Scouting Lake County second-round playoff football games
Class 6A
Antioch (8-2) at Lake Zurich (8-2)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Seeds: Antioch is the No. 5 seed in the top half of the Class 6A bracket; Lake Zurich is the No. 4 seed
Scouting Antioch: Our Lake County Blue Plate Special of the Week features more county against county drama. This is a rematch from Week 2 where Lake Zurich won 33-0 in Antioch. The Sequoits went on to win 5 in a row after that. “We know the same thing everyone knows about Lake Zurich,” Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. “They play good, fundamentally sound football. We do the same. Every penalty, big play and turnover is magnified in the playoffs. We need to win those categories.” Sophomore running back Kelen Wilson had a big game in last week’s first-round win against Glenbard South, rushing for 182 yards on 13 carries with 4 total touchdowns (3 rush, 1 catch). Senior Chase Nobiling had 11 tackles and 1 tackle for loss, while senior Owen Shea had 7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and 1 sack. Shea is up to 20 tackles for loss and 8 sacks for the season, while Dominic Cabuyadao has 60 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 2 fumble recoveries. Nobiling has 67 tackles and 4 tackles for loss, while Henry Lubkeman leads Antioch with 83 tackles (4 tackles for loss). Wilson (672 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns, 10.2 yards per carry) is one of 3 Antioch backfield mates to have run for more than 650 yards this season. Gavin Stone leads the Sequoits with 995 rushing yards and 13 scores (9.5 yards per carry), while Logan Lennon is at 831 yards (9 scores, 11.9 yards per carry). Damion Johnson (25.2 yards per catch, 7 TDs) and Lennon (18.2 yards per catch, 2 touchdowns) have been key in the passing game. Antioch is looking to make it to Week 12 (quarterfinals) for the first time since 2018 (the 2008 team reached Week 13; state semifinals). Antioch was ranked No. 12 in the final regular season Associated Press Class 6A state poll.
Scouting Lake Zurich: The Bears, No. 7 in the AP Class 6A state poll, have given up a combined 38 points in their 8 wins (4 shutouts) and have allowed a grand total of 100 points this season. “We know a lot about Antioch,” Lake Zurich coach Ron Planz said. “We played them in Week 2. I know they are a much different team than they were back then. They have made some personnel adjustments on defense and have really found a groove on offense as the season has progressed. Offensively, they are very explosive in the run game and when you sell out to stop that, they can hit you over the top with the passing game. On defense, No. 96 (Shea) continues to be their best player. He is a high-motor guy who has tremendous size and quickness. Playing a team a second time in a season is always difficult. Antioch will be fired up to play us again and we need to make sure our guys are focused on making sure we continue to get better and play the way we have been playing the last few weeks.” Planz said kicker and punter Tyler Vuckovic (36-for-37 on extra points, 6-for-8 on field goals) “has been awesome in the kicking game for us, especially punting,” he said. “He is in a good groove right now, pinning teams inside the 10-yard line and flipping field position.” Vuckovic averages 38 yards a punt and has 10 boots inside the 20. Getting Mathew Musso back from injury “has been a good thing for us because it’s given us some more depth on the offensive line and he has played at a high level since coming back,” Planz said. Planz added he loves how Ryan Hasemeyer (320 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 4.9 yards per carry) has been a great complement to Kaden Abrantes at running back. “Ryan has been awesome every time he has come in to spell Kaden,” he said. “I love the energy he plays the game with.” Planz said he doesn’t think Brock Rubicz (67 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 1 defensive score) gets enough credit for the job he has done at linebacker this season. “Brock plays the game very physical and fast,” he said. “He was all over the field against Grant (opening-round playoff win).” Lake Zurich is plus-3 in the takeaway department on the season and holds a 12-1 edge on its opponents in quarterback sacks.
Up next: Winner gets No. 1 Nazareth Academy (9-1) or No. 9 Wheaton Warrenville South (7-3) in the 6A quarters with Nazareth hosting if it wins and LZ/Antioch hosting if WW South wins.
Class 7A
Carmel Catholic (8-2) at St. Charles North (9-1)
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Seeds: Carmel is the No. 14 seed in the 32-team Class 7A bracket; St. Charles North is the No. 3 seed.
Scouting Carmel: Another game and another 500-plus-yard total offense output for the Corsairs — this time in their opening-round playoff win against Normal Community (547 to be exact). Standout quarterback Trae Taylor, who threw for 371 yards and 4 TDs last week, is now up to 3,302 passing yards and 36 touchdowns (against 3 picks). Eli Jackson caught 12 passes for 223 yards and 3 touchdowns, while Jaquel Edmonds ran for 116 yards and a score. Taylor has thrown for 400 or more yards in 4 of Carmel’s last 5 games (18 touchdowns against 1 interception). Up next, a trip to St. Charles. “St. Charles North is a well-coached team and program year in and year out. They have one of the better programs in the state,” Carmel coach Jason McKie said. “Defensively, they do a lot of things to create confusion up front with a lot of movement. They have a good secondary and play hard and physical. I love their creativity on offense. They are a well-rounded team with a good kicker. They play all three phases well and at a high level. They have good talent and good coaching. You can see why they only have 1 loss. It will be a challenge for sure.” McKie said his team has been in playoff mode for a good stretch. “I think our guys have been playing playoff football the last 5 weeks,” he explained. “We are in the playoffs, but it feels like we’ve been in the playoffs for half the season. But now, they know this week if we don’t win, we go home. We know we have a tall task ahead of us, but we’re ready. We have played really well on the road. We’re comfortable going on the road.” McKie also has been keeping an eye on the weather for Saturday night where poverty conditions are forecast with colder temperatures and a chance for precipitation. “The weather could be bad, but we will be ready to play,” he said. “The weather is Midwest playoff football. We always tell the kids if you are done playing football and the weather is still nice, you probably had a horrible year, but if you are still playing when the weather is bad, you’ve had a pretty good season. We’ve had a pretty good season. We’ll be ready to play Saturday night.” Keys to Saturday? “The team that doesn’t make mistakes to hurt themselves,” McKie responded. “The holding, and pass interference and missed tackles, those are part of playing the game. It will happen. The self-inflicted things such as offsides and false starts you can control. The team that doesn’t have the most self-inflicted mistakes and penalties, I feel like that team will come out on top.” Carmel is ranked No. 7 in the most recent AP Class 7A state poll.
