Scouting Vernon Hills @ Lake Zurich

Posted October 22, 2009 11:00 pm

By Joe Aguilar

Vernon Hills (7-1) at Lake Zurich (5-3)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Vernon Hills def. Grant, 17-7; Lake Zurich def. Lake Forest, 42-14.

Skinny: Lake Zurich needs to win in order to clinch a postseason berth, but the Bears will have more than enough playoff points (44 and counting) to earn an at-large spot. The point cutoff for 5-win teams has been 36 in each of the last two years. Vernon Hills, meanwhile, sewed up a playoff berth two weeks ago. The Cougars captured the outright North Suburban Prairie Division championship with its win over Grant last Friday. In that game, junior Evan Spencer carried the ball 10 times for 183 yards - both career highs - and scored both of the Cougars' touchdowns. Fullback Brian Palmer (19 carries, 117 yards) also ran the ball effectively. Wide receiver DaVaris Daniels actually started the game at quarterback and busted off a 38-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. Regular starting QB Steve Nelson eventually took snaps behind center. ... Lake Zurich junior Jacob Brinlee surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the season against Lake Forest and wound up scoring 4 touchdowns, including one on a kickoff return and another on a pass. The Bears intercepted Notre Dame-bound QB Tommy Rees five times, including twice by Zach Till. ... Vernon Hills has won six games in a row.

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