Scouting Grayslake Central at Grayslake North

Grayslake Central (3-4, 3-2) at Grayslake North (4-3, 1-3)

When: 7:15 p.m., today

Last week: Grayslake Central lost to Prairie Ridge, 26-7; Grayslake North def. Mendota, 34-0.

Skinny: This game has always been important in Grayslake simply because of the participants involved. Town bragging rights are on the line. But this season, something else is on the line. Both Grayslake Central and Grayslake North are still in the hunt for a spot in the playoffs. The winner of this game will still have a chance, the loser will be out…Grayslake Central needs to win its last two games just to reach the minimum 5-win threshold that is required for playoff consideration. Then, the Rams would need enough playoff points to make the cut in their class. Central coach Nick Goshe believes that with five wins, the Rams would be in on points. They currently have 35 points, most in the Fox Valley Fox Division…Meanwhile, Grayslake North coach Steve Wood believes his team needs to win both of its remaining games to make the playoffs. Six wins would give the Knights an automatic berth, their first in school history. Five wins would put them in the playoff pool, but a low number of playoff points might keep them out. Grayslake North currently has only 26 playoff points, second fewest in the Fox Valley Fox. “This game will probably never be quite as intense as it was in the first two years because that was right after the split (of Grayslake High School) and you had kids who went to (high) school together playing against each other, Wood said. “But, there is still a lot of emotions on each side because it will always be a (cross-town) rivalry game. And this year, there's a little more spice to the game because both teams are in the playoff hunt. We're expecting a very big crowd.…Grayslake North running back Kurtis Boyd hopes to dazzle the faithful with another big rushing effort. He rolled up a school-record 205 yards against Mendota last week. The Grayslake Central defense won't be able to completely zero in on Boyd, though. Starting fullback David Collins who has been out with an injury the last two weeks, will be back this week. Ditto for starting quarterback AJ Fish, who missed the last two games with a concussion. “It'll be really good to have those guys back, Wood said. “They make us a lot faster in the backfield.…Grayslake Central will also get a boost from a player who is back from injury. Linebacker Kevin Hein returned last week after suffering a torn ACL in his knee back in June. He recorded 14 tackles against Prairie Ridge.