Football Week 2 previews

MID-SUBURBAN CROSSOVERS

Palatine (1-1) at Rolling Meadows (2-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Robert A. Hoese Athletic Field

Last week: Palatine d. Wheeling 27-0; Meadows d. Schaumburg 31-14

Outlook: Palatine's defense led by LB Ryan Cortez, Monroe Brooks, Conor Hanley and Jack Hansen is coming off two solid efforts and its first shutout since 2001. Now comes its biggest challenge in the state's top-rated Class 7A team. "They have some athletic kids who play hard and it will be a great test," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly. "The kids are really looking forward to going over there." And Meadows is excited about its first home game and a good defensive challenge against QB Matt Rossi, who ran and passed for 282 yards last week, WB Dan Sutton (143 yards) and WR Mookie Williams, who Donnelly said "adds another dimension out there" with his deep-threat speed. "I thought they dominated the game and didn't win," Meadows coach Doug Millsaps said of Palatine's 1-point opener with Lake Forest. "They can get the ball down the field and they're big up front. We're going to have to play better up front than what we have." But the Mustangs continue to hit on all cylinders offensively with QB Ben Sabal (276 yards), RB Mikal Johnson (201 yards, 4 TDs), WR Ty Kirk (8 catches, 124 yards) and multiple threat Trevor Fritz. "We had an opportunity to spread the ball around (last week)," Millsaps said. "As long as we do that we're going to be hard to defend." Meadows' 38-14 win last year was its third in four meetings of a series Palatine leads 10-5.

Hoffman Estates (1-1) at Prospect (1-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at George Gattas Stadium

Last week: Hoffman d. Hersey 20-7; Prospect lost to Fremd 10-0

Outlook: It's homecoming week for 1994 Prospect grad and second-year Hoffman coach Bill Helzer. "It's always fun to play your alma mater, and I have nothing but respect for Brent (Prospect coach Pearlman) and what he's done there," Helzer said of his second trip back and first as a head coach. "We definitely model ourselves after them … and it will be a great challenge to see where we are." Hoffman will stay where it is offensively with junior Frank Wadas at QB after going 21-for-28 for 238 yards and 2 TDs and senior Blake Heyman at WR (7 catches, 104 yards). "It says a lot about Blake," Helzer said of the QB to start the season. "He said he'd play guard if he had to and do anything to win." Pearlman said sophomore QB Miles Osei will be OK to play after missing the last three quarters last week. Osei didn't suffer a head injury, but Pearlman didn't want to risk putting him back in. "When Miles is in there people are more tentative to blitz," Pearlman said. And Pearlman saw encouraging signs from the defense led by DE Tim Scanlan, LB Pat Mack and LB Eric Senft last week. "There's no question we took a step in the right direction," Pearlman said. "They really did enough for us to succeed." Hoffman will be without LB-TE Matt Schwendinger (slight labrum tear) another week but gets a threat back in H-back Mike Swedlund, who missed the first two games for disciplinary reasons. Prospect's 35-24 win last year was its fourth straight in a series it leads 15-13.

Fremd (2-0) at Elk Grove (0-2)

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

Last week: Fremd d. Prospect 10-0; Elk Grove lost to Barrington 48-12

Outlook: A shutout wasn't the only step forward Fremd took in its 21st straight Mid-Suburban League victory. The offensive line of Carl Comstock, Robert Blodgett, Kevin Fallon, Craig Stocker, Christian Lombard and James Norris improved as Mike Gyetvay and Derrick Walker combined to rush for 108 yards. "They took over in the second half," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci. "It was much-needed and hopefully it will continue the rest of the year." Donatucci also liked how the Vikings' defense led by DE Ben Perna and LBs Nick Hillard and Kevin Krieter adjusted when Prospect came out in a five-wide receiver set. "They took us out of our game plan," Donatucci said, "and our kids adjusted on the run and adjusted very well." Fremd's 35-0 win last year was its seventh in a row as it leads the series 14-4 in what is the latest rugged test for Elk Grove. The Grenadiers got an early spark last week when Kevin McDonald returned Nathan Burke's blocked field goal 75 yards to get within 7-6, but Barrington responded with 41 unanswered points.

Barrington (1-1) at Hersey (0-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Roland Goins Stadium

Last week: Barrington d. Elk Grove 48-12; Hersey lost to Hoffman 20-7

Outlook: Barrington's offense finally got the big payoff last week with the 506 total yards racked up by QB Cody Seeger and RBs Terrence Terry, Sam Ojuri and Gavin Fahey. "I was glad to see we came out and played the way I thought we were capable of playing the first week," said Barrington coach Joe Sanchez. "Most important was we controlled the ball for the most part and didn't turn it over (from 5 in the opener to 1 last week)." And the defense had a second consecutive solid outing with only 150 yards and a late TD allowed. This week it will have to contend with Hersey's option offense. "The big challenge is making sure everyone does their job," Sanchez said. Hersey coach Mark Gunther thought his defense, which gets DT Larry Scott back from injury to help spell two-way players Andrew Petro and Taylor Stubbs, improved last week. But the offense continues to sputter at inopportune times. "We need to smell the end zone," Gunther said of an opening drive last week that stalled at Hoffman's 3. "We have to execute and if we don't it ends up with a big loss." Hersey senior QB Scott Kinsel will be back this week after getting dinged and coming out late last week. Barrington's 34-14 win last year was its eighth straight in a series it leads 19-7.

