Daily Herald expanded football Top 20
First and 10
1. Hersey (8-0) Beat Rolling Meadows 48-0 / at Prospect
The game of the year in the MSL — and perhaps the entire Daily Herald coverage area — is finally here. For all the attention the Huskies offense gets, the defense hasn’t given up a point since a 49-14 win over Buffalo Grove in Week 5. Kentucky-bound quarterback Jake Nawrot still has a zero in the interception column while completing 122 of 174 passes for 1,864 yards and 27 touchdowns. Sophomore Jackson Travis is up to 798 rushing yards while averaging 9.6 yards a carry.
2. Prospect (8-0) Beat Buffalo Grove 49-14 / Hersey
The Knights got off to a rare slow start last week, falling behind Buffalo Grove 14-0 before scoring the final 49 points. Prospect took its first lead just before halftime before a 28-0 second half led by usual suspects Eastern Illinois recruit Jackson Cacini (18 of 23 passing for 238 yards) and Yale pledge Matthew Donnelly (16 carries, 156 yards). Coach Dan DeBoeuf was glad to see his team face a little adversity because there hasn’t been much in a season they have outscored foes 364-87 (similar to Hersey’s 336-63, though with one fewer game).
3. Geneva (7-1) Beat Wheaton North 42-14 / at St. Charles East
With a share of the DuKane Conference title wrapped up, the Vikings will go for the outright title Friday in St. Charles. Wheaton North has one of the better defenses in the conference, but the Falcons became the latest to have no answer to slowing the Vikings last week. It was Nelson Wendell’s turn for the big statistical night, rushing for five touchdowns.
4. Maine South (7-1) Beat Evanston 51-13 / at Glenbrook South
The Hawks are playing as well as anyone. A string of lopsided wins in Weeks 5 through 7 came against teams a combined 6-18. But last week? Maine South did it to a 5-2 Evanston team, building a 51-6 lead by halftime. The defense intercepted three passes and had a safety, Keaton Vitel returned a kickoff for a touchdown, Matt Schlenhardt and Payton Donaldson both rushed for two scores, and Jameson Purcell threw a pair of TD passes.
5. Downers Grove North (7-1) Beat Lyons 7-1 / at Proviso East
It didn’t take long for the Trojans to rebound from a Week 7 overtime loss to York. They capitalized on great field position for two early touchdowns, then turned to the defense to grind out a 17-10 win. When York knocked off Glenbard West a day later, the Trojans clinched the West Suburban Conference Silver championship.
6. IC Catholic Prep (7-1) Lost to Loyola 45-35 / Joliet Catholic
If a 7-0 start to the season didn’t do it, the Knights proved they can play with anyone last week against the No. 1 8A school, Loyola. IC led 35-21 at halftime behind quarterback Nate Lang before the Ramblers overtook them in the fourth quarter. Lang ended up with 370 passing yards. The Knights should take plenty of confidence into the 3A playoffs after one more tough test vs. Joliet Catholic, 2-0 in the CCL-White just like IC.
7. Huntley (8-0) Beat Burlington Central 32-12 / at McHenry
The Red Raiders look to put the finishing touches on about as dominating of a regular season as a team can have. Their scoring margin stands at 380-65 right now, and only Cary-Grove took them to the wire. Burlington Central was the second closest game last week, the Rockets within 14-12 in the third quarter before Huntley scored the final 18 points to win by 20. Chase Hojnacki ran for over 200 yards and 4 touchdowns.
8. Montini (6-2) Beat Marmion 49-7 / St. Francis
The Broncos catch an improving St. Francis team that’s getting healthy at the right time. St. Francis has won three straight after a 1-4 start, the latest coming against Notre Dame led by quarterback Jadon Wilson’s three touchdown passes. Montini QB Israel Abrams and the other starters rested in the second half last week after building a 42-0 halftime lead behind four more Abrams TDs.
9. Batavia (6-2) Beat St. Charles East 34-14 / Wheaton Warrenville South
After lighting up the scoreboard through the air for much of the season, Batavia piled up 231 of its 370 yards last week on the ground. Charlie Rosengren rushed for 104 yards and had both a rushing and receiving score. Luke Gardner’s 11 solo tackles and 10 solos from Gavin McKelvie led the defense. Now comes a WW South team that has won four straight and whose only losses are to Lyons and Geneva, a combined 13-3.
10. Antioch (8-0) Beat North Chicago 50-0 / Wauconda
What could have been a second matchup this week between 8-0 teams ended when Grant had other ideas, dropping Wauconda to 7-1 with a 27-25 win last week. Antioch did its part, winning 50-0 over North Chicago behind two more touchdowns from both Gavin Stone and Logan Lennon. Wauconda beat Antioch 25-20 last season.
Second and 10
11. Wheaton Warrenville South (6-2) Beat Lake Park 31-19 / at Batavia
12. Naperville North (7-1) Beat Neuqua Valley 14-7 / East St. Louis
13. York (5-3) Beat Glenbard West 25-22 / Lyons
14. Glenbard West (5-3) Lost to York 25-22 / at Proviso West
15. Wheaton North (5-3) Lost to Geneva 42-14 / Glenbard North
16. Hinsdale Central (5-3) Beat Proviso West 49-6 / at Oak Park-River Forest
17. Jacobs (7-1) Beat Dundee-Crown 27-13 / Crystal Lake South
18. Libertyville (6-2) Beat Lake Zurich 14-10 / Zion-Benton
19. Barrington (4-4) Beat Fremd 27-25 / Schaumburg
20. Fremd (5-3) Lost to Barrington 27-25 / at Palatine