Scouting Week 3 in the Tri-Cities area
St. Charles North (2-0, 0-0) at East Aurora (0-2, 0-0)
Game time 7:30 p.m. today
Last year Did not play.
Last week St. Charles North 34, McHenry 13; Yorkville 50, East Aurora 13.
Outlook On paper this Upstate Eight opener - facing an opponent that lost by nearly 40 points to a team St. Francis beat 35-7 in Week 1 - looks easy. Of course, that's not the case. "We'll try to keep focus not on our opponent, but on playing the best we possibly can, look to keep improving," St. Charles North coach Mark Gould said after the North Stars' first 2-0 start in program history. "There certainly were plenty of mistakes that we made in the (McHenry) game." Those are mainly of the fixer-upper variety such as bad penalties, missed line assignments and quarterback reads, but McHenry did rack up 255 yards passing. Against East Aurora the challenge is to stay in position to corral athletic quarterback Brian Robinson behind experienced offensive linemen like 300-pound Kris Sheldon. That'll be the job of linebackers Dom Imbordino, Ben Dvorak and Matt Scanlon and downhill racer Conner Mohs, and they've done the job. Last week the defense created 4 turnovers including a forced fumble by Mohs and interception with deep return by Dvorak. Offensively, right tackle Matt Mautone and right guard Ryan Brown protected the North Stars' three different quarterbacks - Jake Bergren, Connor McShane and Matt Shiltz - and paced a balanced attack of 148 yards rushing, 161 receiving. Returning a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown in the opener and skying for a 40-yard touchdown grab from Bergren against McHenry, 6-foot-4 senior receiver Jeff Stolzenburg looks like one of the area's dynamic playmakers. Gould made no statement on his quarterback trio, but look for each to get a few more reps in.
Next week Waubonsie Valley (1-1) at St. Charles North, Sept. 19; East Aurora at Elgin (0-2), Sept. 19.
Streamwood (1-1, 0-0) at St. Charles East (0-2, 0-0)
Game time 7:30 p.m. today
Last year St. Charles East 49, Streamwood 6.
Last week Streamwood 28, Dundee-Crown 27; Naperville North 28, St. Charles East 7.
Outlook With rising South Elgin on the horizon St. Charles East can ill afford an 0-3 start. Streamwood hasn't finished above .500 since 1998 or made the playoffs since 2002, but the Sabres have momentum. Running backs Wayne Holloway and 6-foot-2 sprinter Derrick King combined for 238 yards rushing and all of Streamwood's 4 touchdowns. While they must be contained this game will be about St. Charles East focusing on itself. Against a Naperville North squad ranked No. 4 in Class 8A and loaded on defense, the Saints mustered 132 yards of offense. Tweaking things, coach Mike Fields inserted quarterback Nolan Possley at fullback to add speed in front of backs Matt Payne, Cory Campbell and Zach Zajicek. Possley responded with a team-high 63 yards rushing. Fields is comfortable with sophomore Charlie Fisher at quarterback, so that's how it'll be tonight. Fields praised the effort of all, particularly middle linebacker Phil Bucaro, linebacker Sam Leopardo, DT Jon Voytilla and safeties Payne and Bryce Barry - then added that he needs more out of all of them. The key, he said, is "finishing" everything - blocks, tackles, runs, etc. "And once we start finishing," the coach said, "I think we'll find we're pretty darn good at this game."
Next week Streamwood at Lake Park (1-1), Sept. 18; St. Charles E. vs. South Elgin (2-0) at Bartlett, Sept. 18.
Yorkville (1-1, 0-0) at Geneva (2-0, 0-0)
Game time 7:30 p.m. today
Last year Geneva 41, Yorkville 6.
Last week Yorkville 50, East Aurora 22; Geneva 31, Morgan Park 20.
Outlook If there was doubt about Geneva's recurring prominence that vanished with Charlie James' 29-yard field goal that gave the Vikings a 17-0 lead over Morgan Park. "It's not like they lacked confidence," Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said, "but putting it all together definitely helped." The Vikings, now seeking their 21st straight regular-season victory dating to 2006, were bumped up only to No. 4 from No. 5 in the Class 7A Associated Press poll, but that's mainly due to a crowd at the top. Yorkville came off a season-opening 35-7 loss to St. Francis to put a whopping on East Aurora. Coach Jim Still's Foxes have speedy Troy Baebler returning kicks, and running backs Will Parker and Tony Lamantia and quarterback Luke Parece in the backfield. Geneva senior Matt Schuman didn't crack Morgan Park's backfield but the linebacker was everywhere else with 15 tackles. Cornerback Nolan Block's interception and a fumble caused by 300-pound tackle Frank Boenzi staggered Morgan Park. After a 13-6 win over St. Charles East that left Wicinski uninspired, he was impressed by a consistent offense led by quarterback Brandon Beitzel's 13 of 16 passing, the one-two punch of running backs Michael Santacaterina and Jay Graffagna, and the improvement of linemen Dan Carlson, Matt Springhorn, Jake Mills, Justin Craig, Brett Willman, Ben Humbert and tight end Jack Delabar. About the only bummer was the loss of senior defensive end Craig Brenner for at least a month with a shoulder injury. At 1-8 last season Yorkville may not seem too scary, but that's not stopping Wicinski from demanding discipline and growth: "We're really focusing hard on ourselves to get better."
