Football previews: Northwest, Week 7
MID-SUBURBAN WEST
Schaumburg (4-2, 2-0) at Fremd (6-0, 2-0)
When: 7:30 p.m. today at Hale Hildebrandt Field
Last week: Schaumburg d. Conant 41-28; Fremd d. Palatine 24-7
Outlook: Schaumburg comes in on a 4-game winning streak but can't afford to play half-and-half in a showdown for the lead against the two-time outright and four-time overall defending MSL West champions. "I don't think we've put together a full game yet, which is scary in a good way," said Schaumburg coach Mark Stilling. "If we find a way to put 48 minutes together we've got a chance to be pretty good." Tonight would be a great time to do it against a team it lost to on consecutive weekends last year -- 35-10 and 28-20 in the 8A first round to give Fremd a 17-8 series lead. And the Saxons have plenty of firepower on offense with RB Mick Trimarco (760 yards, 11 TDs) coming off a career-high 276 yards and 4 TDs, QB Cody Logsdon (801 yards, 9 TDs) and a deep crew of receivers. "Trimarco's good, the quarterback's good and the three receivers are solid," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci. "We've got to be physical with (Trimarco) from the get-go." But that's what the Vikings usually do -- along with get turnovers as CB Mike Tauchman tied the school record with 4 interceptions. "He has 'it,'" Donatucci said of the versatile Tauchman. "He's got great field awareness and the stuff he's doing you don't teach. We haven't had a kid that in tune since Pat (Brown), Andre (Duncan) and Jeff (Mandel)." Tauchman, Michael Koeneman and Andrew Corso have all caught 21 passes apiece from Mark Tolzien (1,027 yards, 10 TDs) and Mike Gyetvay (514 yards, 8 TDs) provides the running balance to test a Saxons' defense with the opportunistic DB Alex Coglianese that will have to play the way it did in shutting down Conant for most of the second half last week. Stilling said LB Matt Hutchinson is probable after suffering a slight concussion last week and said Kyle Miller "got a ton better" in his first varsity start at OLB last week.
Barrington (3-3, 1-1) at Palatine (3-3, 1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. today at Chic Anderson Stadium
Last week: Barrington lost to Hoffman 21-14; Palatine lost to Fremd 24-7
Outlook: The playoffs arrive early in a rivalry that dates to 1929 and Barrington leads 38-16-1 after winning for the fifth straight time and eighth in the last nine meetings 41-7 last year. But the Broncos are trying to avoid losing 3 straight games in the same season since 2001. "If we're going to make the playoffs we've got to make our run now," said Barrington coach Joe Sanchez of a program with a five-year streak of postseason trips. "They're very determined, but we're also going up against a group of Palatine kids that are very determined as well." And the Pirates, who have already surpassed last year's win total and are shooting for their first playoff trip in 10 years, showed it last week after turnovers put them in a 21-point hole in the first 10 minutes. "We've always come back next week and played well (after a loss)," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly. "We were very physical with Fremd and played very hard against them. The kids hung in there and fought." The key for the Pirates is not fighting themselves after committing 5 turnovers last week and controlling the ball with its big line and backs Dan Sutton, Tom Eanes and Chris Norman. Their defense led by LBs Ryan Cortez and Ryan Hourigan will be tested by Barrington's big-play ability of QB Cody Seeger, RB Sam Ojuri and RB Terrance Terry. "It was a wakeup call for our guys," Sanchez said. "It showed us it's a team game and everybody has got to come together at the right time."
