Football: Scouting Lake County in the playoffs, Week 1
CLASS 8A
No. 10 York (6-3) at No. 7 Stevenson (7-2)
When: 7 p.m., today
Last week: York def. Hinsdale Central, 41-27; Stevenson def. Mundelein, 41-14.
Skinny: These two teams have something in common: both lost to Lyons this season. Stevenson dropped its season opener to Lyons, 24-19 and York lost a Week 7 game to Lyons, 29-27. “We lost a heartbreaker to Lyons on a last-second field goal,” York coach Bill Lech said. “I thought we did enough to win, we just didn’t finish. The last three weeks (of the season) were our toughest opponents (Lyons, Glenbard West, Hinsdale Central).” The Dukes lost two of those last three games. The other loss came to Glenbard West, which is undefeated and a No. 1 seed in Class 7A.
Stevenson enters on a three-game winning streak. The Patriots haven’t lost since Week 6 when Lake Forest dropped them 10-7. Ironically, Stevenson wound up sharing the North Suburban Conference Lake Division title with Lake Forest and Lake Zurich…The Patriots finished with Wauconda and Mundelein, teams that combined for 2 wins. But Stevenson barely escaped Wauconda, 13-12.
“That game was a good wake-up call for our program,” Stevenson coach Bill McNamara said of the narrow win over 2-7 Wauconda. “Now, we are getting healthier, hungrier and better as we prepare for Round 1.”…The Patriots are preparing for a York team that runs a spread offense and averages 35.2 points per game. “It seems to me that almost everybody has gone to the spread offense,” McNamara said. “Only a couple teams we played were not. Spread teams try to create matchups to their advantage. We will need to have sound defensive schemes.”…Quarterback Joe Lucca runs the York offense and connects often with wide receivers David Byerley and Jordan Preuss.
Ken Boesenberg is York’s top running back. “When Joe Lucca is on, he can be very good and our offensive line does a good job,” Lech said…The York offensive line will take on a Stevenson defensive line that McNamara calls the heart-and-soul of his team. “We have great athletes there,” McNamara said. “Our defense has size and quickness and can cause problems for an offensive line.”…Offensively, the Patriots have displayed good balance throughout the season with the running of Kevin Foley and the passing of quarterback Matt Micucci, whose favorite targets are Anthony Bozin and Matt Morrissey.
— Patricia Babcock McGraw
CLASS 7A
No. 9 Geneva (7-2) at No. 8 Lake Zurich (7-2)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Geneva def. Larkin, 50-6; Lake Zurich def. Zion-Benton, 41-3.
Skinny: What’s going to give? Geneva’s offense is averaging nearly 40 points per game, 37.9 to be exact. And Lake Zurich’s defense is one of the stingiest in the state, allowing just 8.1 points per game. “We feel that we are playing solid defense, as an entire unit,” Lake Zurich coach Bryan Stortz said. “Everyone is stepping up in their role and making solid contributions.”…The Bears will be focused on Geneva running backs Parker Woodworth and Bobby Hess, not to mention quarterback Matt Williams, who has had a solid season. The Vikings play a Pro-I power running game with a solid play-action passing game.
“We have experience and can pass and run equally,” Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. “(But) we have been inconsistent.”…After a Week 7 loss to Stevenson, Lake Zurich defeated Lake Forest and Zion-Benton to earn a share of the North Suburban Conference Lake Division championship. The Bears are tri-champs with Stevenson and Lake Forest. “We ended the season playing good football and are growing closer as a team,” Stortz said…Offensively, the Bears want to establish their potent running game that features Mike Shield and quarterback Zach Till.
“Zach has consistently made plays for us in the running and passing game,” Stortz said. “And Mike has run very hard and blocked well.”…Wicinski is concerned about Lake Zurich’s speed while Stortz will be focused on Geneva’s special teams. “They are extremely good in their special teams and we need to play well in that phase of the game,” Stortz said. “They do a lot of different things that you must prepare for and be able to counter.”
— Patricia Babcock McGraw
No. 15 Libertyville (5-4) at No. 2 Rockford Boylan (9-0)
When: 1 p.m., Saturday
Last week: Libertyville lost to Lake Forest, 25-9; Rockford Boylan def. Rockford Auburn, 56-0.