Scouting St. Charles North: The North Stars fall into the no joke category, playing in the DuKane Conference, one of the toughest larger-enrollment conferences in Illinois. So tough, in fact, neighbor Geneva lost 4 league games by a combined 10 points and thus couldn’t make the playoffs. North shared the conference title with perennial power Batavia (still alive in the top quadrant of the 7A bracket). “Carmel’s offense is prolific, to say the least,” North coach Rob Pomazak said. “Trae Taylor proves weekly why he is a top-5 quarterback recruit in the nation. He’s smart, athletic and can make every throw. The wide receiver crew is a great supporting cast that can catch and finish. They can run the ball effectively with their thunder and lightning package. Their defense is fast and aggressive, odd front with athletes at all levels. They can play man or zone and will make you earn it.” The North Stars are led by the likes of wideout Keaton Reinke (53 catches, 820 yards, 8 touchdowns), linebacker Wyat Brandt (85 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4 sacks), Navy all-American punter-kicker Lucas Tenbrock (4 field goals over 40 yards; 56-yard net putting average). “Lucas is dangerous in all phases of the kicking game,” Pomazak said. Offensive tackle Cooper Kowalczyk “is a dominant lineman who anchors the duo of Carsen Durante and Tom Vendl,” added Pomazak, whose team was ranked No. 8 in the most recent Class 7A state poll.
Up next: Winner gets No. 6 Chicago Brother Rice (9-1) or No. 22 Jacobs (7-3) in the 7A quarters with Carmel hosting Jacobs or traveling to Brother Rice or St. Charles North hitting the road regardless of Rice-Jacobs outcome.
Class 8A
Bolingbrook (8-2) at Warren Township (9-1)
When: Saturday, 7 p.m. Warren Township High School O’Plaine Campus, Gurnee
Seeds: Bolingbrook is the No. 12 seed in the 32-team Class 8A bracket; Warren is the No. 5 seed.
Scouting Bolingbrook: The Raiders, out of the Southwest Prairie Conference West Division, have won 7 games in a row since starting 1-2, including an 84-0 win over Joliet Central. Bolingbrook lost 44-30 to Homewood-Flossmoor and 42-7 to Oswego — both teams still alive in the bottom quadrant of the 32-team 8A bracket. “Warren is one of the toughest teams in the state to play against,” Bolingbrook coach Titcus Pettigrew said. “They have the state’s leading rusher (Aaron Stewart) and a solid passing game. Their strength is that stout defense. We are excited to play against such a great team.” The Raiders’ top rusher is T.J. Lewis, while Darreon Prescott anchors the defense and Tyson Ward is the head of the Bolingbrook snake at quarterback, Pettigrew noted. The Raiders were ranked No. 11 in the most recent AP Class 8A poll.
Scouting Warren Township: Since a 7-point win against 8-2 Hersey and a 42-14 loss to 9-1 Maine South to start the season, the Blue Devils have rattled off 8 wins in a row with the closest margin of victory being a 27-17 win against Lake Zurich (still alive in 6A). “Bolingbrook is and has been an extremely explosive team with extremely high-end talent,” Warren coach Bryan McNulty said. “They are well coached on both sides of the ball.” Stewart is up to 2,632 rushing yards on 294 carries with 44 touchdowns (he’s in the Top 20 all-time in state history for single-season rushing yards and Top 10 for most rushing scores in a season). Simon Castillo has caught 18 balls for 211 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Zion Vines-Peterson has 81 tackles. McNulty said senior Hunter Kleiboer continues to be a huge asset in the Warren kicking game (39 for 44 on point-after tries), while junior offensive lineman Jayden Muirgua has gotten better each week. McNulty was impressed with Vines-Peterson’s performance in last week’s opening-round playoff win, which included a pick-6. “Zion had a monster game last week,” he said. McNulty added sophomore defensive back Jayden Wright “has gotten better each week,” he said. “Jayden has a very bright future.” Warren was ranked No. 4 in the latest Class 8A AP state poll.
Up next: The winner gets No. 13 Lyons Township (8-2) or No. 4 Palatine Fremd (9-1) in the 8A quarters with Fremd hosting Warren or traveling to Bolingbrook; or if LT wins, Warren travels to Western Springs or LT travels to Bolingbrook.