Week 2 playoffs, Fox Valley: Champions gather at Huntley

CLASS 8A

No. 15 Oswego (8-2) at No. 2 Huntley (10-0)

Game time: 2 p.m. Saturday.

Last week: Oswego 28, Belleville East 20; Huntley 49, Minooka 7.

Outlook: It's a clash of league champions as Southwest Prairie Conference champion Oswego visits Huntley, which won the Valley Division of the Fox Valley Conference. The Panthers lost to Batavia in Week 1 (36-28) and Plainfield North in Week 8 (37-25). These teams played a common opponent with similar results. Oswego defeated Minooka 42-7 in Week 4; Huntley defeated Minooka 49-7 last Saturday. The Oswego offense is led by quarterback Steven Frank (6-foot-5, 225 pounds), who remains one of the state's top uncommitted seniors despite offers from Illinois and Boston College, among others. Frank has completed 111 of 217 attempts (51.2 percent) for 1,277 yards and 18 touchdowns with 8 interceptions. The mobile quarterback has also rushed 119 times for 561 yards and 12 scores. He is flanked by a pair of talented ball carriers: seniors Erik Vargas (169 carries, 798 yards, 5 TD) and Chad Marsh (77 carries, 441 yards, 5 TD). Frank's favorite receiver is 6-foot-7, 200-pound senior Brice Robinson (31 rec., 438 yards, 5 TD). "They have a great quarterback. He looks like (Tom) Brady or (Peyton) Manning back there," Huntley coach John Hart said. "He'll throw it better than anybody you'll see, much like the Jacobs kid (Chris Katrenick) but a year older. Then they've got a bunch of basketball players catching balls, so it's going to be a huge challenge. They're big. They're big and tall and they all look the same. They all look like they could be power forwards." Huntley's defense counters with linebackers Daniel Dennis (46 solo tackles, 31 assists, 8 TFL) and Tim McCloyn (54 solo, 18 assists, 12 TFL). McCloyn, senior lineman Tyler Larson and junior lineman Caleb Jones lead the Red Raiders with 5 sacks apiece. Huntley's offense is directed by senior quarterback Anthony Binetti (118 of 198, 1,962 yards, 20 TD, 16 ints.). He is supported by senior running back Casey Haayer (179 caries, 933 yards, 13 TD) and explosive sophomore Eric Mooney. Mooney has rushed for 847 yards and 16 touchdowns and caught 26 passes for 597 yards and 3 scores. Marsh, a two-way standout at outside linebacker, leads the Oswego defense with 33 solo tackles and 38 assists, 5 tackles for loss and a sack.

Advancement: The winner advances to a Class 8A quarterfinal game against the winner between No. 7 Barrington (9-1) and No. 23 Marist (6-4).

CLASS 7A

No. 12 Benet Academy (8-2) at No. 5 Cary-Grove (9-1)

Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday.

Last week: Benet Academy 21, St. Charles North 14; Cary-Grove 48, Belleville West 7

Outlook: Cary-Grove has advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the 12th straight season. The Trojans seek their ninth quarterfinal berth in 12 years against Benet Academy, which makes a second-round appearance for the first time since the Redwings advanced to the Class 7A semifinals in 2012. The Trojans didn't miss a beat last week with backup Bobby Collins (6-0, 160) filling in for starting quarterback J.P. Sullivan, who will likely miss this game as well. Collins, a junior, completed all 3 of his passes last week for 139 yards, highlighted by touchdown throws of 78 yards to Jimmy Freskos and 55 yards to Kevin Hughes. Meanwhile, the triple-option running game chewed up 428 yards. The Trojans are led by junior fullback Tyler Pennington, a three-year starter. Cary-Grove's all-time rushing leader has carried 213 times for 1,105 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Trojans like to stretch the perimeter with pitches to speedy junior Ryan Magel, who gains 10.7 yards a pop. Magel has scored 6 rushing touchdowns, 3 receiving. Cary-Grove's only blemish is a Week 5 loss to Fox Valley (Valley) champion Huntley, the No. 2 seed in Class 8A. Benet dropped a 29-14 decision to Notre Dame in Week 3 and was shut out in Week 5 by defending Class 6A champion Nazareth. The Redwings' signature win was a 24-21 victory against then-unbeaten Joliet Catholic in Week 7. "They did something to Joliet Catholic that no other team this year has been able to do," Cary-Grove coach Brad Seaburg said. "When you watch Joliet Catholic on film, they are about as big and physical a team as you're going to find and Benet was able to handle that. To negate the size and strength advantage they have over us, we really have to rely on our speed on both sides of the ball. We'll have to rely not only on our top-end speed on the perimeter but our ability to play faster, think faster and react faster because of our preparation and ability to get to the ball." Benet quarterback Brad Sznajder has completed 151 of 53 attempts for 1,815 yards and 15 touchdowns against 9 interceptions.

Advancement: The winner advances to a Class 8A quarterfinal game against the winner between No. 4 Batavia (9-1) and No. 20 Simeon (8-2).

CLASS 6ANo. 6 Grayslake North Knights (7-3) at No. 3 Riverside-Brookfield Bulldogs (9-1) When: 1 p.m., Saturday

Last week: Grayslake North def. Hubbard, 47-8; Riverside-Brookfield def. St. Ignatius College Prep, 28-13.

Playoff history: Grayslake North is making its fourth straight playoff appearance and the fourth playoff appearance in the 11-year history of the school. Last year, Grayslake North lost in the first round to Wheaton St. Francis, 26-24. Before last week's win over Hubbard, the Knights had never won a playoff game … Riverside-Brookfield is making its second straight playoff appearance. Last year, the Bulldogs lost in the first round to Glenbard South, 31-7.

Skinny: It was an historic occasion last week at Grayslake North. The Knights won the first playoff game in the 11-year history of the school. Now, they're trying not to become a one-hit wonder. Grayslake North's Dami Oladunmoye had a banner day against Hubbard. He rushed for a personal-best 5 touchdowns and 192 yards on 24 carries…Riverside-Brookfield quarterback Ryan Swift is a threat to run or pass. In the Bulldogs' regular season finale two weeks ago against Glenbard South, he rolled up 5 touchdowns, 4 on the ground. Riverside-Brookfield's only loss of the season came to IC Catholic of Elmhurst, 15-7 in Week 6.

Up next: Winner advances to the quarterfinals and will face the winner of No. 7 Lake Forest (7-3) at No. 2 Prairie Ridge (9-1)