Scouting Palatine at Wheeling

Palatine (1-1) at Wheeling (1-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Palatine d. Meadows 28-12; Wheeling lost to Conant 13-10

Outlook: Both teams feel like they could be coming in 2-0 as Palatine rebounded from a tough loss to Lake Forest while Wheeling outgained Conant 364-186 but couldn't hold a 10-0 lead. "Our guys played really hard and really well but we didn't punch it in when we had opportunities," said Wheelng coach Dave Dunbar. "Palatine has a lot of playmakers on defense and they fly around to the ball." Wheeling QB Tyler Brady had a school-record 27 completions for 276 yards and one area of emphasis this week for Palatine was to shore up a few things in the secondary. "We can't give up that big play and that's what happened at Lake Forest," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly. "In critical situations we can't give up the big play like that. We have to make them earn it." Palatine also established the running game last week with Jim Smearman to go with QB Cody Bobbit and the return of long snapper Vince Portera should help special teams with Egan Malley able to kick field goals and PATs and Will Stein handling kickoffs. Palatine has won four straight in a series it leads 24-14.