The Week 8 Expanded Top 20

Posted October 16, 2024 8:30 am

John Lemon

First and 10

1. Geneva (7-0)Next opponent: at St. Charles East

Comment: Wheaton North gave the Vikings quite the scare last week, but Sean Lee and Troy Velez came up with a big sack to stop a last-minute drive in a 28-24 win. Michael Rumoro scored the game-winning touchdown with four minutes to go, Georgia-bound WR Talyn Taylor had 167 yards receiving, and the Vikings can clinch no worse than a share of the DuKane title with a win Friday.

2. Naperville Central (7-0)Next opponent: at Sandburg

Comment: The Redhawks can wrap up the Southwest Valley Red outright title with a win over the Eagles in their final division game. Naperville Central enters at 3-0 in the five-team division; the Eagles are second at 2-1 with their only two losses to St. Rita and Andrew, both 5-2.

3. Cary-Grove (7-0)Next opponent: at Crystal Lake South

Comment: The Trojans’ undefeated season appeared doomed when Huntley scored with six minutes left last week to take a 43-29 lead. But Cary-Grove answered with two late touchdowns and a two-point conversion from Peyton Seaburg to Holden Boone for a wild 44-43 win.

4. Downers Grove North (6-1)Next opponent: Hinsdale South

Comment: While Cary-Grove was on the thrill of victory side of a late comeback, the Trojans experienced the agony of defeat. Lyons rallied from a 20-0 deficit to hand the Trojans a 21-20 loss. Downers also lost Minnesota-bound QB Owen Lansu to injury in the second quarter.

5. Batavia (6-1)Next opponent: Wheaton Warrenville South

Comment: Gavin Pecor had 4 tackles for a loss last week including a sack as the Bulldogs held St. Charles East to negative yardage until the fourth quarter in a 56-7 win. Now comes the Tigers looking for their fifth win, coming off a 27-14 victory over Lake Park, an impressive win over Wheaton North the week before, and a tough loss to St. Charles North in a game they led late.

6. York (6-1)Next opponent: Lyons

Comment: York’s senior class comes into this game riding high with their first win over Glenbard West. To hand 7-0 Lyons its first loss and create a three-way tie with DGN for the West Suburban Silver lead, the Dukes will need another big game from QB Bruno Massel.

7. St. Charles North (6-1)Next opponent: Lake Park

Comment: The North Stars are a week away and a win away from getting their chance to play for at least a share of the DuKane Conference title at conference-leader Geneva. The Lancers need to beat the North Stars and then Wheaton North the final two weeks to get to five wins.

8. Palatine (6-1)Next opponent: at Conant

Comment: You would be hard pressed to find a more tightly bunched conference than the MSL West. The Pirates played a big part in creating that logjam by handing Fremd its first loss last week, 28-21, a week after Fremd had handed Barrington its first loss. Now Palatine has a 1-game lead at 3-0 with two weeks to go. Kole Fager rushed for 79 yards and three touchdowns last week.

9. Fremd (6-1)Next opponent: at Schaumburg

Comment: Northwestern-bound junior QB Johnny O’Brien did all he could last week in front of 5,000 fans at the Battle of the Tracks, completing 20 of 32 passes for 321 yards. Brennan Saxe was once again his favorite target with 10 catches for 176 yards. The 5-2 Saxons have struggled against the other West leaders, losing 35-0 to Palatine and 42-6 to Barrington.

10. Barrington (6-1)Next opponent: Hoffman Estates

Comment: Senior RB Calvin Jackson is coming off a 212-yard rushing effort against Schaumburg including a 64-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. QB Nick Peipert also was sharp throwing for 238 yards as the Broncos look to build momentum heading into a monster matchup in Week 9 vs. Palatine and then a possible long playoff run.

Second and 10

11. Libertyville (7-0)Beat Zion-Benton 40-14; at Lake Forest

12. St. Francis (5-2) Beat Marian 38-27; DePaul

13. Stevenson (6-1)Beat Warren 16-7; at Zion-Benton

14. Maine South (4-3) Beat Glenbrook South 31-28; Deerfield

15. Naperville North (5-2)Beat Neuqua V. 42-0; at Homewood-F.

16. West Aurora (7-0)Beat Larkin 57-0; at East Aurora

17. WW South (4-3) Beat Lake Park 27-14; at Batavia

18. Montini (5-2)Beat St. Viator 31-14; St. Ignatius

19. Prospect (5-2)Beat Hersey 30-27; at Elk Grove

20. Warren (4-3) Lost to Stevenson 16-7; Lake Zurich

Prospect coach Dan DeBoeuf, pictured at an August practice, has the Knights at 3-0 and leading the MSL East after a key 30-27 win over Hersey last week. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com

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