Scouting Week 7 Cook County football games
Maine East (2-4, 1-1) at Maine West (0-6, 0-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Last week: Highland Park 41, Maine West 0; Vernon Hills 42, Maine East 0
Last year: Maine West 42, Maine East 8
Outlook: It was a tough week for both teams last week as each failed to reach the end zone. And for Maine East, that would make it 5 consecutive games that the Demons have failed to score. Maine West will be looking to get things rolling this week in the hopes of reaching the playoffs for a school-record fourth consecutive year. The Warriors will need to win their final three games to become playoff eligible. Maine West will be looking to get its running game back on track after it was sidelined last week. Louis Avalos and quarterback Nathan Abede will be looking to find space against a Maine East defense which is allowing nearly 50 points per game.
Maine South (5-1, 2-0) at Glenbrook North (2-4, 0-2)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Last week: Maine South 35, New Trier 7; Deerfield 24, Glenbrook North 2
Last year: Maine South 65, Glenbrook North 10
Outlook: In their last five meetings, Maine South has outscored Glenbrook North 242-38. And Maine South Is playing just as well this season, outscoring their opponents in their last five games 203-48. Jameson Purcell has been looking great, throwing for 1,504 yards and 13 touchdowns while completing 62% of his passes. Finn Haugh (35 receptions, 440 yards), Jake Davis (27 receptions, 208 yards), Logan Ide (24 receptions, 319 yards) and Niko Kokosioulis (22 receptions, 242 yards) have been Purcell’s main targets. Kokosioulis has also rushed for 580 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Palatine (3-3, 1-1) at Hoffman Estates (5-1, 1-1)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Last week: Palatine 49, Schaumburg 14; Fremd 35, Hoffman Estates 13
Last year: Palatine 56, Hoffman Estates 22
Outlook: Palatine broke a three-game losing streak last week as the Pirates got solid play on both sides of the ball. Will Santiago was perfect last week, completing all 11 of his throws for 271 yards and four touchdowns. Kole Fager (144 yards) and Jayden Evans (112 yards) each caught 5 passes. Ray Gaspard paced the running game with another 148 yards and two scores. Hoffman stumbled from the ranks on the unbeaten last week. The Hawks, who had come into the game averaging nearly 40 points per game, manage just a pair of field goals on the offense side. Austin Lezniak, Landon Ford, Torey Baskin and company look to get things back on track against a Palatine defense that has allowed 32 points per game. Hoffman has not beaten Palatine since 2018.
Rolling Meadows (5-1, 2-0) at Prospect (5-1, 2-0)
When: Friday, 7 p.m.
Last week: Rolling Meadows 59, Buffalo Grove 27; Prospect 70, Wheeling 19
Last year: Prospect 41, Rolling Meadows 14
Outlook: Both teams are scoring at historic levels with both teams averaging 50 points per game. Meadows comes in with a 5-game winning streak. Joe Brigham has been on fire, completing 70% of his passes for 1,071 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 6 scores. Jack Andersen (14 receptions, 313 yards), Sean Kerr (16 receptions, 210 yards), Donovan Hunter (15 receptions, 127 yards) are the leading receivers while Luke Harvey has piled up 626 yards on the ground with 7 touchdowns. Prospect quarterback Jackson Cacini has also been red hot for the Knights. The junior has fired 17 touchdown passes against just one interception and has thrown for 1,161 yards while completing nearly 72% of his passes. He has also run for 5 touchdowns. Harvard-bound wide receiver Nate Cichy has 38 catches for 641 yards and 9 touchdowns. Running back Matthew Donnelly has rushed for 635 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Conant (2-4, 0-2) at Schaumburg (3-3, 0-2)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Palatine 49, Schaumburg 14, Barrington 41, Conant 14
Last year: Schaumburg 42, Conant 7
Outlook: Both teams are battling two-game losing streaks. Conant had won two games prior to that losing streak. But the Cougars ran into Fremd and Barrington and struggled on both sides of the ball. Conant has not completed a pass in four weeks, but their running game, led by Jackson Spizzirri, Nathan Kutella and quarterback Tyler Marchese, has done well. Schaumburg had won three in a row before dropping its last two to Hoffman and Palatine. The Saxons have also relied heavily on their running game with Vince Heydecker, Savier Tudela and quarterback Ray Black. The difference between the teams is that the Saxons will throw the ball more frequently with Black.
