Scouting Leyden @ Palatine

No. 9 Leyden (7-2) at No. 8 Palatine (7-2)

When: 7 p.m. Saturday at Chic Anderson Stadium

Last week: Leyden d. Addison Trail 26-0; Palatine lost to Fremd 31-13

Playoff history: Leyden is 6-4 with a 5A state title in 1977 and is making its second trip in three years under Tom Cerasani. Palatine is 18-14 and is making its third straight trip under Tyler Donnelly and 15th overall.

Outlook: Palatine has faced 1,000-yard rushers in recent weeks in Fremd's Evan Wright, Conant's Kyle Klosowicz and Barrington's Chase Murdock. Now it's punishing Leyden senior Angel Maldonado (1,995 yards, 22 TDs). "He keeps moving, breaks a lot of tackles and has good speed," Donnelly said. "We have to wrap up - rarely do you seen one guy bringing him down." Leyden senior QB David Rose (893 yards, 6 TDs) returned to practice Tuesday after missing last week's game with a lower-body injury. "Which is great," said Cerasani, whose dad Tom coached at Palatine (1981-82). "To lose a senior captain would be horrendous at this point of the year." Adam Bielech (29 catches, 443 yards, 4 TDs) is also a threat for Palatine's defense led by freshman S Jesse Bobbit, LBs Phil Brand and Jim Smearman and DL Chad Bobbit and Tyler Jones. Leyden defensive ends Jeff Cascella and Dan Kiebler will try to harass QB Cody Bobbit (1,132 yards passing, 12 TDs; 318 rushing, 7 TDs), who leads Palatine's offense with RB Joe Pelnar (822 yards, 3 TDs) and WRs Mike Luschen (33 rec., 460 yards, 9 TDs), Dan Haze (21-359, 4 TDs) and Nick McHugh (25-202, 3 TDs). "They're really different from most teams we've faced," Cerasani said. "It comes down to who is going to stop the run and I think they know that about us."

Advancement: Leyden would be at home and Palatine would be on the road in the second round against the winner of No. 16 Oak Park (5-4) and No. 1 Maine South (9-0).