Football: Northwest previews, Week 6

MID-SUBURBAN EAST

Rolling Meadows (5-0, 1-0) at Prospect (3-2, 1-0)

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

Last week: Meadows d. Wheeling 35-6; Prospect d. Hersey 33-0

Outlook: Is this the third straight year this game determines the MSL East champion? Is this the year Meadows comes out on top in a series Prospect leads 19-16 and has won six of the last seven -- including 28-2 and 20-0 in last year's 7A quarterfinals? One positive sign for the Mustangs has been the defensive improvement -- particularly up front with Paul Hames, Lewis Charles and Prospect transfer Rick Brown -- to free up LBs such as Joe Okon and Mikal Johnson to make plays. "Early on it took time for our defensive line to get going but they're starting to gell and get off the ball," said Meadows coach Doug Millsaps. And DBs Stan Pheteau (4 INT) and Ty Kirk also have to be ready for anything -- including both Prospect QBs in sophomore Miles Osei and senior Alex Lazarz. "(Lazarz) throws an awfully nice ball and if he doesn't throw, he takes off like a Prospect quarterback does," Millsaps said. "(Osei) has the ability to break long runs." And the Mustangs have taken opportunity to a different level with 6 takeaways in each of the last two games. "And I think their offense has really fed off that," said Prospect coach Brent Pearlman. "If they get a turnover they capitalize." Versatile Trevor Fritz isn't 100 percent but he came back last week and is a big asset to the Mustangs' attack with the dangerous duo of QB Ben Sabal and Kirk against a tough Prospect defense that is getting Pat Mack and Sean Wheeler back from injuries. "On film they seem to be playing with a purpose and they seem to be enjoying what they're doing right now," Pearlman said. Meadows' only win in the last seven meetings was 22-19 in 2004.

Wheeling (2-3, 0-1) at Buffalo Grove (2-3, 1-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Wheeling lost to Meadows 35-6; BG d. Elk Grove 35-21

Outlook: The playoffs start now for two teams hoping to end droughts -- 11 years for Wheeling and three for BG. And Bison coach Rich Roberts likes the way his team has improved the last couple of weeks. "Against Fremd we learned some things," Roberts said of a 27-13 loss. "That gave our kids the realization that they played a good football team and if they cut down on the mental mistakes we obviously stand a better chance." Not only did Josh Hampton rush for 142 yards last week but QB John Bakun accounted for 128 yards of total offense and Zach Wodka has moved over and helped at center. On the other side, DT Alan Baxter and LB Matt Brichetto were keys last week and will be again with Wheeling's offense led by QB Matt Holmes, WR James Kurtz and RB Abel Rangel. The Wildcats continue to be plagued by turnovers and had six last week. BG's 7-0 win last year was its ninth straight in a series it leads 25-8.

Hersey (0-5, 0-1) at Elk Grove (0-5, 0-1)

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

Last week: Hersey lost to Prospect 33-0; Elk Grove lost to BG 35-21

Outlook: Both teams hope to be rewarded for enduring and persevering through their share of tough times. Elk Grove continues to be on the verge of breaking a losing streak now at 15 games but was hurt last week by two big offensive plays and special teams breakdowns. "We've been waiting for that opportunity to put a whole game together," said Elk Grove coach Tom Whalen. What the Grens have done fairly consistently is run the ball well with Kevin McDonald, Cory Laga and QB Bryan Bathauer behind the line anchored by Eric Bergman. "The kids have been busting their butts every day and they came back (this week) with a great attitude," Whalen said. "The next day (after BG) the kids were ready to lift and ready to go and come right back at it." Hersey has been decimated by injuries and while it may get sophomore Steve Nelson back this week from a concussion, senior OL-LB Taylor Stubbs will be the fourth starter to miss a game with a concussion. "It's been crazy for us," said Hersey coach Mark Gunther. "I was talking to Hal (athletic trainer Hilmer) about that and he said there was only one other year he's had like this and that was my junior year (1986) before we won state." It's limited the Huskies offensively but Gunther liked the improvement he saw defensively last week from a unit that was on the field a long time. "The seniors have helped keep us together," Gunther said. Hersey won 28-14 last year but Elk Grove has won six of eight and leads the series 13-9.