Conant (1-5, 0-2) at Hoffman Estates (2-4, 1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. today at Garber Stadium
Last week: Conant lost to Schaumburg 41-28; Hoffman d. Barrington 21-14
Outlook: Conant has dominated the Mayor's Cup with a 22-11 advantage after last year's 21-18 victory, but the poll numbers this time around might favor Hoffman as it's coming one of its biggest wins in years and Conant is coming off a loss where it led 28-13. "This one was really, really hard -- it was really, really tough," said Conant coach Bill Modelski. "We were in position to win it and we just didn't do anything right down the stretch." The opposite was true for the Hawks as they built a 21-7 lead and then weathered Barrington's comeback bid. "We were down 7-0 at halftime and you never would have known it with the way they kids were playing," said Hoffman coach Bill Helzer. "Up until the very end the kids had confidence and a swagger." And the offense hopes to keep building that confidence with QB Frank Wadas, RB Pat Kathan and WR Mike Swedlund, while the defense led by LB Greg Carroll and DB Tom Dombrowski will have to do without OLB Pat Johnson (broken ring finger) for the rest of the year and DB Jerome Henderson (separated shoulder) this week. "I thought the Hoffman coaches did a great job of getting them ready and getting them prepared (for Barrington)," Modelski said. Conant continued to do well on the ground with RB Scott Zari and QB Tom Houle to build its 15-point lead but couldn't finish off the Saxons. "We were looking good and all of a sudden we went dead," Modelski said. "That's been the story of our season. Hopefully we'll come out and play a good football game."
MID-SUBURBAN EAST
Rolling Meadows (6-0, 2-0) at Elk Grove (1-5, 1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. today at Robert Haskell Stadium
Last week: Meadows d. Prospect 10-7; Elk Grove d. Hersey 28-7
Outlook: Avoid the letdown. That's been the theme this week for Meadows and the good news for coach Doug Millsaps is his players actually provided a reminder. "They get it," Millsaps said of their bringing up that the Mustangs needed 21 unanswered points for a 41-20 victory. "You see all the upsets in college football and Hoffman beating Barrington, if that's not enough of a motivation for our guys I don't know what is." Motivation also doesn't figure to be an issue for Elk Grove since it still has outside hopes of a playoff berth. Nor does intimidation since the Grens led 14-7 last year in a series they lead 19-15. "This is a big game for us no matter what," said Elk Grove coach Tom Whalen. "Our kids and their kids have always had a physical game, there's a close proximity and they kids hang out together. It makes for a tough game." Elk Grove has been tough running the ball all year with QB Bryan Bathauer and Kory Laga and will have Kevin McDonald back at full strength. "It will be nice to have all three of them back there," Whalen said. Ball control could also be one of the Grens' best defenses to keep the Mustangs' dangerous offense off the field. Millsaps was pleased with QB Ben Sabal's efficiency and how WR Ty Kirk made big plays. Kevin Serna is expanding his impact from the kicking game to receiver and LB Jimmy Garoppolo played well last week alongside Joe Okon. "They have things they need to improve on in several areas," Millsaps said of better play on special teams and offense.
Prospect (3-3, 1-1) at Wheeling (3-3, 1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Last week: Prospect lost to Meadows 10-7; Wheeling d. BG 32-21
Outlook: Another Week 7 playoff game between two teams that would rather not take their chances wondering if they have enough playoff points at 5-4. "We figure for one we're playing for second place in the division right now," said Wheeling coach Dave Dunbar, "and we've got to leave it out on the field and play hard and play like that." One key for the Wildcats and QB Matt Holmes, RB Abel Rangel, RB Pat Splon, WR James Kurtz and crew last week was they didn't leave the ball on the field with no turnovers. And they'll need to do the same against a stingy Prospect defense that has allowed only 10 points apiece to undefeated Fremd and Meadows. "We're a good defense without great defensive personnel," said Prospect coach Brent Pearlman. "I still think we're potentially a very good team." Pearlman said he still plans to use Miles Osei and Alex Lazarz at QB with Eric Senft getting more reps at RB and WR and Pat Mack possibly getting some carries this week as well. "We have to be disciplined and diligent in everything we do," Dunbar said. Especially if RG-LB Justin Arvidson can't go since he's questionable with a sprained ankle. Prospect's 40-13 win last year was its seventh straight in a series even at 12-12-1. "I really think we've got to win all three of these games to guarantee anything," Pearlman said.
