Scouting Glenbard East @ West Aurora

Glenbard East (3-4, 1-4) at West Aurora (3-4, 1-4)

Game time 7:30 p.m. today

Last year: West Aurora 33, Glenbard East 27.

Last week Naperville North 31, Glenbard East 7; Glenbard North 42, West Aurora 6.

Outlook These teams each started 2-0 against nonconference opponents - Glenbard East rallying to beat a Lake Park team that's now 6-1 - but have struggled under the rigors of DuPage Valley Conference competition. It's not for lack of individual talent, because both these teams have it. Glenbard East has three-year starting quarterback Jack Merrithey, who is not afraid to tuck and run when his receivers are covered or things break down. "He scares me," West Aurora coach Buck Drach said of Merrithey, who finds a way to bring his team back. West Aurora linebackers Brandon Warren and Hugo Cano will be on his case. Glenbard East receivers 6-foot-5 tight end Shawn Havenga and 6-6 Lee Skinner will present a challenge to diminutive Blackhawks defensive backs like 5-4 Nate Zinzer and 5-7 Matt Souvannasing, but with 6-0 Marcus Waller and 6-3 Aviance King around coverage has been a strength. Last week, Merrithey threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Lueck, the junior son of Rams coach Dennis Lueck. For West Aurora, they became the first team to score an offensive touchdown against Glenbard North in five weeks, Malcohm Wood going deep to Zinzer. Otherwise, Drach and Co. encountered what they expected: a physical contest that saw senior two-way lineman Marcos Hernandez get knocked out with an ankle sprain, junior Elawrence Langston by a concussion. The Panthers held West Aurora's Leon Spears to 27 yards on 12 carries, they were that good, though Glenbard North's 21-0 first quarter forced Drach's hand. The good news is West Aurora committed no turnovers on Glenbard North's artificial surface, and repeating that on the Blackhawks' grass is the key tonight. "We have to stay away from turnovers and be able to move the ball on the ground," Drach said. "Last week we didn't have any turnovers, which was kind of surprising, but we couldn't move the ball at all."

Next week West Aurora at Wheaton Warrenville South (6-1, 5-0), Oct. 23; Glenbard East at Wheaton North (3-4, 2-3).