Scouting St. Charles North @ Streamwood
St. Charles North (4-1, 2-1)at Streamwood (1-4, 0-3)
Game time 12 p.m. Saturday.
Last year St. Charles North 54, Streamwood 0.
Last week St. Charles North 20, Larkin 7; Bartlett 38, Streamwood 14.
Outlool Streamwood's playoff hopes go down the drain with a North Stars win in this Upstate Eight contest. If St. Charles North's defense is as effective as it was against Larkin, it's probable Streamwood notches that fifth loss. St. Charles North effectively targeted Larkin tailback Jalen Williams. "We didn't feel that the linebackers filled the holes well against Waubonsie Valley, so that was the goal against Larkin," said North Stars coach Mark Gould. Mission accomplished. Spencer Swarts, Ben Dvorak and J.J. Weaver helped hold Williams to 53 yards on 21 carries. Streamwood's ground game is more by committee, but Gould highlighted Sabres senior Derrick King. Out of Alex Morrow and Wayne Holloway, King usually draws a crowd as he's 6-foot-2, 200, and is one of the fastest players in the UEC. But Bartlett held King to 8 yards on 6 carries last week. North's defensive goal is first to contain the ground game then swarm Streamwood's quarterback, either sophomore Dalton Lundeen or converted wideout Nick Pryor. Offensively, St. Charles North tailback Jordan Huxtable's short-lived return from an ankle injury was dealt another setback; Gould said the senior will miss the next couple games for school disciplinary reasons. That only provides more opportunity for juniors Ben Hodges and Dirk Schmitt, who pounded Larkin for a respective 100 and 28 yards; Hodges' 2- and 9-yard touchdown runs in the first half gave the North Stars all the points they'd need. Quarterback Jake Bergren continued to succeed, tucking and running for 52 yards and throwing the now-obligatory touchdown pass to Jeff Stolzenburg. That's a lot of weapons for Streamwood to handle, though naturally Gould would like less penalties, poor snaps and all little things coaches like to complain about. "Offensively," Gould said, "I think we want to show more consistency."
Next week Neuqua Valley (2-3, 2-1) at St. Charles North