Scouting: St. Charles East @ East Aurora

Posted September 24, 2009 11:00 pm

St. Charles East (2-2, 2-0) at East Aurora (0-4, 0-2)

Game time 730 p.m. today

Last year Did not play.

Last week St. Charles East 21, South Elgin 14; Elgin 20, East Aurora 19.

Outlook It was a big Upstate Eight win for the Saints last week over previously unbeaten South Elgin. It ties St. Charles East atop the UEC along with Waubonsie Valley and Lake Park. Next week is another biggie against Waubonsie. So, the main thing this week for the Saints is not to look past East Aurora. Despite allowing the most points (171) among Upstate Eight teams, coach Bill Bryant's Tomcats are not toothless. Quarterback Bryan Robinson scored all three of his team's touchdowns and with 252 left was a 2-point conversion away from East Aurora's first win since Week 6 of 2008. Robinson ran for 164 yards on 24 carries, while teammate Tinard Thompson punished Elgin with 98 yards on the ground. But on the ground is where the Saints will win or lose games, and their effort last week puts them in good stead for this one. Even without tailback Cory Campbell (shoulder) and offensive guard and team leader Rafael Flores (knee), and the subsequent injury to another back, Matt Payne (high ankle), the Saints pounded South Elgin for 257 yards rushing, including 103 from quarterback/fullback/linebacker Nolan Possley and a startling 156 from third-string tailback Zach Zajicek. "In the second half we decided to put the ballgame into our offensive linemen's hands," Saints coach Mike Fields said of a group that included tight end Jess Striedl, who caught a 19-yard Charlie Fisher touchdown pass to open the scoring against South Elgin. Big Mark Lindholm, Eric Olstad and the boys will have another week to get better paving the way for Saints ball carriers. Defensively against South Elgin, cornerback Tyler Nutting intercepted his third pass of the season - and also caught 5 passes for 61 yards at wideout - and Spencer Motley intercepted his first. This week, though, they'll probably cheat more toward run support behind middle linebacker Phil Bucaro as the 4-3 unit tracks down East Aurora's Robinson. "As he goes, their offense goes," Fields said. "That's our main objective this week."

Next week St. Charles East at Waubonsie Valley (3-1, 2-0)

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