Fremd (6-0, 2-0) at Barrington (5-1, 2-0)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Fremd 35, Hoffman Estates 13; Barrington 41, Conant 14
Last year: Fremd 56, Barrington 35
Outlook: The only two remaining unbeaten teams in the MSL West clash in what could be a high-scoring affair. Both teams are averaging just over 39 points per game and last season they combined to score 91 points. The teams are very similar offensively with each team having a key player at quarterback, wide receiver and running back. Fremd boasts quarterback Johnny O’Brien, who has completed 70% of his passes for 1,359 yards and 18 touchdowns. O’Brien suffered an injury last week against Hoffman Estates and played through it. He sought medical advice this week and is a game-time decision against Barrington. O’Brien’s favorite receiver is Maquan Brewster who has 33 catches for 596 yards and 8 touchdowns. Jayden Faulkner (297 yards, 3 TD) and Jason Hardy (195 yards, 4 TD) have been the main cogs on the ground behind an offensive line that is anchored by Northwestern-commit Owen Jacubczek. Barrington counters with Luke Tepas, who has a 68% completion percentage with 1,335 yards and 13 touchdowns. Austin Coles is the top receiver with 35 receptions for 624 yards and 5 touchdowns. Lamar Osterhues (682 yards, 11 TD) and Cameron Massillo (307 yards, 7 TD) lead a vaunted Broncos rushing attack which has piled up 1,293 yards behind a huge offensive line led by Northwestern commit Owen Fors.
Hersey (4-2, 2-0) at Buffalo Grove (2-4, 0-2)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Hersey 54, Elk Grove 14; Rolling Meadows 59, Buffalo Grove 27
Last year: Hersey 48, Buffalo Grove 7
Outlook: Hersey has won four in a row and has been scoring at a breakneck pace, averaging 55 points per game. Jake Nawrot has completed 75% of his passes for 1,537 yards and 23 touchdowns. The junior has spread the wealth to Tyler Wentink (27 receptions, 471 yards), Josh Riggs (24 receptions, 511 yards), Jackson Wilder (17 receptions, 202 yards) and Brandon Jenkins (13 receptions, 69 yards). Jenkins also has rushed for 620 yards. After winning two in a row, Buffalo Grove has now lost two straight. With opposing defenses focusing on stopping Bison running back Matthew Kaput, quarterback Grady Boeche has stepped up quite nicely. The senior has thrown for 445 yards in his last two games.
Wheeling (1-5, 0-2) at Elk Grove (1-5, 0-2)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Prospect 70, Wheeling 19; Hersey 54, Elk Grove 14
Last year: Elk Grove 43, Wheeling 6
Outlook: It has been a struggle for both teams to get into the win column this season. But both have had many moments that have been successful this year. For Wheeling it has been the play of quarterback Christian Campos, who has been very good at running the ball and finding the end zone. For Elk Grove it has been the passing combination of Luke Maher to Ryan Tanner that has kept defenses on its heels this season.
St. Viator (1-5) at Montini (6-0)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: DePaul 36, St. Viator 7; Montini 55, Carmel 54
Last year: Montini 31, St. Viator 14
Outlook: This is the second consecutive game that St. Viator will play a defending state champion. Montini won the 3A title last season, but St. Viator gave the Broncos all they could handle before succumbing in their regular season game last season. St. Viator lost 17 seniors from that team and the 2025 Lions version has now lost five in a row. Montini quarterback Israel Abrams played at St. Viator as a freshman before transferring to Montini last year. Abrams is coming off a 572-yard passing performance last week which included a pair of 90-yard touchdown passes.
Leyden (2-4, 1-2) at Morton (1-5, 1-2)
When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.
Last week: Addison Trail 46, Leyden 6, Willowbrook 49, Morton 6
Last year: Leyden 25, Morton 14
Outlook: Leyden is coming off a disappointing loss last week in a game that the offense ran just 33 plays. Expect the Eagles to rectify all that this week with the hopes of getting more production against a Morton team that is allowing 31 points per game and a Mustangs offense that has scored only 46 points all season.