Skinny: Libertyville is back in the playoffs for the first time in three years and is ready to make up for its time away. “We are excited to be back in the postseason,” Libertyville coach Randy Kuceyeski said. “The kids are excited to show people what we are capable of doing when we play well. We are not going out there (to Rockford) just to make a good showing, we are going there to win the game.”…The Wildcats will have their hands full with a Boylan team that is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the Northern Illinois (NIC-10) Conference in points scored (45.3 ppg) and points allowed (6.6 ppg).
The Titans are winning games by an average of 38.7 points per game and pitched 4 shutouts during the regular season. “They are 9-0 for a reason,” Kuceyeski said. “They have a solid defense and some good athletes at the skill positions on offense. They run the spread offense and will try to get their skill people in open space to take advantage of their speed.”…Boylan’s offensive line features five new starters this season but has paved the way for all kinds of yardage for quarterback Lamont Toney, tailback Tyreis Thomas and receivers Jaxson Meister, DeMarcus Vines, Marquez Beeks and Adonis Brown.
“Those guys have been playmakers for us all year,” Boylan coach Dan Appino said. “Our skill players can score at any time.”…Rockford Boylan also features a dangerous kicker in Sean Slattery…For Libertyville, quarterback Jack Deichl and running back Connor Simpson lead the way. Simpson scored Libertyville’s only touchdown last week against Lake Forest. “(Deichl) is the key to (Libertyville’s) zone read offense, bootlegs and passing game,” Appino said. “He’s big and smart.”
— Patricia Babcock McGraw
No. 11 Carmel (6-3) at No. 6 Addison Trail (8-1)
When: 7 p.m., today
Last week: Carmel def. Benet, 42-7; Addison Trail def. Downers Grove South, 20-14.
Skinny: Carmel can light up a scoreboard, and Addison Trail can cut its power. The Corsairs are one of the most prolific offenses in Lake County, averaging 40 points per game. But the Addison Trail defense is one tough nut to crack. The Blazers are allowing just 5.3 points per game and have recorded 4 shutouts. “Their success really starts with their defense,” Carmel coach Andy Bitto said. “They play very fast and tackle very well.” Addison Trail won the West Suburban Gold Conference and dropped its only game to undefeated Glenbard West, which is a No. 1 seed in Class 7A.
“Winning the conference championship was a great accomplishment and I believe we’re heading in the right direction,” Addison Trail coach Paul Parpet said. “What makes us tough is our defense. We’ve been preaching for the last couple weeks that our offense has to win games for us so our defense can win the championship.”…The Blazers feature a balanced offensive attack led by quarterback Trevor Bermingham, wingbacks Anthony Catanese and Vince Beltrano and running back Anthony Messina. “We need to improve our pass defense, stop the run and get turnovers,” Bitto said of his defense…Offensively, the Corsairs like to run, run, run out of the option.
Fullback Jordan Kos is closing in on Carmel’s all-time rushing record of more than 3,500 yards. Kos, running back Michael Panico and quarterback Brian Brennan all have more have more than 1,000 all-purpose yards. “We really haven’t faced a true option team this year,” Parpet said. “We will have to be very disciplined and not give up the big play. We’re also going to have to score early and often to take Carmel out of what they are comfortable with. We want to allow our defense to do what they do.”
— Patricia Babcock McGraw
CLASS 6A
No. 13 Grant (6-3) at No. 4 Antioch (8-1)
When: 7 p.m., today
Last week: Grant lost to Warren, 34-33; Antioch def. North Chicago, 52-32.
Skinny: This might be the most intriguing playoff matchup in the area. Grant and Antioch are longtime rivals, which dials up the intensity level a few more notches than a normal playoff game. But better yet, they are sharing a slice of the North Suburban Prairie Division championship because just two weeks ago Grant handed Antioch its only loss of the season. “This is always a tough game when we play each other,” Antioch coach Brian Glashagel said. “We know each other well. They play as physical as us, and like us…they run the ball, play tough defense and sound special teams.”…Grant’s running game might not be as potent as usual if fullback Kyle Whitman can’t play. He suffered a concussion in last week’s loss to Warren and has had a tough week of rehab.
