Week 8, Fox Valley: Jacobs, Crystal Lake South eye playoff positions
Crystal Lake South (5-2, 2-1) at Jacobs (5-2, 1-2)
Fox Valley (Valley)
Game time: 7:15 p.m. Friday
Last week: Huntley 36, Crystal Lake South 13; Cary-Grove 51, Jacobs 20
Last year: Crystal Lake South 24, Jacobs 14
Outlook: The winner is guaranteed a playoff berth. The Golden Eagles return to the nest for a true homecoming after 4 straight road games. Jacobs hasn't played at home in Algonquin since beating Rock Island 28-18 on Sept. 11. They aim to bounce back from a thrashing at Cary-Grove by repaying the Gators, who won last year's meeting. "These guys put us out (of the playoffs) last year," said Jacobs coach Bill Mitz, whose team last season lost to CL South in Week 8, finished 5-4 and missed the playoffs on points. "At 5-2 you control your own destiny. It's our homecoming and the kids are fired up to play." The Gators may take the field without senior RB/DB Corey Sheehan, who left the Huntley game after aggravating a previous ankle sprain. Nevertheless, both coaches said this week they'd like to reestablish their respective running games after less-than-effective performances. Jacobs does so with the help of junior guard Kyle Vega (6-foot-1, 265 pounds), who returns after leaving the Huntley game two weeks ago with an injury. The Gators can't afford to be held to 58 yards rushing as was the case last week at Huntley. "We like to establish the run but Huntley took that away from us," CL South coach Chuck Ahsmann said. "When we can run the ball our offense is balanced. When we're forced to be one-dimensional, we're a lot easier to stop."
Next week: Crystal Lake South at Cary-Grove (6-1); McHenry (1-6) at Jacobs.
Crystal Lake Central (3-4, 2-2) at Hampshire (4-3, 2-2)Game time: 7:15 p.m. Friday
The quick hit: CL Central has scored 7 total points in consecutive losses to Grayslake North and Champaign Centennial. Because the Whip-Purs have played two winless teams (Burlington Central and Grayslake Central) and 1-win Urbana they won't make the playoffs on points with 5 wins. They must beat CL Central and Woodstock (2-5) next week to qualify.
Cary-Grove (6-1, 2-1) at Dundee-Crown (2-5, 1-2)Game time: 7:15 p.m. Friday
The quick hit: Each of these teams received a forfeit win from McHenry over the last two weeks due to the District 156 strike. D-C hasn't won a game on the field since a 36-13 win over Elgin in the season opener. Cary-Grove hung 51 points on Jacobs last weekend after its two-week layoff.
Huntley (7-0, 3-0) at McHenry (1-6, 0-3)Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday
The quick hit: McHenry is back in action with the resolution of the District 156 strike. The Warriors haven't played since dropping a 24-21 decision at Crystal Lake South on Sept. 25. Their rescheduled homecoming game opponent? League-leading Huntley, which has outscored seven victims 267-106.
Grayslake Central (0-7, 0-4) at Grayslake North (4-3, 3-1)When: 7:15 p.m., today
Last week: Grayslake Central lost to Woodstock North, 35-14; Grayslake North def. Woodstock, 35-414.
Skinny: This crosstown rivalry game always draws excitement but with Grayslake Central being winless, perhaps that excitement will be a bit tempered this year. The Rams are scoring only 10.7 points per game while allowing 43.4 points per game, most in the Fox Valley Fox. Mikey Andrews was Grayslake Central's best offensive weapon last week. He rushed for 108 yards on 17 carries…Grayslake North sits in second place in the Fox Valley Fox, behind Prairie Ridge. The Knights have won two straight games after losing three in a row. Last week, Grayslake North dominated on the ground with Jake Wright rolling up 196 yards on 9 carries and Dami Oladunmoye adding 119 yards on 19 carries. Both Wright and Oladunmoye scored 2 touchdowns apiece.