The Week 9 Expanded Top 20

Posted October 23, 2024 10:49 am

John Lemon

First and 10

1. Geneva (8-0)Next opponent: St. Charles North

Comment: What a season it’s been for Boone Thorgesen’s Vikings. Snapping a 13-year losing streak to Batavia has highlighted it so far, but Geneva can add an outright DuKane Conference title and undefeated regular season with a win here Friday. It won’t be easy. The North Stars are the only team to beat Palatine this year, and they are playing for their own share of the DuKane crown.

2. Naperville Central (8-0)Next opponent: at Lincoln-Way East

Comment: What better way to tune up for the 8A playoffs than playing the Griffins, who have reached the state championship game the past two years, sit at 8-0 this season, and their closest game is a 49-22 win over Maine South in Week 1. In the first year for the Southwest Valley, the Redhawks won the Red Division at 4-0; the Griffins won the Blue at 4-0.

3. Cary-Grove (8-0)Next opponent: Dundee-Crown

Comment: The defending Class 6A state champion Trojans will wrap up a 9-0 regular season with a win over the 2-6 Chargers. Sophomore Landon Moore picked off two passes in last week’s win over Crystal Lake South; QB Peyton Seaburg rushed for 148 yards and 3 TDs while throwing for a fourth.

4. Downers Grove North (7-1)Next opponent: at Hinsdale Central

Comment: The Trojans bounced back from a 21-20 loss to Lyons in Week 7 in a big way with a 41-7 win over Hinsdale South. Now comes the other Hinsdale, the Red Devils, who are a dangerous 4-4 team with losses to 8-0 Naperville Central, 8-0 Lyons and 6-2 York.

5. Batavia (7-1)Next opponent: at Glenbard North

Comment: The Bulldogs looked good on both sides of the ball in a 35-13 win over WW South last week. Nate Whitwell rushed for 4 TDs and 176 yards while Zay Brown had 96 yards receiving and a touchdown. Defensively, Josh Kahley and Chase Osborne combined for 18 tackles.

6. St. Charles North (7-1)Next opponent: at Geneva

Comment: The North Stars enter Week 9 with a shot at the DuKane Conference title needing a win over undefeated Geneva. They lost this matchup 20-10 a year ago. They return QB Ethan Plumb, a four-year starter having an excellent season and poised for quite a battle against Geneva’s own standout quarterback, Anthony Chahino.

7. Palatine (7-1)Next opponent: Barrington

Comment: The Pirates have steadily improved throughout the year after a 28-27 last-second loss to St. Charles North in Week 1. Their Week 2 win over Prospect has aged well as the Knights lead the MSL East. Even with a loss Friday Palatine will share the MSL West crown, but these Pirates are greedy and want that conference championship for themselves.

8. Fremd (7-1)Next opponent: Conant

Comment: The Vikings need help from Barrington if they want a share of the MSL West title. Fremd shook off a sluggish start to beat Schaumburg 48-6 last week, allowing only 108 yards. Johnny O’Brien completed 17 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

9. Barrington (7-1)Next opponent: Palatine

Comment: What a way to end another season of high level of play in the MSL West. Barrington RB Calvin Jackson rushed for 136 yards and 4 TDs in last week’s 42-13 win over Hoffman Estates, giving the 3-1 Broncos a chance to tie for the MSL West crown by beating 4-0 Palatine Friday.

10. St. Francis (6-2)Next opponent: Nazareth

Comment: A 41-38 overtime win over a 6-1 DePaul team last week was the latest in a Spartans season that has been filled with thrillers. Some of those, like a win over Loyola, have gone their way, and some have not. They get one more excellent test for the postseason this week against Tim Racki’s Roadrunners, who are 7-1 with their only loss to Mt. Carmel.

Second and 10

11. York (6-2) Lost to Lyons 24-7; at Proviso West

12. Libertyville (7-1)Lost to Lake Forest 42-35; Warren

13. Stevenson (7-1)Beat Zion-Benton 44-21; at Lake Zurich

14. Maine South (5-3) Beat Deerfield 38-14; at Evanston

15. Naperville North (6-2)Beat Homewood-F. 63-62 (2 OTs); Sandburg

16. West Aurora (8-0)Beat East Aurora 47-6; Streamwood

17. Montini (6-2)Beat St. Ignatius 28-7; St. Laurence

18. Prospect (6-2)Beat Elk Grove 56-12; Buffalo Grove

19. Warren (5-3) Beat Lake Zurich 10-3 (OT); at Libertyville

20. Hersey (5-3)Beat Rolling Meadows 49-7; at Wheeling

Like Palatine, Geneva, with Bennett Konkey pictured above returning a kick, is going for an undefeated season in its conference Friday. And like Palatine, the Vikings face quite a test in 7-1 St. Charles North. Sandy Bressner/Shaw Local News Network

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