MID-SUBURBAN WEST

Palatine (3-2, 1-0) at Fremd (5-0, 1-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Hale Hildebrandt Field

Last week: Palatine d. Conant 21-0; Fremd d. Barrington 35-14

Outlook: The cross-town rivalry takes on an even bigger dimension this year in a battle for the MSL West lead. And getting healthier has strengthened two of the better offensive lines in the area. It's allowed Palatine to get a nice mix of running with Dan Sutton, Tom Eames, James Silveira and Chris Norman and passing from junior Matt Rossi and targets Nick Busch and Mookie Williams. "Their offensive line is as good as any offensive line we've played," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci. "When they've had to pass the ball they've done a great job. Usually when you get a team with those offenses it's one or the other and not both." But the Pirates will be testing one of the area's top defenses in DE Ben Perna, LBs Kevin Krieter and Nick Hillard and DB Bryan Hipchen. "That's how the whole thing works," Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly said of the starless offense that turned its two full first-half possessions into TDs last week. "You hope someone else steps up. We've got our offensive line together so now we've really been able to run the ball really effectively." The same was true last week for the Fremd crew led by Kevin Fallon as it mixed the run with Mike Gyetvay and the pass with QB Mark Tolzien, Michael Koeneman, Andrew Corso and versatile threat Mike Tauchman. But the Pirates' defense has been consistently solid all year with LB Ryan Cortez, DE Monroe Brooks and ILB Ryan Hourigan. "Obviously Fremd has got a lot of weapons and will certainly test us," Donnelly said. "We've got our work cut out for u s on both sides of the ball." Fremd's 42-14 win last year was its sixth straight in a series it leads 24-15. Palatine's only win in the last nine meetings was 51-29 in 2000.

Schaumburg (3-2, 1-0) at Conant (1-4, 0-1)

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

Last week: Schaumburg d. Hoffman 27-13; Conant lost to Palatine 21-0

Outlook: Schaumburg is trying to win its fourth in a row after opening with losses to Maine South and Rolling Meadows. "It was going to be about our maturity and how quickly that process takes hold," said Saxons coach Mark Stilling. "I think we've made some strides in that respect." Particularly from starting QB Cody Logsdon, who was 15-for-21 for 206 yards and 3 TDs and also rushed for a score last week. "He's a quiet leader but the way he's played has elevated his status in that regard," Stilling said. "Cody is hard on himself and thinks he should have been 18-for-21 or 21-for-21. He's getting better and better every week." The same has been true for junior S Alex Coglianese, who finds a way to keep creating turnovers for a defense that bends but hasn't been breaking lately. Conant hopes to continue the ball-control formula with two-way standout Scott Zari that was effective except on the scoreboard last week. "I thought we played maybe our best ballgame on both sides," said Conant coach Bill Modelski. "Offensively we had a couple of time-consuming drives but we weren't able to finish them." Conant's 26-14 win last year was its fifth in six tries in a series it leads 23-13, but continuing that success will be contingent on keeping Logsdon, RB Mick Trimarco and crew off the field. "We need to control the clock," Modelski said. "If we give their offense too many possessions we're not going to like the result."

Hoffman Estates (1-4, 0-1) at Barrington (3-2, 0-1)

When: 2 p.m. Saturday at Tom Frederick Field

Last week: Hoffman lost to Schaumburg 27-13; Barrington lost to Fremd 35-14

Outlook: Barrington has bounced back from tough losses to Fremd the last two years with convincing wins against Hoffman and Palatine. But the Hawks, whose 42-6 loss was its sixth straight in a series it trails 16-2, hope to reverse that trend. "I like our opportunity here," said Hoffman coach Bill Helzer. "It's a big game, it will be a great crowd and I like the challenge of being their homecoming opponent." Last week the Hawks offense clicked with junior Frank Wadas, who Helzer said will be the QB the rest of the year, WR Blake Heyman and WR Mike Swedlund, but the defense allowed 366 total yards. "We're still looking for that complete game," Helzer said. "We've talked about this week having all three phases show up and play well." Barrington stayed with Fremd for a half and had an impressive 96-yard TD drive but only managed 64 second-half yards. Five of Sam Ojuri's 9 carries resulted in double-figure yards as he finished with 105. "I'm pretty confident our best football is still ahead of us," said Barrington coach Joe Sanchez. "There were plays left out there we didn't make and they made. This is a great chance to see where we go from here."

