Five Week 8 high school football games to watch

Glenbard West (7-0) at York (5-2)

What a year for the Hilltoppers. What a checklist of revenging losses. Lose to Batavia last year? Beat them on a last-second FG to open this season. Lose to Downers Grove North and Lyons? Check and check after beating them both, 35-21 and 24-17, respectively. Now here comes the last one on the list, York, who beat Glenbard West 24-14 a year ago. The Dukes are a tough foe again this year, led by Henry Duda, but who would doubt Glenbard West at this point?

Prospect (6-1) at Hersey (5-2)

The MSL East championship is up for grabs Friday in Arlington Heights. Both teams enter on five-game winning streaks. Both teams know how to get in the end zone. Prospect has scored 339 points this season. Hersey has scored 329. Prospect edged Hersey 30-27 a year ago. Prospect QB Jackson Canini has thrown for 1,461 yards and 22 TDs; Hersey QB Jake Nawrot has thrown for 1,800 yards and 27 touchdowns. Buckle up.

Warren (6-1) at Lake Zurich (6-1)

This battle for the North Suburban Conference lead promises to be special. Lake Zurich’s defense has been lights out — six straight games allowing single digit points since losing to Fremd. But holding down Warren RB Aaron Stewart who had 4 more TDs last week vs. Stevenson? Can’t wait to see what happens.

Palatine (4-3) at Fremd (6-1)

The big question in the annual Battle of the Tracks is the status of Fremd’s senior quarterback Johnny O’Brien. The Northwestern recruit is a game-time decision after missing last week’s loss to Barrington with a foot injury. Palatine, who has won the last five games against its rival but trails the all-time series 32-25, has won two straight since getting Kole Fager back in its lineup. Fager ran for 135 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 35-21 win over Hoffman Estates last week.

Wauconda (7-0) at Antioch (6-1)

The Northern Lake County Conference title is on the line between two teams who are excellent at running the football. Antioch, No. 11 in the AP Class 6A poll, averages 371 rushing yards a game. Wauconda, No. 8 in that same poll, is led by Jackson Rudolph and Cole Korycanek who have run for 1,115 and 748 yards, respectively, and have combined for 32 touchdowns. Kicker Jack Hulting is having a nice year for Antioch, hitting 42 of 45 extra points. Antioch won this matchup 38-24 a year ago.