Scouting Week 3 in the Northwest suburbs

MID-SUBURBAN CROSSOVERS

Fremd (2-0) at Wheeling (2-0)

When 7:30 p.m. today

Last week Fremd d. Hersey 38-7; Wheeling d. Hoffman Estates 21-6

Outlook Can Wheeling avoid getting ground down by Fremd RB Evan Wright and its big line led by Christian Lombard and Brian Bobek? "Fremd just kept pounding and pounding (Hersey) and wore them out," said Wheeling coach Dave Dunbar. "It seems like that's what they want you to do. They play power football, look for cracks in the armor and try to take advantage of it." Mike Widmer had 4 tackles for losses last week and Wheeling also has an experienced offensive line led by Tim Schalz looking to give QB Tyler Brady and WB Edgar Banuelos room to maneuver against Fremd's opportunistic defense which includes two-way standouts in Lombard, Bobek, Eric Shew and James Szafranski. "When you look at Wheeling they've got a lot of track kids out there, even without their big gun (injured Weston Ross)," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci. "Their skill is good." Fremd won 37-17 last year and leads the series 24-11.

Prospect (2-0) at Conant (1-1)

When 7:30 p.m. today at Feutz Field

Last week Prospect d. Schaumburg 48-14; Conant d. Rolling Meadows 21-0

Outlook Playing keepaway with RBs Kyle Klosowicz and sophomore Cordell Clark behind OT Kenny Kalish and avoiding the 4 giveaways in last year's 28-20 loss could be Conant's best defense against the high-octane Prospect "500" offense which already has more than 1,000 total yards. "I think that's clearly the way to beat them," said Conant coach Bill Modelski. "I think last year we had a little bit of the recipe of controlling the clock and trying to keep it out of their hands. It gives you a crack at them." All of Prospect's 89 points have come in the first three quarters of its first two games behind QB Miles Osei and skill threats John Coen, Peter Bonahoom, Steve Dazzo, Joe Mack and Grant DePalma. But this could be a nice test for the Knights' defense to keep giving the offense chances to score. "(Conant's) offensive line is ridiculous, it's like an NFL line out there," said Prospect coach Brent Pearlman. "The tailback and fullback, you can tell they get their scheme and do some good things." Conant leads the series 20-18.

Rolling Meadows (1-1) at Barrington (1-1)

When 7:30 p.m. today at Barrington Community Stadium

Last week Rolling Meadows lost to Conant 21-0; Barrington d. Buffalo Grove 14-13 (ot)

Outlook The good news for Meadows is senior QB Jimmy Garoppolo (neck) is back after he couldn't get a doctor's clearance to play last week. "We've had such a great week of practice having Jimmy back," said Meadows coach Doug Millsaps. "He just makes everyone else around him so much better." Millsaps thought his defense led by front men Erick Louis-Charles, Bubba Lockett and Jordan Farnum played well but got worn down last week and they'll try to contain dangerous Barrington threats in QB Terrance Terry and RB Chase Murdock. Both teams also enter crucial stretches with Meadows facing Fremd next week and Barrington, which will be without LB Alex Jirschele (sprained MCL) getting Prospect and Fremd the next two. "I know with (Garoppolo) not playing and suffering a loss, now they feel a greater sense of urgency," said Barrington coach Joe Sanchez. "You want to get this one and it's going to be a great game." It was last year as Barrington won 20-13 to take an 8-4 series lead.

Buffalo Grove (1-1) at Palatine (2-0)

When 7:30 p.m. today at Chic Anderson Stadium

Last week BG lost to Barrington 14-13 (ot); Palatine d. Elk Grove 21-10

Outlook Palatine hopes two solid tests in its best start since 1997 continue to pay dividends behind its versatile offense led by QB Cody Bobbit, RB Joe Pelnar and deep and talented crews at receiver and upfront. "It's another huge challenge," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly. "I think any week we could definitely get beat so we have to be on our 'A' game every week and hopefully that's enough." Senior OL Adam Schroeder is available after going out in the first series last week because of injury, with Connor Gannon filling in nicely. BG nearly had enough for what would have been the biggest win for second-year coach Jim Farrell as LB Tyler Juckett had another big game and Zev Katz, Mark Zdanewicz, John Angotti and Mike Cornely slowed Barrington. "A lot of kids are rising up," Farrell said. "We had close to 20 players on defense with our rotation and ultimately it was a great team defensive effort." BG leads the series 16-15 and jumped to a big early lead last year before Palatine rallied to win 42-16.

Hoffman Estates (0-2) at Elk Grove (1-1)

When 7:30 p.m. today at Robert Haskell Stadium

Last week Hoffman lost to Wheeling 21-6; Elk Grove lost to Palatine 21-10

Outlook Elk Grove actually started to rebound in the second half last week when it outscored Palatine 10-0 behind QB Nick Meyer, RB Mike Wary and WR Matt McEnery. "It looked like two different games - and we had a good week of practice," said Elk Grove coach Brian Doll. "Now we feel like made some corrections and we feel like Wary is ready to explode." The Grens will lose WR Eddie Solorio (shoulder) for only a week or two but it's a spot where they're deep. Hoffman coach Bill Helzer hopes to get QB David Gutierrez (foot) and K-P Nico Crambes (hip) back next week but liked what he saw last week out of RB Foyin Alade and the move of junior S Dalton Garrett from LB. "We still made too many mistakes (7 penalties, 3 turnovers) and that's still not going to get it done, but I liked the progress we made," Helzer said. "We're close." Hoffman won 19-6 last year in a series Elk Grove leads 15-13.

