The Week 8 expanded football Top 20
First and 10
1. Maine South (6-1) Next opponent: Glenbrook South
Comment: The Central Suburban League South title is on the line in this one. Both the Hawks and Titans are 3-0 in conference and 6-1 overall with a similar overall margin — 259-88 for Maine South and 251-92 for Glenbrook South. The Hawks’ Indiana recruit Jameson Purcell threw for 235 yards and 5 touchdowns in just one half last week against Glenbrook North.
2. Glenbard West (7-0) Next opponent: at York
Comment: With 1-6 Proviso West up next in Week 9, the 5-2 Dukes likely present the last obstacle for the Hilltoppers in winning the West Suburban Silver with a perfect overall 9-0 record a year after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2006. Jamarcus Kelly rushed for 196 yards and 4 touchdowns last week in an impressive 44-20 win over Hinsdale Central.
3. Downers Grove North (6-1) Next opponent: at Lyons Township
Comment: He’s back, and not a moment too soon. Minnesota-bound QB Owen Lansu, who missed the previous five games with a broken left arm, returned against York and threw for 388 yards and 4 TDs in a 41-28 win. “I made it my mission to get back faster than I was expected to be back,” Lansu said afterwards. “I care so much about this team and this program.”
4. Montini (7-0) Next opponent: at St. Ignatius
Comment: It seems everywhere you look in this Top 20 you find an outstanding quarterback, and the Broncos are certainly no exception. Israel Abrams continued his monster junior season by throwing for 231 yards on 14-of-18 passing in the first half of a 49-3 win over his former school, St. Viator. St. Ignatius is just 2-5 but has played a killer schedule (41 opponent wins).
5. Batavia (5-2) Next opponent: St. Charles East
Comment: Brett Berggren was busy for the Bulldogs last week against Wheaton North, catching 7 passes for 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Defensively, Saimarr Howell had 8 tackles, 3 pass breakups and an interception. If the Bulldogs beat the Saints and Wheaton Warrenville South in Week 9, they will have no worse than a share of the DuKane Conference title.
6. Prospect (6-1) Next opponent: at Hersey
Comment: After four straight weeks of lopsided final scores against overmatched opponents, the Knights got their first challenge in awhile from Rolling Meadows. Led by junior quarterback Jackson Cacini’s 16-of-22 passing for 300 yards and 5 touchdowns, the Knights pulled out a 35-32 win. Now comes another big game against 5-2 Hersey, also 3-0 in the MSL East.
7. Barrington (6-1) Next opponent: at Schaumburg
Comment: The Broncos took over the MSL West lead last week by beating Fremd 23-7, scoring all their points in the first half and then turning to their defense to hold on. Duke Matiyow intercepted a pass with Fremd closing in on a touchdown, then Brooks Howard and Nick Marin also came up with interceptions to hand the Vikings their first loss of the season.
8. Fremd (6-1) Next opponent: Palatine
Comment: The Vikings suffered a huge loss the week before last week’s Barrington game when Northwestern-bound quarterback Johnny O’Brien was injured against Hoffman Estates. The Vikings had their chances without their star but a few critical mistakes were too much to overcome against Barrington. Up next is Palatine, getting healthy after its own key injuries earlier this season.
9. Warren (6-1) Next opponent: at Lake Zurich
Comment: The Blue Devils won a key North Suburban Conference game last week over Stevenson thanks to four more Aaron Stewart touchdowns and four interceptions from their defense. Now comes another test from Lake Zurich, winners of six straight games since a season-opening loss to Fremd.
10. St. Charles North (6-1) Next opponent: Glenbard North
Comment: Not much went right for the North Stars last week in a 33-7 loss to Wheaton Warrenville South. The defense gave up 285 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns to Owen Yorke, and a 78-yard touchdown catch by Keaton Reinke was all the offense could muster. Now comes a much improved Glenbard North team at 5-2 with its own standout RB, Donato Gatses.
Second and 10
11. Hersey 5-2 Beat Buffalo Grove 52-2 / Prospect
12. Lake Zurich 6-1 Beat Mundelein 35-0 / Warren
13. York 5-2 Lost to Downers N. 41-28 / Glenbard West
14. IC Catholic Prep 5-2 Beat Marmion 57-14 / at St. Viator
15. St. Francis 5-2 Beat Marian 42-20 / at DePaul Prep
16. Carmel 5-2 Beat DePaul Prep 54-14 / at Loyola
17. WW South 5-2 Beat St. Charles North 33-7 / at Lake Park
18. Palatine 4-3 Beat Hoffman Estates 35-21 / at Fremd
19. Stevenson 5-2 Lost to Warren 28-13 / Zion-Benton
20. Wauconda 7-0 Beat Grayslake Central 53-27 / Antioch