“As of today, he will not play,” said Grant coach Kurt Rous, whose option offense, which averages a Prairie Division-leading 33.3 points per game, will still rely heavily on quarterback Alex Villa and running back Jonathon Wells…The loss to Warren caused some other concerns for the Bulldogs. “Our defense was playing well the previous four games and did not play very well against Warren,” Rous said. “In the four prior wins, it was a total team effort on defense, with each position player doing his job.”…The Bulldogs will have their hands full with one of the most prolific runners in the area in Antioch fullback Danny Arden. He’s rolled up 1,421 and 15 touchdowns on 217 carries. Standout offensive lineman Lee Shannon has been lost for the season with a knee injury, but Arden still has veteran linemen Jon Buxton and Austin Vogel to run behind.
“The biggest keys for us will be to keep our offense on the field and theirs on the sideline,” Rous said. “We need to minimize mistakes and turnovers on offense. Defensively, we need to play assignment football, take advantage of their mistakes and try to force turnovers.”…In the last game between these two teams, Antioch had 5 turnovers. “The turnover battle is key,” Glashagel said. “Whichever team (forces) the most will win.”
— Patricia Babcock McGraw
No. 12 Rolling Meadows (6-3) at No. 5 Lakes (7-2)
When: 7 p.m., today
Last week: Rolling Meadows def. Hersey, 13-0; Lakes def. Round Lake, 55-6.
Skinny: After being defeated convincingly at home by archrival Antioch in Week 6, Lakes was at a crossroads. “We won three straight games after that, which I think says a lot about our team,” Lakes coach Luke Mertens said. “After losing the way we did to Antioch, the season could have gone in the opposite direction.”…The Eagles have gone in the right direction because they have been winning the time of possession battle and are playing good team defense. The defense has been a pleasant surprise for the Eagles, who start eight underclassmen.
“Despite (being young), our defense has been the backbone of our team this year,” said Mertens, pointing out the consistent play of linebackers Alan Gomez and Brandon Brumm as well as lineman AJ Goggin. “They have kept us in numerous games.”…So has the Eagles’ rushing attack, which features junior Direll Clark…Meanwhile, Rolling Meadows is a high-octane, no-huddle shotgun spread team that can light up the scoreboard. The Mustangs are averaging 29.6 points per game, tops in the Mid-Suburban League East. Junior quarterback Jack Milas loves to throw the ball to three-year starter Artie Checchin, a 6-foot-2 receiver who is so dangerous that he usually gets double-teamed each game.
Checchin has caught 56 passes for 784 yards and 11 touchdowns…Rolling Meadows can keep defenses slightly honest with the solid running of Garrett Peterson. “(Milas) has an outstanding arm and moxy in the pocket,” Mertens said. “He understands his reads and takes what the defense gives him. (Peterson) is lightning fast and a tough runner. They have many playmakers who can create mismatches.”
— Patricia Babcock McGraw
CLASS 5A
No. 10 Grayslake Central (7-2) at No. 7 Tinley Park (7-2)
When: 5 p.m., Saturday
Last week: Grayslake Central lost to Crystal Lake South, 32-14; Tinley Park def. Bremen, 34-29.
Skinny: With very little playoff tradition to speak of, Grayslake Central is trying to savor every moment of its second straight berth. “Many programs are sitting at home right now so being a part of the IHSA playoff system is exciting and something we do not take for granted,” Grayslake Central coach Nick Goshe said.
“We are excited but also realize we have a job to do. We represent our families, our school and our community. There is a lot of pride at stake.”…The Rams lost two of their last three games (Woodstock North and Crystal Lake South) and are looking to get back on track but will have to do so against a style of offense that is unfamiliar with. Tinley Park plays a spread option that is averaging 37.4 points per game, second-most in the South Suburban Blue Conference. “This is the first time our kids will go against a style such as this,” Goshe said. “But we take the time to cover just about everything and due to that, our kids are well-prepared and we are not surprised by much.”…Tinley Park won’t be surprised when Grayslake Central running back Joey Valdivia gets the ball. He’s been the focal point of the Rams’ offense all season and is setting all kinds of season and career rushing records.
“He’s having a great season,” Goshe said of Valdivia. “He put the work in and his efforts are paying dividends.”…Valdivia has more than 3,000 career yards and is averaging more than 12 yards a carry. Valdivia could have a field day against a Tinley Park defense that hasn’t exactly been in lockdown mode this season. The Titans are allowing 29.8 points per game, second-most in their conference.
— Patricia Babcock McGraw