Scouting Lake County second round playoff football games
Carmel (9-1) at Antioch (10-0)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Seeds: Carmel is the No. 6 seed in the top half of the Class 5A bracket; Antioch is No. 3
Outlook: Our Lake County blue plate special of the week pits a pair of local teams that squared off in Week 1 of the 2022 season (Carmel won that meeting 23-21 in the waning seconds of the game). "Carmel is loaded with recruited talent," Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. "Their quarterback is really good and they are really sound in all phases of the game. Playoff games come down to big plays, penalties and turnovers. We need to limit their big plays, while winning the penalties and turnovers." From last week, Nick Day ran 10 times for 114 yards and 4 touchdowns, while Deven Pickett carried 4 times for 85 yards and 3 touchdowns. Jack Bucar ran twice for 68 yards and a touchdown. Day is now up to 1,189 yards on 156 carries and 27 touchdowns, while Martin Cohen has 82 carries for 1,177 yards and 22 touchdowns. Cohen has played two less games than Day this season. Speaking of Day, he broke the school's career rushing record (3,044 career rushing yards) in the opening-round playoff game last week, as well as the career touchdown record (48 career TDs). Antioch is up to a massive plus-18 turnover ratio with Ryan Swanson and Chris Cook leading a stingy defense, Glashagel noted. Carmel is ranked No. 3 in the most recent Associated Press Class 5A state poll, while Antioch, despite an unbeaten 10-0 record and 535 points scored (6 games of 50 or more points scored), is ranked No. 7 (one of only 2 teams to receive a first-place vote in the poll). Carmel has won 5 games in a row since a 37-16 loss to 7A No. 1 Chicago Mt. Carmel.
Up next: The winner gets either No. 7 Glenbard South (9-1) or No. 15 Nazareth Academy (5-5) - Naz being a rarity getting in the playoffs with a 4-5 record this season (one of 6 teams with a 4-5 mark to make it).
Lake Zurich (9-1) at Kaneland (7-3)
When: Saturday, 4 p.m.
Seeds: Lake Zurich is the No. 1 seed in the top half of the Class 6A bracket; Kaneland is the No. 9 seed
Outlook: A hefty bus ride out to Maple Park near DeKalb for Lake Zurich for this second-round matchup with Kaneland. "Kaneland is a traditional playoff qualifier and a team that knows how to win," Bears coach Ron Planz said. "They are athletic and play very well at home. There is going to be a lot of adversity for us this week with the game being far from home, in a new stadium against a new opponent. We need to make sure our guys tune out all noise and play Lake Zurich football." Lake Zurich has won the turnover battle throughout the season. The Bears sit at plus-10 with four of their own turnovers coming with subs in games that had turned into blowouts. "So, we are really at plus-14," Planz said. "The turnover margin has been big for us." Planz likes how senior offensive lineman Trevor Schuetz has played this season. "Trevor has been our utility man on the offensive line all year," he said. "He has played guard, tackle and center. He is an underrated, yet extremely important part of our team." Senior Logan Cunningham also has been a rock for the Bears. "Logan is our true ironman," Planz said. "He is a two-way starter for us on the offensive and defensive lines. He plays nearly every snap for us." Some notables from Lake Zurich's 21-7 opening-round win against Crystal Lake Central: Lucas Lappin passed for 109 yards and ran for 78 more and recorded 2 rushing touchdowns. Chris Pirrone had a rushing touchdown and provided insurance after the game was tied 7-7 at one point. Jackson Piggott had 59 receiving yards. Lake Zurich held only a 56-51 advantage in plays run and only had a 48-yard delta in total yards. Two keys: Lake Zurich's defense held Crystal Lake Central to a poverty 1-for-9 on third downs and was plus-1 in the takeaway department. On the season, Lappin has thrown for 660 yards and 3 scores and has run for 422 yards (6.49 yards per carry) and 7 touchdowns. Pirrone has a shot at a 1,000-yard season this week. He's at 908 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Piggott has caught 21 passes for 351 yards and 3 touchdowns. Lincoln Adams has 1 sack and 8 tackles for loss, while Cason Gwizdala had 4 sacks and 5 tackles for loss. Nate Snep has 2 sacks and 4 tackles for loss, while Nolan Siko has 5 interceptions. The Bears have 12 picks and 8 fumble recoveries as a team. Christopher Chang has 2 defensive touchdowns to his credit. Kaneland quarterback Troyer Carlson (6-2, 200) has completed 104 passes for 1,830 yards and 20 touchdowns. He's also run for 362 yards and 6 scores. Aric Johnson (6-1, 190) has 882 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. He's also run for 304 yards and 4 touchdowns. Running back Josh Mauthe (6-2, 200) has 957 rushing yards and 15 scores. Wide receiver Dom Deblasio has 587 yards receiving (5 touchdowns) and 300 rushing yards (7 touchdowns rushing). "Lake Zurich is a solid football program and has a very good football team this year," Kaneland coach Mike Thorgesen said. "They have a very tough defense and can run the ball very well. Our team has been successful because we are senior led, have an explosive offense and have been getting much better on the defensive side of the ball." The Knights have played four teams still alive in the playoffs and are 1-3, defeating Wauconda (a 5 seed in 6A) and losing to Morris (a 1 seed in 5A), Sycamore (a 5 seed in 5A) and downstate Washington (a 2 seed in 6A).
