Five Week 3 games to watch
Palatine (2-0) at Maine South (1-1)
The Nos. 4 and 6 teams in the Daily Herald Top 20 square off in Park Ridge. Both these teams beat really good opponents last week — Prospect and Warren, respectively. They did it in opposite fashion, the Pirates rallying past Prospect 37-34 in OT while QB Jameson Purcell (23 of 32 passing for 256 yards and 5 total touchdowns) led the Hawks to a 42-14 rout of Warren. A week after containing Aaron Stewart, Maine South will try to do the same vs. Kole Fager.
Loyola Academy (1-0) at St. Francis (2-0)
The Ramblers come in with only a Week 1 win over Merrillville, Ind., after not being able to find an opponent last week. The 3-time defending 8A state champs will be out for revenge after St. Francis upset them 35-21 last season. The Spartans are playing well to start the year, rallying in the final minute to beat Kenwood before blowing out Mt. Zion Prep Academy from Maryland last week. It takes a lot of firepower to hang with Loyola, and QB Brock Phillip has it with Dario Milivojevic and Zach Washington.
Barrington (2-0) at Glenbrook South (2-0)
The Titans turned heads with their season-opening win over 8A runner-up York, and will be out to snap a two-game losing streak vs. Barrington. The Broncos are explosive offensively behind a powerful line and skill position players like Luke Tepas, Lamar Osterhues, Cameron Massillo and Austin Coles.
Hinsdale Central (2-0) at Downers Grove North (2-0)
Four-year starting QB Riley Contreras has Hinsdale Central off to its best start in four years with convincing wins over West Aurora and Naperville Central. Now comes quite the test in the West Suburban Silver, starting with Downers Grove North followed by Lyons, York and Glenbard West. The Trojans have won the last three meetings in this Old Oaken Bucket rivalry game that dates back to 1935. QB Owen Lansu, a Minnesota recruit, left last week’s game with an injury, and backup Kevin Jay filled in with 4 total TDs.
Geneva (1-1) at St. Charles North (2-0)
These teams shared the 2024 DuKane Conference championship with Batavia — all three at 6-1. While the Vikings graduated a large chunk of that roster, the North Stars entered this season as one of the most experienced teams around. That experience has helped them start fast including last week vs. Homewood-Flossmoor when they ran for over 300 yards. New QB Jesse Padron also has played well. Geneva will try to bounce back from a loss last week to highly regarded Oswego.