Next week DeKalb (1-1) at Yorkville, Sept. 18; Geneva at Glenbard South (1-1), Sept. 18.
Glenbard South (1-1, 0-0) at Batavia (1-1, 0-0)
Game time 7:30 p.m. today
Last year Glenbard South 32, Batavia 21.
Last week GS 42, Fenton 0; Batavia 27, W. Chicago 6.
Outlook Each of these Western Sun Conference clubs gained confidence last week. Batavia coach Mike Gaspari liked his Bulldogs' improved offense, but in Glenbard South they'll get an eyeful coming at them. The Raiders - still lacking a conference to join next year - are quarterbacked by Trace Wanless, a two-year starter who completed 10 of 14 passes for 197 yards and 3 touchdowns last week. Austin Teitsma, a brutally strong 6-foot-2, 235-pound defensive end and occasional receiver, is a player Gaspari ranks right with Geneva's Frank Boenzi as the Western Sun's best. Nick Slezak is the linebacker in the middle of coach Dan Starkey's 52 defense. "They've got tremendous skill on both sides of the ball," Gaspari said. The bad news in the Bulldogs' victory last week at West Chicago was one of Batavia's best, Pete Koczmara, suffered a knee injury and will be out at least for this week. The injury was believed to be a sprained MCL (not the dreaded ACL), Gaspari said, and the three-year starter was already putting weight on the leg by Tuesday. The running focus shifts to fullback Braden Hartmann and Emund Kabba, who sprung for a 36-yard touchdown run last week, with a little of sophomore back Danny Sieton. No matter the quality outing enjoyed last week by Batavia's offensive linemen, Glenbard South is too active defensively to just run the ball, so the maturation of sophomore quarterback Noel Gaspari will come into play. Batavia can't count on recovering two blown punt returns West Chicago provided, and defensive backs Sam Shump, Ben Fornek and Co. will be tested by Wanless. So starting with defensive tackle Brian Wilson, the Bulldogs want to apply pressure. "I think it's the biggest challenge our secondary has faced yet, but we also have to be very good up front," Gaspari said. "I like the matchup."
Next week Geneva (2-0) at Glenbard South, Sept. 18; Batavia at Rochelle (2-0), Sept. 18.
Kaneland (1-1, 0-0) at Rochelle (2-0, 0-0)
Game time 7 p.m. today
Last year Kaneland 16, Rochelle 12.
Last week Huntley 17, Kaneland 14; Rochelle 22, Dixon 0.
Outlook Kaneland couldn't overcome 5 turnovers last week, and aims to fix that while maintaining the status quo defensively. Kaneland allowed 3 points after halftime with defensive back-receiver Ryley Bailey cleaning up with 8 solo tackles, 5 assists and 7 catches for 130 yards and both touchdowns. Linebackers Derek Bus, Blake Serpa, Tyler Callahan and Brett Ketza fared well, but a late charge and Joe Camiliere's 306 yards passing couldn't make up for abnormalities like Camiliere's first fumble in two seasons. "Giving up 17 points, I feel we could win," said Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly. In Rochelle the Knights face a double-tight Wing-T that has 108 carries to 5 passes and has outgained its competition 691 yards to 248. Fullback Josh Bernadin has 221 yards, wingbacks Austin Gabriel 250 and Dan Ruppenthal 121. Kaneland will look to get back on its horse - give Camiliere (36 of 63 passing, 627 yards, 5 TDs, 3 interceptions) space, keep Rochelle honest with running back Brock Dyer, fly to the football and hold onto it. "We don't want to be a team that beats itself," Fedderly said. "We want to go out and play a clean game. If we can do that we feel pretty good about ourselves."
Next week Kaneland at Sycamore (2-0), Sept. 18; Batavia (1-1) at Rochelle, Sept. 18.
Naperville Central (2-0, 0-0) at West Aurora (2-0, 0-0)
Game time 7:30 p.m. today
Last year Naperville Central 41, West Aurora 2.
Last week Naperville Central 21, Neuqua Valley 17; West Aurora 28, Elgin 6.
