Daily Herald expanded football Top 20

1. Downers Grove North (4-0) Beat Glenbard West 24-14 / Proviso West

The Trojans dug out of a 14-3 hole against the Hilltoppers last week to claim a crucial win in the West Suburban Silver race. Kevin Jay came off the bench to throw a touchdown pass before halftime to bring Downers Grove North within 14-10, then threw the go-ahead TD strike to Grant Georgas in the third quarter.

2. Hersey (4-0) Beat Barrington 38-7 / Buffalo Grove

Fresh off its first win over Barrington since 1994 and ending a 15-game losing streak to the Broncos, Hersey opens MSL East play. Buffalo Grove is off to a good start at 3-1 but will have its hands full trying to slow QB Jake Nawrot, who is completing 68% of his passes with 14 touchdowns and no interceptions. Sophomore Jackson Travis has rushed for 493 yards and seven touchdowns.

3. Prospect (4-0) Beat Fremd 35-21 / at Elk Grove

The Knights turned heads with their win over Fremd last week. The usual suspects led the way, Yale-bound running back Matthew Donnelly rushing for 140 yards and Eastern Illinois recruit Jackson Cacini sealing the game with a TD pass to Matthew Collins. Safety Caden Moran sparked the defense with three interceptions.

4. Montini (3-1) Beat Nazareth 47-42 / Carmel

Last year against Carmel, Israel Abrams and the Broncos pulled out a wild 55-54 victory, the kind of once-in-a-lifetime game he can relive at future class reunions. Except that Abrams and company are making these thrillers look routine, rallying from 15 down in the fourth quarter last week at Nazareth behind Abrams’ seven total touchdowns.

5. Batavia (3-1) Beat Lake Park 55-7 / St. Charles North

Wyoming recruit Michael Vander Luitgaren is on fire, following up his six total touchdowns in Week 3 by completing 21 of 26 passes for 324 yards and six passing touchdowns against Lake Park. Brennon Zeng caught four of those touchdowns, bringing his total to seven. The North Stars enter on a rare two-game losing streak.

6. Geneva (3-1) Beat Wheaton Warrenville South 28-26 / at Lake Park

The Vikings will do their best to focus on Lake Park and not look ahead to Week 6 and their trip to rival Batavia. Last week Geneva was in complete control up 28-7 before allowing two onside kicks in the final three minutes. It took Gavin Dworak intercepting a two-point conversion to avoid overtime.

7. Maine South (3-1) Beat New Trier 35-28 / at Deerfield

The Hawks have righted the ship since losing to Batavia in their opener, including last week’s impressive win over previously unbeaten New Trier. Indiana-bound quarterback Jameson Purcell threw for two touchdowns and 209 yards while adding 85 more yards rushing and another score.

8. Fremd (3-1) Lost to Prospect 35-21 / at Schaumburg

The Vikings look to get back on track after a pair of red zone interceptions helped seal their fate in their first loss of the season. Senior WR Carter MacDonald has 19 catches for 423 yards and three touchdowns. Schaumburg snapped a three-game losing streak by beating Wheeling 30-7 last week.

9. IC Catholic Prep (4-0) Beat DePaul College Prep 33-7 / Leo

The Knights continued to dominate last week, outgaining DePaul Prep 260 yards to 24 in the first half. Their offense has been quite versatile. Senior quarterback Nate Lang has completed 71% of his passes for 931 yards, plenty going to junior Grant Bowen (414 yards, five TDs), while sophomore Jakobe Baldwin has rushed for 547 yards and seven touchdowns.

10. Wheaton North (4-0) Beat St. Charles North 34-17 / St. Charles East

After a 3-6 season a year ago, the Falcons have already surpassed that victory total. St. Charles East can say the same thing, 3-1 now after going 1-8 last year. Which team will continue their surprising start? Mac Murray ran for 130 yards last week for Wheaton North, and Adam Schilling caught a pair of touchdown passes.

11. York (3-1) Beat Leyden 55-0 / at Oak Park-River Forest

12. Glenbard West (2-2) Lost to Downers Grove North 24-14 / at Lyons

13. Antioch (4-0) Beat Grayslake Central 76-21 / at Round Lake

14. Jacobs (4-0) Beat Burlington Central 31-27 / McHenry

15. Huntley (4-0) Beat Crystal Lake South 56-6 / at Cary-Grove

16. Wheaton Warrenville South (2-2) Lost to Geneva 28-26 / at Glenbard North

17. Carmel Catholic (2-2) Lost to Providence 31-7 / at Montini

18. Conant (4-0) Beat Buffalo Grove 37-22 / Palatine

19. Naperville North (3-1) Beat Naperville Central 21-7 / at Metea Valley

20. Cary-Grove (3-1) Beat McHenry 57-13 / Huntley