Scouting: CL South @ Dundee-Crown
Crystal Lake South (4-0, 0-0) at Dundee-Crown (1-3, 0-0)
When today at 7:15 p.m. at the D-C Bowl
Last year CL South 42, Dundee-Crown 7
Last week Crystal Lake South 38, Prairie Ridge 7; Grayslake North 41, Dundee-Crown 18
Outlook Crystal Lake South enters this Valley Division opener in the Fox Valley Conference as a considerable favorite. The Gators, ranked No. 7 in the AP poll of Class 7A teams, have allowed just 14 points and an average of 97 yards per game in their four victories, three of which have come against playoff teams from 2008 (Grant, Bartlett and Prairie Ridge). The Chargers have been outscored 142-71 and have lost 3 straight since beating Elgin in overtime in the season opener. "The biggest thing we have to do is make sure we take care of what we have to do and not get caught up in the fact that it's a team that's not doing very well right now," CL South coach Jim Stuglis said. "We need to take care of our business. They are struggling but that doesn't mean they can't all of a sudden get hot and have their best game of the year, we don't play well and the next thing you know we're in a dogfight. We talked with the kids (Monday) and told them I doubt USC thought that Washington was going to give them a game last weekend either, but the next thing you know they're on the losing end of a field goal. You don't want to put a team in position to have success if you can help it, so we need to do what we do best, do it better and limit mistakes." Gators senior free safety Alex Macauley practiced this week for the first time since a late-August appendectomy and is expected to play, adding more experience to an already deep roster. " They're just really good," D-C coach Mike Davis said of CL South. "I've watched them on film and I don't really see any weaknesses to them. It'll be a tough game, but if the kids play hard for four quarters, we'll be happy." The Chargers welcome back junior quarterback Tanner Kotlan (27 of 49, 398 yards, 3 TDs) for the first time since Week 2. He gives an offense that averages 311 yards per game more pop. Running back Danny Sharp has been D-C's most consistent offensive threat. The junior has rushed for 249 yards and 4 touchdowns and has caught 15 passes for 251 yards and another score.