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

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Schaumburg lost to Meadows 31-14; BG d. Conant 32-20

Outlook: Schaumburg's defense gets another tough challenge in BG junior RB Josh Hampton, who had an electrifying 366 yards rushing and 4 TDs last week after gaining 104 in his BG debut. The shortest of his 5 TDs is 31 yards. "It was one of the best performances I've seen and I thought I saw it all with Tommy (Zbikowski) running," said BG coach Rich Roberts. "He combines power with the speed he has. But we've got to hold the reins in because he's only played two games." But also encouraging for the Bison are two consecutive defensive efforts as MLB Matt Brichetto continued his solid play, OLB Andrew Diederich had 12 tackles and Joe Deligio and Mike Rudins improved on the inside up front. And they also responded when Conant took advantage of a turnover to take a 20-12 lead. "The big thing I told our kids is they fought through it twice," Roberts said of rallying from a pair of deficits. Schaumburg moved the ball for 370 yards last week behind Mick Trimarco and QB Cody Logsdon, but is now looking for a bigger payoff on the scoreboard. Schaumburg won 35-23 last year but BG leads the series 9-6.

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

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Conant lost to BG 32-20; Wheeling lost to Palatine 27-0

Outlook: There was no warning for what hit Conant's defense last week in Buffalo Grove RB Josh Hampton rushing for 366 yards and 4 TDs. Conant coach Bill Modelski said a combination of Hampton being better than everyone thought, a lack of execution up front and poor tackling in the secondary added up to one of the most prolific games in MSL history. "It was a perfect storm of this kid going off on us," Modelski said. "I've never seen anything like it." And he hopes he doesn't see anything close to it again this week against dangerous Wheeling RB Abel Rangel, who was held to 20 yards last week. "We have to be better than we were last week," Modelski said. "Their defense gave us a lot of trouble last year (6-3 Wheeling victory)." Conant's offense did show encouraging signs last week on the ground with QB Tom Houle (81 yards), Kendall Lane (63 yards) and Sean Smith (46 yards). "The way we played offensively is the way we have to be," Modelski said. "We have to march the ball and control the clock." Tim Powell threw for 117 yards in his first start at QB, and Pat Splon returned to catch a pass for 25 yards and rush for 16, but the Wildcats went from giving up 34 yards in their opener to 453. Wheeling's win last year ended a seven-game losing streak in a series it trails 13-8.

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

Marist (1-1) at St. Viator (2-0)

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

Last week: Marist d. Minooka 25-10 ; St. Viator d. St. Francis 49-28

Outlook: The defense of an East Suburban Catholic Conference co-championship begins for St. Viator. And the defense of two-way lineman Emmett Cleary, Matt O'Malley, C.J. Cesario and crew will have to be on top of their game as Marist junior RB Bill Seiler rushed for 187 yards and 2 TDs on 25 carries last week and 113 yards in a 21-14 opening loss to Brother Rice. "He's the real deal," said Viator coach Chris Kirkpatrick. "He's not real big, but man, is he quick." Marist has also changed its offense to a spread operated by QB Matt Mulcahy. The RedHawks also allowed only 174 total yards last week. "They're always solid defensively," Kirkpatrick said. "They're a good team and we're going to have to play pretty good." The Lions continued to roll up big offensive numbers behind RB Michael Landuyt (274 yards, 5 TDs), QB Eric Huber (16-for-20, 236 yards, 4 TDs; 157 rushing yards) and WRs Richard McLoughlin (5 catches, 122 yards) and Chris Carter (4 for 98). Viator's 29-7 win last year was its third straight.

CENTRAL SUBURBAN CROSSOVER

Evanston (0-2) at Maine West (0-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Evanston lost to Lane Tech 7-0; Maine West lost to Dunbar 32-6

Outlook: There was definite improvement offensively from the opener as Maine West had 212 total yards with QB Sean Willett throwing for 96 and rushing for 86. Now the Warriors are looking to parlay that into more points. "We did some nice things on offense," said Maine West coach Chris Hare. "There are a couple of things (to correct), mental mistakes and concentration things, and a couple of other plays we can work in that are definitely going to help us." Injuries aren't helping as Hare wasn't sure if RB-LB Jon Cruz would be able to play after leaving last week's game in the fourth quarter. Evanston has also struggled offensively after losing its opener 23-3 to West Chicago as junior QB David Hirsch threw for 86 yards with 3 INTs and the Wildkits had minus-2 yards rushing. Last week they held Lane to 45 yards until the final minute when it went 41 yards in two plays for the winning score. "They're big and athletic and do a lot of different things on offense that could definitely challenge us," Hare said. "Defensively they're incredibly aggressive. We have to make sure our pass protection is where it needs to be." Evanston's 39-6 win last year was its 12th in 13 meetings since 1976.

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD

Hinsdale South (1-1) at Leyden (1-1)

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

Last week: Hinsdale South d. Proviso West 28-13; Leyden lost to Glenbard West 41-0

Outlook: Leyden will be looking for some middle ground after its offense and RB Josh Serrano went from school-record performances of 635 and 276 yards, respectively, to 50 and 1 yard on 8 carries. The Eagles' defense also gave up 463 total yards -- with 373 on the ground -- and gets another test with Hinsdale South's triple option under new coach Alex Bitto. The Hornets lost to Rolling Meadows, the state's top-ranked 7A team, in Week 1 but rebounded last week Darrin Kidd rushed for 143 yards and 2 TDs on 14 carries.