Football: Northwest previews, Week 4

MID-SUBURBAN CROSSOVERS

Barrington (2-1) at Wheeling (2-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Barrington d. Hersey 21-0; Wheeling d. Conant 34-7

Outlook: A key game for Barrington's hopes of extending its playoff streak to six years and Wheeling ending its postseason drought of 11 seasons. "Those two running backs, oh my gosh," said Wheeling coach Dave Dunbar of Barrington's Terrance Terry (407 yards, 2 TDs) and Sam Ojuri, "and the quarterback (Cody Seeger) is doing well. They just reload and defensively they fly around the ball." But the Broncos' defense led by LB Joey Luna and DE Pat Ryan may have a different challenge as Dunbar hopes dual-threat junior QB Matt Holmes can go after missing the last two weeks with a knee sprain. That will add to the dangers the Wildcats already possess in RB Abel Rangel, RB Pat Splon and WR James Kurtz. "They're talented and very explosive," said Barrington coach and Wheeling grad Joe Sanchez. Tim Powell, who filled in nicely at QB for Holmes, will be able to return to a defense that has been forcing more turnovers with CB Tom Zidron, LB Justin Arvidson, S Mike Barton and catback Mike Zimmer. "They're real aggressive the way they pressure you," Sanchez said of the Wildcats' 3-5-3. "I'm impressed with how fast they play." Barrington's 36-7 win last year was its sixth straight in a series it leads 17-9. "We have to make sure our guys carry out their assignments," Dunbar said, "and not try to do more than they think they need to do."

Palatine (1-2) at Prospect (2-1)

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

Last week: Palatine lost to Meadows 21-14; Prospect d. Hoffman 27-0

Outlook: Palatine's ability to rebound from a tough loss will be put to the test against the state's eighth-rated Class 7A team. But coach Tyler Donnelly expects that to happen and hopes to see the Pirates build off last week. "I think on both sides of the ball our best game was against Meadows," Donnelly said. "We've improved each week and that's what it's all about." The Pirates' defense of DE Monroe Brooks, LB Ryan Hourigan and Ryan Cortez and S Jack Hansen faces a Prospect offense led by QB Miles Osei and WR Pat Ziegenfuss that took huge strides last week with 386 total yards. "As the game went on the line got better … and Ziggy came up with some big catches," said Prospect coach Brent Pearlman. "The defense played pretty good. Our guys were really flying to the football." Pearlman wasn't planning to have RB-LB Pat Mack and lineman Sean Wheeler available because of injuries, and the Knights' defense with LB Eric Senft and DE Tim Scanlan and crew will be challenged by the Pirates' mix of QB Matt Rossi, WR Mookie Williams and RB Dan Sutton. "We surely understand we're going to be challenged on both sides of the ball," Pearlman said. "They are legitimate." Prospect's 27-14 win last year was its third in a row in a series Palatine leads 13-10-1.

Buffalo Grove (1-2) at Fremd (3-0)

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

Last week: BG lost to Schaumburg 32-17; Fremd d. Elk Grove 49-12

Outlook: Strong starts have been the foundation for Fremd's streak of 12 straight playoff trips. The Vikings hope to keep that going into division play as DE Ben Perna, LB Nick Hillard, DT John LaPointe and crew will be tested by RB Josh Hampton, who was held to 60 yards last week, and a big offensive line anchored by 6-6 Indiana recruit Marc Damisch. "He's somebody who can be contained but he's also somebody who can hurt you," Fremd coach Mike Donatucci said of Hampton, who ran for 366 yards two weeks ago. "It's just a matter of discipline because he's a legitimate game-breaker. It will be interesting to see how we contain their size with our (defensive) movement." Fremd RB Derrick Walker wil be out this week (ankle sprain) and WR Andrew Corso is questionable, but junior RB Mike Gyetvay had another solid game with 104 yards and 3 TDs. "It's time for (other) kids to step up," Donatucci said. Fremd's 10- 2 win last year was its sixth in eight meetings since a 56-7 loss in 1994 in a series BG leads 17-12.

Rolling Meadows (3-0) at Hoffman Estates (1-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Garber Stadium

Last week: Meadows d. Palatine 21-14; Hoffman lost to Prospect 27-0

Outlook: Hoffman coach Bill Helzer said "we felt as good as you can coming out of a 27-0 loss" and that wasn't too bad -- except for 100 yards in penalties and 3 turnovers. "We're happy with the physical effort but we need to fix the mental approach," Helzer said. "When you play good teams you have to play smart. That's our goal this week because Meadows presents some challenges with three great skill guys (WR Ty Kirk, QB Ben Sabal, RB Mikal Johnson)." The Hawks will also be without S Tom Dombrowski (concussion) this week and LB Matt Schwendinger is out for the year with shoulder surgery, but senior Blake Heyman is 100 percent and will probably be back at QB. "It should be a good atmosphere at home and I'd like to think it's a great opportunity for us once again," Helzer said. Meadows hopes to give itself more offensive opportunities by converting more third downs, but will probably be without multi-threat Trevor Fritz (groin) and lineman Tim Grant because of injury. Senior LB Joe Okon and CB Stan Pheteau played well and through some adversity last week. "We came out kind of flat, which was interesting," said Meadows coach Doug Millsaps. "We gave up a lot defensively in yards but we clamped down when it counted." Meadows' 13-7 win last year was its fourth straight in a series tied at 14-14.