Outlook Entering the season, West Aurora coach Buck Drach said his boys can play with anyone for a half or three quarters, then tend to fade late. This DuPage Valley Conference opener will be the Blackhawks' first true test of their stamina. The good news is they two-platoon, the bad news is defensive tackle Fetim Azimi (knee) and fullback Tray Peoples (ankle) are doubtful. But if center Zach DuSell - who graded out at 95 percent last week - and his offensive line buds can give quarterback Malcolm Wood enough time to find Aviance King, and enough room for Leon Spears (29 carries, 280 yards, 5 TDs) to motor, that's a lot of talent even for Naperville Central. The Redhawks, who may target their tall receivers against West Aurora's shorter secondary, won't quit. They came from a 17-0 deficit against Neuqua Valley. "For us," Drach said, "it's going to come down to making first downs."
Next week Naperville C. at Wheaton Warrenville S. (1-1), Sept. 18; W. Aurora at Naperville N. (2-0), Sept. 18.
Marmion (1-1, 0-0) at St. Francis (2-0, 0-0)
Game time 7 p.m. today
Last year St. Francis 34, Marmion 32 (OT).
Last week Marmion 24, Mundelein 8; St. Francis 42, DeKalb 0.
Outlook Defending Class 5A champion St. Francis has outscored its first two foes 77-7, but coach Greg Purnell anticipates a real challenge. Purnell's first meeting with Marmion in 2007 was a 7-5 loss, and the last five games have been decided by 6 points or less. Marmion enters Week 3 already banged up, its top tailback Matt Pircon out with a Week 1 shoulder separation and backup Adam Andras also injuring his shoulder on a 36-yard touchdown run last week. "It's very frustrating, but it is what it is," said Cadets coach Dan Thorpe, who still has two-way guys T.J. Lally and Bobby Winkel healthy and got back defensive end Alex Strong last week. Both defensive tackle Andrew Voelsch and strong safety Mike Carbonara, who returned an interception 50 yards to score last week, paced the defense against Mundelein. St. Francis' big-play ability, like Mark Schmitt's 80-yard return of DeKalb's opening kick, concerns Thorpe. The Spartans can also come at teams in waves. Behind solid, experienced linemen John Giovenco, Ryan Spatz, Russell Kalfas, Tom Rentner, Wes Herwaldt and brothers Joe and Nick Pfeiffer, St. Francis has five backs with over 50 yards rushing already, and 31 players have been in on at least one tackle. Wing-T fullback Colin Marshall, out all last year with a knee injury, heads the cast with 115 yards rushing followed by Schmitt with 100. Marshall and Tony Vargyas, at linebacker, and defensive back Schmitt head a swarming 3-5 defense.
Aurora Christian (1-1, 0-0) at Chicago Christian (1-1, 0-0)
Game time 7:30 p.m. today
Last year Aurora Christian 42, Chicago Christian 28.
Last week Mendota 37, AC 36 (OT); CC 24, Eisenhower 7.
Outlook Aurora Christian had a game for the ages, rallying from 8 down to force overtime, then falling just short though the Eagles' cameraman had Sheldon Magee over the goal line. But it was costly - not just the 5 interceptions the Eagles threw in a first half coach Don Beebe called the worst he's seen in his six years here. (On the other hand, David Benson's 9 solo tackles, 7 assists and 3 forced fumbles were the best game by a linebacker Beebe said he's seen.) Aurora Christian lost its top running back, Donald Patterson, for at least this game with a high ankle sprain, and receiver Matt Luckman (ankle) also may not play. That means more touches for Dan Earwood and Sheldon and Johnny Magee. Archrival Chicago Christian no-huddle quarterback Jason Vander Laan tasted victory last week, but the Knights lost 20-0 to a Marengo team that edged Aurora Central 14-10. "I think that this football game is really going to determine our season," Beebe said.
Next week Aurora Christian at Wheaton Academy (2-0), Sept. 18; Chicago Christian at St. Edward (2-0), Sept. 18.
Aurora Central (0-2, 0-0) at Marian Central (1-1, 0-0)
Game time 7 p.m. today
Last year Marian Central 28, Aurora Central 14.
Last week Marengo 14, ACC 10; Cary-Grove 47, MC 0.
Outlook ACC coach Mike Curry was impressed with the improvement made from Week 1 to Week 2. The Chargers will need more improvement Week 3 against this Suburban Christian Conference Blue toughie. Headed defensively after two weeks by middle linebacker Tyler Scott with 19 tackles and lineman Robert Reier with 17, the Chargers have to step up with two-way starters John Belovich (elbow) out and Joe Bonifas (thumb) ailing. Alex Schaefer ran for 113 of his 155 yards against Marengo, so now Curry seeks more through the air after passing for 56 yards in two games. "We played much better on special teams and defense," Curry said of last week's tight loss. "Offensively we've still got a way to go."
Next week Aurora Central vs. Michigan Lutheran (2-0) at Valparaiso University, Sept. 19; Marian Central at Marmion (1-1), Sept. 18.