The Week 9 expanded football Top 20
First and 10
1. Maine South (7-1) Next opponent: at Deerfield
Comment: The Hawks wrapped up another Central Suburban League South title with a dominating 38-7 win over a 6-2 Glenbrook South team last week. It was just the latest one-sided victory over excellent opponents along with 42-14 over 7-1 Warren, 41-21 over 7-1 Barrington, 52-6 over Palatine and 35-7 over New Trier. The Hawks haven’t been in a single close game all season.
2. Montini (8-0) Next opponent: at St. Laurence
Comment: The Broncos will try to put the finishing touches on a 9-0 regular season and 3-0 record in the CCL/ESCC White Division. St. Laurence enters at 0-2 in the division and 5-3 overall, coming off a 48-6 loss to Brother Rice last week. Montini’s offense is in high gear, scoring 49 points last week vs. St. Ignatius following 43, 55 and 47 the previous three games.
3. Glenbard West (7-1) Next opponent: Proviso West
Comment: The Hilltoppers fell from the ranks of the unbeaten last week, losing a 21-20 heartbreaker to York to drop into a first-place tie with the Dukes at 4-1 in the West Suburban Silver. Penalties plagued the Hilltoppers in the first half, then York blocked a potential game-tying extra point late in the fourth quarter. AJ Rayford, Max Hetlet and Jamarcus Kelly had TDs for the Hilltoppers.
4. Batavia (6-2) Next opponent: at Wheaton Warrenville South
Comment: The winner of this game will share the DuKane Conference championship at 6-1 with St. Charles North if the North Stars win their game against Lake Park. Jack Brown and Tony Minnec made 8 tackles and Minnec has 4 tackles for loss as the Bulldogs held St. Charles East to 79 rushing yards in a 31-13 win last week.
5. Barrington (7-1) Next opponent: at Hoffman Estates
Comment: The Broncos clinched a share of the MSL West championship by shutting out Schaumburg 42-0 last week, and they will have the title all to themselves if they can beat 6-2 Hoffman Estates on Friday. Quarterback Luke Tepas only threw nine passes last week but he completed seven of them for 204 yards.
6. Fremd (7-1) Next opponent: Schaumburg
Comment: Quarterback Johnny O’Brien returned to Fremd’s lineup last week after missing one game. He completed a 23-13 win over rival Palatine in style, taking the Vikings on a 99-yard drive that lasted seven minutes and 30 seconds, hitting his favorite target Marquan Brewster for an 8-yard TD with 1:21 left. The win ended Fremd’s 5-game losing streak to Palatine.
7. Warren (7-1) Next opponent: Libertyville
Comment: The Blue Devils clinched a share of the North Suburban Conference championship last week by beating Lake Zurich 27-17 a week after topping Stevenson. Running back Aaron Stewart had another incredible performance, running for 306 yards on 33 carries against a stout Lake Zurich defense. Libertyville has won four straight after a 1-3 start.
8. Downers Grove North (6-2) Next opponent: Proviso East
Comment: Turnovers — six of them — in a 24-20 loss to Lyons knocked the Trojans out of what would have been a three-way tie for the West Suburban Silver lead. Despite all those mistakes the Trojans nearly overcame a 12-point fourth quarter deficit only to see Lyons score the game-winning touchdown with just 15 seconds left.
9. St. Charles North (7-1) Next opponent: at Lake Park
Comment: A 33-7 loss to Wheaton Warrenville South in Week 7 served as motivation for the North Stars last week to play more physical football. They responded with a 31-20 win over Glenbard North — a victory that gives St. Charles North a chance to win a share of the DuKane Conference title with a victory Friday at Lake Park. Lucas Tenbrock added three field goals and a 55-yard punt in last week’s win.
10. Hersey (6-2) Next opponent: at Rolling Meadows
Comment: The Huskies are coming off one of their most memorable wins, erasing a 34-12 deficit after three quarters for a stunning 38-34 victory over Prospect. QB Jake Nawrot threw for 317 yards and 3 TDs, and ran for two more scores including the game-winner with 18 seconds left. Hersey can win the MSL East outright Friday, but it won’t be easy against 6-2 Meadows who is playing for a share of the East crown.
Second and 10
11. York 6-2 Beat Glenbard West 21-20 / at Lyons
12. Carmel 6-2 Beat Loyola 42-14 / Fenwick
13. Prospect 6-2 Lost to Hersey 38-34 / Elk Grove Village
14. IC Catholic Prep 6-2 Beat St. Viator 49-9 / St. Rita
15. St. Francis 6-2 Beat DePaul Prep 35-14 / at Nazareth
16. WW South 6-2 Beat Lake Park 35-14 / Batavia
17. Lake Zurich 6-2 Lost to Warren 27-17 / at Stevenson
18. Stevenson 6-2 Beat Zion-Benton 40-21 / Lake Zurich
19. Naperville N. 5-3 Beat Lincoln-Way East 14-6 / at Naperville C.
20. Wauconda 8-0 Beat Antioch 25-20 / at Grant