Schaumburg (1-2) at Elk Grove (0-3)

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

Last week: Schaumburg d. BG 32-17; Elk Grove lost to Fremd 49-12

Outlook: Both teams have faced some top-notch competition and Schaumburg reaped the benefits last week of opening with Maine South and Rolling Meadows as Mick Trimarco rushed for 176 yards and 4 TDs, Alex Coglianese had 2 INTs and LB Scott Falkner and the defensive line contained Buffalo Grove RB Josh Hampton. "I think it would have been easy to get down about that but they stayed focused on improving and they have a lot of character for young kids," said Schaumburg coach Mark Stilling. "Our kids took a lot of pride in shutting (Hampton) down. We were much more fundamental in the way we tackled and in our pursuit in terms of running to the football." Six-5 junior WR Anthony Ianotti has also played his way into the starting lineup for the Saxons to give QB Cody Logsdon another weapon. Elk Grove eliminated most of the big plays that hurt the first two weeks defensively and is hoping to eliminate some of its workload with more sustained drives from the backfield of QB Brian Bathauer and RBs Cory Laga and Kevin McDonald. "We need to eliminate mistakes as well as we've played good competition -- the combination has not helped us," said Elk Grove coach Tom Whalen. "I'm looking for big things this week." Lineman Andy Mack will be out this week because of a neck injury but Whalen expects him to return down the line. Schaumburg won 26-3 last year and leads the series 18-14.

Hersey (0-3) at Conant (0-3)

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

Last week: Hersey lost to Barrington 21-0; Conant lost to Wheeling 34-7

Outlook: Big plays in a variety of ways led to the downfall of Hersey and Conant last week. Conant's 4 turnovers matched its entire total of last season and two of them resulted in TDs. "We were never in it," said Conant coach Bill Modelski of trailing 26-0 at halftime, "and we're not blessed with a situation where we can make a lot of changes." The Cougars will get some help with the return of WR-K Mark Chereso and OL Craig Davies from injury this week. Hersey's defense was hit by three big scoring plays from 67 to 76 yards but showed some effectiveness by putting QB Scott Kinsel in the shotgun as he was 12-for-19 for 126 yards. Conant hung on to win 17-16 last year in a series it leads 8-5. "We're looking at this like a game we really need to get," Modelski said. "We're just trying to get better every week and we haven't been doing that."

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

St. Viator (3-0, 1-0) at Benet (0-3, 0-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Benedictine University

Last week: St. Viator d. Marist 33-7; Benet lost to Nazareth 36-14

Outlook: One of the early strengths of Viator, which is rated 10th in Class 6A, has been its defense. Last week was no exception as Matt O'Malley, Joe Fliss, Emmett Cleary, Matt Senchuck and Kyle Hanley contained Marist until Viator's high-powered attack led by QB Eric Huber and RB Mike Landuyt got rolling. "The defense played about the best they could last week," said Viator coach Chris Kirkpatrick. "The defense kept us in the game." The kicking of Jonathan Harris was also crucial to keeping Marist out of good field position. Now Kirkpatrick hopes the offense will be able to establish itself a little more this week after three nicked-up starters didn't practice last week. Benet was outscored 73-0 in losses to Oswego and Montini and coach Gary Goforth is putting speedy junior Jimmy Riley at QB to try and get Mike Wuest and Dan Cannon going inside in its double-wing attack. "They've got their backs against the wall and when you've got somebody like that they'll be fighting and clawing," Kirkpatrick said. "We have to play well." Viator is 5-4 since 1990 in the series after winning 45-29 last year.

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD

Leyden (2-1, 1-0) at Morton (0-3, 0-1)

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

Last week: Leyden d. Hinsdale South 33-27 (ot); Morton lost to Addison Trail 26-8

Outlook: Beating Hinsdale South for the first time since 1999 puts Leyden in position to do what it hasn't since 1998 -- start a season 3-1. "Being a game like that and coming out on top really boosted the morale of the team and everybody around school," said Leyden coach Tom Cerasani. "Our theme all week was 'bounce back' and that's what we did. Hopefully we'll take this and build a little momentum." Josh Serrano also rebounded to rush for 139 yards and his third TD was the game-winner and Angel Maldonado provided a fourth-quarter boost with his power running. Not only is Cerasani still looking for a complete game, but he's also looking to avoid the Week 2 letdown the Eagles suffered in a 41-0 loss to Glenbard West. Morton scored first on Addison Trail last week and QB Alejandro Blanco has thrown for 201 yards the last two weeks. "We're not good enough to just show up anywhere," said Cerasani, whose team hosts undefeated and state-ranked Willowbrook next week. "We need to come ready to play and play our best game every week to have success."

CENTRAL SUBURBAN CROSSOVER

Maine West (0-3) at Glenbrook South (3-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at John Davis Stadium

Last week: Maine West lost to Evanston 27-26 (ot); Glenbrook South d. Highland Park 22-13

Outlook: Maine West was a yard short on its overtime 2-point conversion of parlaying all the good things it did into Chris Hare's first head coaching victory. "The kids didn't lose that game and I was proud of the way they played," Hare said of the Warriors' 265-109 total yard advantage. "They wanted to go for the win and I give them credit. There were a lot of positives." Especially junior Frank Hess, who played quarterback in the opener, caught 3 passes in Week 2 and rushed for 69 yards and 3 TDs last week. "He's doing a fantastic job for us," Hare said. "We're real excited about his possibilities." Now the challenge is the state's ninth-rated team in Class 8A, and Hare hopes two-way lineman Jared Golojuch (groin) can go against the size of the Titans with DE-TE Sean Progar (6-3, 242), OL Sean Cascarano (6-5, 250) and Joe Conrad (6-2, 255). "They're very good and rightfully (ranked)," Hare said. "They've got athletes on defense and offense. But we're going to fight. We've had a great week of practice and responded well." Glenbrook South is 18-6 since 1970 in the series and won the last meeting 21-9 in 2004.