Class 3A quarterfinal: Scouting Wilmington at IC Catholic Prep
Class 3A
No. 8 Wilmington (10-1) at No. 5 IC Catholic Prep (10-1)
Game time: 5 p.m. Saturday at Plunkett Park in Elmhurst.
Last week: Wilmington 37, No. 1 Farmington 12; IC Catholic 29, No. 4 Peotone 16.
Outlook: A redux of the 2016 quarterfinal in which ICCP beat Wilmington 48-14. Wildcats coach Jeff Reents wins games - all this fall but a 28-27 Week 2 loss to Manteno - old school. The double-wing offense has sent Matteo Lombardi and Connor Dempsay each over 1,300 yards rushing. Dempsay ran for 267 yards and 3 touchdowns against Farmington, The Herald News reported. Yet trailing Peotone 21-6 late in Week 4 Wilmington rallied with the play-action pass. Ball control ending in scores and getting linebacker Josh Jones and defensive ends Anders Almberg and Andrew Gramlich to limit ICCP tailback Lazerick Eatman are Wilmington's keys. Winning first down and using speed and up-tempo offense over the entire field are the Knights'. Eatman ruled the perimeter last week at Peotone with 107 yards rushing and 2 scores plus a 72-yard touchdown catch from C.J. West. Big interior linemen Koby Reed and Ricky Mysliwiec are a load, freeing safety Khalil Saunders and linebackers Khali Saunders and Kevin Cooke to support.
Advancement: The winner advances to the Class 3A semifinals against the winner between No. 2 Williamsville and No. 3 Byron.