Hersey (0-2) at Schaumburg (0-2)

When 7:30 p.m. today at Gary Scholz Stadium

Last week Hersey lost to Fremd 38-7; Schaumburg lost to Prospect 48-14

Outlook Both teams hope the early tests against state-ranked teams - Hersey against St. Viator and Fremd; Schaumburg against Maine South and Prospect - begins to pay dividends tonight. Hersey wasn't helped offensively by losing RB Chris Polinski last week and probably for a couple more games with a mono-like illness as Alex Vaile, Mat Stewart and Zach Johnson will try to get things rolling. "We'd like to run the ball a little better with our offensive line," said Hersey coach Mark Gunther, "but we've faced two pretty stiff defenses and that's going to help us down the line." Schaumburg has faced two prolific offenses and got 434 yards last week behind WR Dionte Hackler and QB Mark Iannotti but had 5 turnovers. "In Week 1, I thought our physical effort was pretty good but there were a lot of mental things we didn't do well," said Schaumburg coach Mark Stilling. "Last week I thought we were lacking in both regards." Schaumburg won a wild 30-28 game last year and Hersey leads the series 8-7.

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

St. Patrick (2-0) at St. Viator (2-0)

When 7:30 p.m. today at Forest View

Last week St. Patrick d. New Trier 6-3; St. Viator d. Dunbar 48-14

Outlook St. Patrick has continued its formula from last year of thriving in close games after beating Proviso East 22-15 in its opener. Last week the Shamrocks won it with a 19-play, 80-yard drive on their second possession of the second half. "It will definitely be a good test for us to see how good we really are," said Viator coach Chris Kirkpatrick. Especially since the Shamrocks will throw some wishbone, flex-bone and shotgun spread, two QBs in Victor Balundis and Keith Borum and a variety of RBs at Viator. "I tell people we did not have fun trying to defend that this summer," said St. Pat's coach Dan Galante. The Lions got rolling offensively last week with QB Julian Sipiora and WR Richard McLoughlin but will also face a big challenge in DL Sam Legg and a solid crew at linebacker and in the secondary. "Experience pays off and (Sipiora) is even better now as a runner and thrower," said Galante, whose team won 14-0 last year to take an 8-7 series lead.

CENTRAL SUBURBAN CROSSOVER

Waukegan (0-2) at Maine West (1-1)

When 7:30 p.m. today

Last week Waukegan lost to Antioch 41-20; Maine West d. Round Lake 35-13

Outlook Maine West had its offense clicking for the second straight week as RB Charlie Vana rushed for 130 of his 152 yards en route to a 35-0 halftime lead. DE Christian Nunez also returned a fumble for a score and LB Mike Cardamone, LB Eric Schlacks and DE Dan Savino led a solid defensive effort and the Warriors will need another one against QB Akeem Springs and dual threat David Davis in the spread offense for the Bulldogs, who lost 28-0 to Glenbrook North in their opener. "They're definitely not an 0-2 team because they've played two very good teams," said Maine West coach Chris Hare. "They have a very, very good quarterback who has a great arm and can run." Maine West hasn't played Waukegan the last two years.

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD

Downers Grove South (0-2) at Leyden (1-1)

When 7:30 p.m. today at West Campus, Northlake

Last week DG South lost to Glenbard West 27-14; Leyden lost to Proviso West 25-11

Outlook East St. Louis might be the only better 0-2 team in the state than the defending WSC Gold champion Mustangs, whose losses are to the state-ranked Hilltoppers and Bolingbrook 16-14 in the opener. Leyden moved the ball last week behind RB Angel Maldonado but wasn't able to capitalize on its chances. "When the opportunity presents itself we have to make plays and if we do that we can play with anybody," said Leyden coach Tom Cerasani. "We put it on the senior leaders - they have to come up big in big situations." Especially against Illinois-bound QB Chandler Whitmer and sophomore RB Josh Williams.

NORTHEASTERN ATHLETIC

CICS-Longwood (2-0, 2-0) at Christian Liberty (0-2, 0-2)

When 4:30 p.m. today

Last week CICS-Longwood d. North Shore Country Day 46-12; Christian Liberty lost to Hope Academy 47-0

Outlook Christian Liberty hasn't been able to ease into its first full year of varsity competition as it opened with two playoff qualifiers. Now the Chargers face another possible postseason team which beat Luther North 35-6 in its opener as Robert Goggins rushed for 200 yards and 2 TDs and had an interception return for a TD and two-way lineman Rondell Freeman (6-4, 220) had 2 sacks. Christian Liberty coach Jim Kaulkins said his young team is "constantly hitting the reset button" as it continues to strive for improvement, which he saw last week from the offensive line and freshman QB Dan Glad.