryan McNulty’s 11 seasons, but lowest regular-season mark since the 2016 team missed the playoffs at 4-5.

Scouting Palatine: Warren encounters a Palatine squad that won the Mid-Suburban West title with a perfect 5-0 record. “In my opinion, Warren is the best 5-4 team in the state — if you ask me,” Pirates coach Corey Olson said. “They are really talented and tough. I wasn’t thrilled about the draw, but sometimes that’s the way the math works out. They are a really good football team.” Olson said success for Palatine comes from winning in the trenches on both sides of the ball and then the contributions of many. “Your football team is going to be contingent on your seniors,” Olson said. “We have a really good group of seniors. The leadership is good. Being able to win up front on both sides — you win a lot of football games when you do that.” Key offensive contributors include the likes of senior Ryan Donnelly, junior Kole Fager and Jacob Bostick. “Offensively, the ball gets into a lot of different people’s hands. We have multiple running backs we will use and a host of receivers that do good things with it, too. But it all starts with the run game and our receivers block their tails off every week.” Five of the 6 teams in the Mid-Suburban West made the playoffs (Fremd, Barrington, Hoffman Estates and Schaumburg). The Pirates have won 8 games in a row since a Week 1 one-point loss to 8-1 St. Charles North. Palatine has held 5 opponents to 20 points or less and four to 9 points or less.

Up next: Winner gets either No. 22 South Elgin (6-3) or No. 11 Barrington (7-2) in the Class 8A second round.

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