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

St. Viator (3-2, 1-2) at Notre Dame (4-1, 2-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: St. Viator lost to Marian Catholic 28-14; Notre Dame d. Nazareth 28-19

Outlook: St. Viator is suddenly at a crossroads with consecutive losses for the first time since the middle of the 2004 season. And trying to avoid its first 3-game skid since it lost its first six in 2003 won't be easy against the improved Dons, whose only loss is to Carmel, since Lions coach Chris Kirkpatrick said starting QB Eric Huber is highly questionable with a slight separation of the AC joint in his right (throwing) shoulder. Junior Dan Faerber came in and threw for 102 yards in the last three quarters last week. "He did good last week for stepping in," Kirkpatrick said. "Hopefully he's got more confidence and we've got confidence in him." Senior DB C.J. Cesario will return from a concussion last week, but the key for the Lions is avoiding the letdowns and breakdowns that have plagued them and been damaging the last two weeks. "We really haven't played well in five weeks," Kirkpatrick said. "We've played OK but we've been so inconsistent. That boils down to I'm not finding the right buttons I need to push." Viator's 28-0 win last year was its third straight against the Dons, but they have big-play capability in QB Zach Abraham and WR Joe Gutierrez. Abraham was 20-for-31 for 292 yards and 2 TDs to Gutierrez last week against an improved Nazareth team.

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD

Leyden (4-1, 3-0) at Proviso East (2-3, 1-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Leyden d. Willowbrook 24-21; Proviso East lost to DG South 27-0

Outlook: Leyden has already ended a couple of long droughts this year against Hinsdale South and Willowbrook. Now the WSC Gold leaders by a half-game over Downers Grove South will try to end a six-game hex against nemesis Proviso East and get in position for its first playoff berth since 1998. "We've been in those games with these guys and we feel like we should be winning these games and we haven't," said Leyden coach Tom Cerasani. "We're to the point now we need to start winning games we think we should win and that's what we've been doing this year." Josh Serrano (760 yards) continues to be the focal point of the offense, but the Eagles got what they wanted in the passing game last week as Tim O'Connell was only 7-for-20 but for 183 yards - with 125 going to Sam Cochiaro. "He's like the mad bomber with the long passes he makes," Cerasani said. "He's getting the job done." The key for the Leyden defense led by Serrano, Mike Uychoco, Jorge Arellano and Sergio Villalba is to contain threats such as QB Ladwayne Banks, who threw for 153 yards last week and hit DeAngelo Vasquez 6 times for 61 yards, and sophomore RB Darnell Swanigan, who rushed for 142 yards two weeks ago against Addison Trail. "Athletically they're better than us, but so was Willowbrook and Hinsdale South," Cerasani said. "That's nothing new for us."

CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH

Maine East (0-5, 0-1) at Maine West (0-5, 0-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Maine East lost 59-0 to Deerfield; Maine West lost 48-0 to Glenbrook North

Outlook: Not only are bragging rights at stake between the District 207 rivals but both teams are looking to snap losing streaks of 26 games for Maine East and nine for Maine West. And first-year West coach Chris Hare likes what he's seen after a rough loss last week. "I don't know if it's the combination of they're sick of losing and they're playing Maine East," Hare said, "but we've had a great week of practice with Sean (quarterback Willett) out." Willett suffered a concussion last week so junior Frank Hess will get his second start of the year. "He's pretty comfortable back there," Hare said. "It will be nice for him to get that experience." What will also be nice for the Warriors is having senior LB-RB Jon Cruz back from injury. Maine East has been outscored 204-13 since a 16-13 opening loss to Fenton and one of its touchdowns was a 75-yard return against Maine South by DE Avery Roche, whose brother Plez is at the other end. "They're pretty quick athletes and they'll definitely give us some trouble," Hare said. Maine West's 27-7 win last year was its 16th straight in the series since 1984.