Scouting St. Charles East at Carmel Catholic

St. Charles East (7-3) at Carmel Catholic (7-3)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last season: The teams did not play each other.

Outlook: It's the first meeting between the two programs, both of which won their respective conference championship in 2009. St. Charles East captured the Upstate Eight outright, while Carmel shared the East Suburban Catholic title with Joliet Catholic. ... Carmel enters the season ranked No. 8 in The Associated Press' preseason Class 7A poll. "I don't give the kids a break here. I know they're on everyone's top 25," said St. Charles East coach Mike Fields, who remembers Carmel playing hard-hitting, fundamentally sound football in 2004 and 2008 playoff appearances while he was still assisting Rob Wicinski at Geneva. Fields' high regard accorded Carmel is due in large part because it returns the team's leading rusher last season, junior Jordan Kos (151 carries, 919 yards, 10 touchdowns); its quarterback, senior Brian Serio (661 yards and 6 touchdowns passing, 352 yards); and its second-leading tackler in 2009, 6-foot-2 linebacker Luke Venegoni (35 solo, 35 assists, 2 sacks). ... St. Charles East graduated 29 seniors from last year's 7-3 team. "If we're going to play (Carmel), I guess this is a good week to play them," Fields said, "because we're teaching our kids sound defensive skills to go with our schemes." ... The Saints returnees include running back/receiver Zach Zajicek, who rushed for 681 yards and 4 touchdowns last year.