Buffalo Grove (2-4, 1-1) at Hersey (0-6, 0-2)
When: 7:30 p.m. today at Roland Goins Stadium
Last week: BG lost to Wheeling 32-21; Hersey lost to Elk Grove 28-7
Outlook: Buffalo Grove still has hopes of keeping its playoff hopes alive against one of its biggest and closest rivals. And while the Bison lead the series 22-11, they would also like to remove the taste of Hersey's controversial 19-16 victory last year on a touchdown pass on the final play. The Bison fell into a big 17-0 hole early and never got closer than 9 points the rest of the way as Josh Hampton rushed for 116 yards and 2 TDs. Hersey got a TD and interception from Pat Crost last week and trailed only 14-7 before Elk Grove pulled away with 2 fourth-quarter touchdowns.
EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC
St. Joseph (0-6, 0-4) at St. Viator (3-3, 1-3)
When: 7:30 p.m. today at Forest View Educational Center
Last week: St. Joseph lost to Nazareth 49-6; St. Viator lost to Notre Dame 26-21
Outlook: St. Viator's 3-game losing streak is nothing compared to St. Joseph's 42-game skid. But it is the longest for the Lions since they lost their first six in 2003 so they aren't going to look past a team they've only lost to three times since 1968 and beat 48-13 last year. "We can't," said Viator two-way lineman Emmett Cleary. "We need them all and nobody out here is taking them lightly." Viator outgained the Dons 361-338 last week but couldn't carry the momentum of 2 second-quarter TDs by RB Mike Landuyt (823 yards, 9 TDs) into a scoreless second half for both teams. Junior Dan Faerber threw for 221 yards and Eric Huber, who couldn't play QB last week because of a separated shoulder, returned to receiver and caught 6 passes for 128 yards. "I thought we played about as well as we could Friday and we played loose," Cleary said. The Lions finish with Carmel and Nazareth.
WEST SUBURBAN CROSSOVER
Lyons (5-1) at Leyden (4-2)
When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday at West Campus, Northlake
Last week: Lyons d. Proviso West 17-0; Leyden lost to Proviso East 40-7
Outlook: There hasn't been any gray area when Leyden is the wrong end of the score. "It's a weird thing -- when we play bad, it's bad," said Leyden coach Tom Cerasani of last week and a 41-0 loss to Glenbard West in Week 2. "That was pretty bad." The good news for the Eagles is they are just a win away from making the playoffs for the first time since 1998. The bad news is Josh Serrano (948 yards, 11 TDs) and crew are facing a defense that forced 7 turnovers last week in its second shutout and gave up nearly half of its 53 points in a 26-14 loss to Hinsdale Central in Week 3. "I think they're better (defensively) than last year," Cerasani said. "But our offense really hasn't been stopped this year other than Glenbard West." Serrano had 188 yards on a school-record 45 carries and sophomore RB Angel Maldonado returns after a two-week absence. The big difference for the Lions is a move from its traditional option to a spread with strong-armed QB Eddie Vilunas. They may need him to do a lot since RBs Alex Sewall and Mike Anderson were forced out of last week's game with injuries. "It will be a thing if we can control the ball a little bit we'll give ourselves a chance," said Cerasani.
CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH
Niles North (2-4, 0-2) at Maine West (1-5, 1-1)
When: 7:30 p.m. today
Last week: Niles North lost to Deerfield 42-13; Maine West d. Maine East 20-19
Outlook: Maine West would like to start streaking the other direction against a Niles North team that has lost three in a row. "They're definitely excited and they'd like to get two in a row," Maine West coach Chris Hare said after his first varsity victory. "If we execute and take care of the ball we'll definitely compete." The Warriors' initial plan was to play power football and Jon Cruz scored on their first series. But when the offense bogged down and they fell behind 19-7, they went back to the spread even though junior Frank Hess was the only quarterback with Sean Willett out with a concussion. "We finally said we've got to risk it and open up the game plan for him," Hare said of Hess throwing for 149 yards and the winning TD and running for 83 yard and a score. "He responded well. He's got some confidence going and we'll put more in the playbook for him." Willett is back but will play only on defense this week with Hess staying at QB. Two-way lineman Jared Golojuch is still out and the Warriors will have to be solid defensively against a Niles North team that won last year's meeting 52-14 and had scored at least 20 points in every game until last week when Chris Flores threw 2 second-half TD passes to Jeff Williams.