Up next: The winner plays either No. 5 Wauconda (8-2) or No. 4 Belvidere North (8-2) in the 6A quarterfinals.
Wauconda (8-2) at Belvidere N. (8-2)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Seeds: Wauconda is the No. 5 seed in the top half of the Class 6A bracket; Belvidere North is the No. 4 seed
Outlook: The seeds say this one could go either way. "Belvidere North is a well-coached team with experience in the playoffs," Bulldogs coach Chris Prostka said. "They like to run the football and control the clock. We need to get them out of their comfort zone and into third-and-long situations. Their defense is disciplined and does their jobs well. It will be important for us to utilize all our weapons on offense, get into rhythm and put together long drives." Cole Porten ran for 77 yards and a touchdown in last week's opening-round win, while Connor Vanselow had 76 rushing yards and a touchdown. Conlan Rath made 12 tackles on defense and had an interception, while Zac Johnson had 10 tackles. Vanselow is up to 1,050 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns. Brock Pfeiffer has 389 receiving yards and 1 interception on defense. Johnson has 75 tackles and 2 tackles for loss, while Rath has 63 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions. Caleb Apodaca is at 39 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries. Wauconda's offense, Prostka noted, has been fueled by strong line play, particularly from Ethan Lundquist, Porter Stanton and David Soroka. "All three of these offensive linemen have played a large part in the success we have had on offense this year," he said. "They have all improved tremendously throughout the season." Prostka noted Lundquist also has been a contributor for the Wauconda defense. He knocked down the Grant 2-point conversion attempt last week that would have won the game. Belvidere North, out of the NIC-10 by Rockford, has lost to league runner-up Rockford Boylan Catholic 35-34 on the road and conference champion Rockton Hononegah 34-7. Boylan is a No. 2 seed in Class 4A, while Hononegah is a No. 2 seed in the 7A playoffs.
Up next: The winner plays either No. 1 Lake Zurich (9-1) or No. 9 Kaneland (7-3) in the 6A quarterfinals.
Warren (8-2) at South Elgin (9-1)
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Seeds: Warren is the No. 10 seed in the 32-team Class 8A bracket; South Elgin is No. 7
Outlook: North Suburban Conference kingpin Warren has won 8 games in a row and will head to South Elgin to face the perennial class of the Upstate Eight. "Defensively, we will have to eliminate big plays, stop their exceptional run game and lethal play-action pass game," Warren coach Bryan McNulty said. "Offensively, we will have to sustain drives and protect the football." Donovan McNeal ran for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns last week to help lead the Blue Devils, while Aaron Stewart ran 18 times for 116 yards and 2 scores. Sophomore outside linebacker Royce Lopez had 2 sacks, as did senior defensive end Jeremiajh Hixson. Stewart, a sophomore, has run for 1,446 yards on 201 carries and has scored 15 touchdowns. McNeal, a senior, has 23 touchdowns, while senior defensive end Aidan Porreca has 10 sacks. How dominate have the Blue Devils been lately? In the last 5 games, Warren has surrendered 10 total points. In the last 8 games (all wins), Warren has given up but 41 total points. McNulty also likes the way senior offensive lineman Jaivin Young, junior quarterback Jack Wolf and junior strong safety Justice Humphereys have played. "Jaivin has really showed himself as a leader and three-year starter," the coach said. "He is playing his best football. Jack Wolf is going to be a college prospect in the offseason and Justice is playing his best football. He's also developing into an exceptional leader." South Elgin played a conference-only regular-season schedule and finished in a three-way tie with Glenbard South and Glenbard East atop the UEC. All three had 8-1 records. The Storm's only loss was a 14-13 home setback to Glenbard South. "Warren is a team that plays to their strengths well," South Elgin coach Dragan Teonic said. "They are very well-coached and disciplined. They have very good line play on both sides of the ball. Their toughness is apparent. They are similar to us in our style of play and consistency within their conference. You can tell football matters at Warren Township High School." South Elgin is led by senior wide receiver-linebacker Lucas Noworol (5-11, 185), senior running back-linebacker Ari Kravis (5-10, 200), junior wide receiver-tight end Ishmael George (6-2, 200), senior two-way linemen Tommy Roath (5-11, 285) and Joey Cronin (6-0, 240) "We have improved every game throughout the season and our young team has grown up in many ways," Teonic said. "We've found ways to successfully overcome adversity and we've hit the weight room hard."
Up next: The winner plays either No. 15 Minooka (8-2) or No. 2 Lincoln-Way East (10-0) in the 8A quarterfinals.