Football: Northwest previews, Week 8

MID-SUBURBAN EAST

Buffalo Grove (3-4, 2-1) at Rolling Meadows (7-0, 3-0)

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

Last week: BG d. Hersey 27-13; Meadows d. Elk Grove 28-19

Outlook: Meadows won its only MSL division titles in the East in 1999 and 2000 and can clinch at least a share with a victory. But it will face a BG team fighting to give retiring coach Rich Roberts a playoff sendoff. "Obviously they'll be fired up," said Meadows coach Doug Millsaps. "If they win they'll be in a pretty good spot." Meadows was in a tough spot last week without RB-LB Mikal Johnson for the first of a two-game athletic code suspension, LB Joe Okon (knee) and DL Paul Hames and WR-DB Ty Kirk and OG Tim Grant limited by injuries. But the good news was junior TB Daquan Edwards had his second 100-yard game, Ricky Allala moved to G to give 6-5, 233-pound junior Aaron Gorney time at T and senior Mike Snively and junior Tim Herff split time at LB. "Hopefully in the long run that helps us," Millsaps said. "It helps us with DQ (Edwards) getting all the reps because you can put him outside and run some of the jet stuff. He gives us another option." Junior C-LB Tom Davidson also played well and didn't come off the field. BG was without leading rusher Josh Hampton last week but QB John Bakun came through with 230 total yards and 2 TDs and James Blackmon rushed for 39 yards and a TD. Millsaps also liked what he saw of Alan Baxter and Joey Deligio up front on defense. "They seem to be pretty physical," Millsaps said. Meadows' 24-4 win last year was its third straight in a series BG leads 12-6.

Wheeling (4-3, 2-1) at Hersey (0-7, 0-3)

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

Last week: Wheeling d. Prospect 25-21; Hersey lost to BG 27-13

Outlook: Last year Wheeling saw its hopes of a playoff berth end in Week 8 with a 7-0 loss to Buffalo Grove. The Wildcats want to avoid any traps after their huge fourth-quarter comeback last week. "They're going about their business the way they need to do it," said Wheeling coach Dave Dunbar. "They're staying focused and taking it one thing at a time." Hersey coach Mark Gunther is impressed with what he's seen from RB Abel Rangel, QB Matt Holmes, WR James Kurtz, DB Tom Zidron, LB Danny Vargas and the rest of the Wildcats. "They're obviously for real," Gunther said. "They have so many good athletes playing so confidently. They've got a bunch of playmakers." Hersey sophomore Steve Nelson stepped in at QB last week and threw for 86 yards and a TD to former QB Scott Kinsel, who is being moved around to a variety of spots. "Steve did a nice job all game of managing the game and making some things happen," Gunther said. "(Kinsel) will have to continue to do it all for us. I really like the idea of having Steve back there with Scotty with so many guys going both ways." The Huskies, who lost 17-0 last year in a series they lead 25-14, should get Taylor Stubbs back from injury this week but RB-LB Caleb Muir is questionable (ankle).

Elk Grove (1-6, 1-2) at Prospect (3-4, 1-2)

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

Last week: Elk Grove lost to Meadows 28-19; Prospect lost to Wheeling 25-21

Outlook: Prospect's playoff hopes took a big hit last week as 6 second-half turnovers fueled Wheeling's 19-point fourth quarter comeback. "It was literally one right after another -- it was unbelievable," said Prospect coach Brent Pearlman. "On the other hand, we played no defense after them. Usually our defense would have picked us up and it didn't. I've never seen anything like it." Senior Eric Senft had a big game on the ground with 155 yards and a TD but the Knights had only 6 yards passing. In all of their losses, they were tied or ahead in the fourth quarter. "Our practices have not been good enough to create our own breaks," Pearlman said. "We're practicing in a scenario where we're actually creating our own bad breaks." And this week isn't the break it might seem since Elk Grove has been much more competitive this year and has consistently run the ball successfully as QB Bryan Bathauer and RB Kory Laga combined for 176 yards last week. "Watching Elk Grove on film it's hard to believe they're 1-6," Pearlman said. "On offense they're pretty good." Prospect's 55-12 win last year was its sixth in seven meetings in a series it leads 21-16.

MID-SUBURBAN WEST

Palatine (4-3, 2-1) at Schaumburg (4-3, 2-1)

When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Gary Scholz Stadium

Last week: Palatine d. Barrington 35-7; Schaumburg lost to Fremd 25-14

Outlook: It's the postseason in Week 8 with the winner assured of a berth because both teams have more than enough playoff points to qualify at 5-4. "We said last week with Barrington was our first playoff game and this is round two," said Palatine coach Tyler Donnelly. "It's going to be exciting and it will be a playoff atmosphere." The Pirates were up to the task in round one as it spread its 474 yards of total offense between QB Matt Rossi, RBs Chris Norman, Dan Sutton and Tom Eanes and WRs Mookie Williams and Nick Busch. The good news for Schaumburg is it gets LB Matt Hutchinson (concussion) and DL Nick Novak (illness) back this week to try and prevent the third-down conversions that kept its defense on the field for most of the second half last week. "They're as physical as anyone we're going to play this year," said Schaumburg coach Mark Stilling. The Saxons showed their dangerous game-breaking ability last week with QB Cody Logsdon and WR Anthony Ianotti and hope the offense can sustain more drives to give TB Mick Trimarco more opportunities to run the ball. But the vastly-improved Palatine defense of DE Monroe Brooks, LBs Ryan Hourigan and Ryan Cortez and LB-DB Brett Chidester allowed only 125 yards and a fourth-quarter TD last week. "They're a big-play team … so that always scares you," Donnelly said. Schaumburg won 46-28 last year in a series Palatine leads 11-9 and the added incentive for both is a chance to finish second in the West and enhance their playoff position with a 6-3 record. "There was a significant level of disappointment on our kids part, which is a positive thing," Stilling said of leading Fremd at halftime before falling short, "but it's not getting in the way of getting ready for Palatine."

Fremd (7-0, 3-0) at Hoffman Estates (2-5, 1-2)

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

Last week: Fremd d. Schaumburg 25-14; Hoffman lost to Conant 10-6

Outlook: Fremd is looking to heal up and tune up for its 13th straight trip to the postseason and it can clinch a part of its fifth straight shared or outright MSL West title with a win. "Defensively we want to fine tune the things we've been doing well," said Fremd coach Mike Donatucci. "Offensively we're working on different packages so our role players aren't stretched too thin." Junior DE Ben Perna will sit out again this week (shoulder) but will get some time next week while OL Kevin Fallon returns after missing last week with the flu. The Vikings weren't hitting on all cylinders last week as they trailed at halftime for the first time by giving up two big plays and missing on opportunities to score. "It's the best thing that could have happened to us," Donatucci said. "We were down and had to come back. They realized it wasn't what they were doing but what we were doing and that's good." Hoffman allowed only 71 yards last week but 4 turnovers were its downfall. Junior QB Frank Wadas left the game in the third quarter with an injury and senior Blake Heyman came in and threw for 110 yards and rushed for 44 after catching 5 passes for 49 yards. "He's an athlete," Donatucci said. "Defensively they're playing almost all juniors and playing confident and flying around." Fremd's 31-0 win last year was its 10th straight in a series it leads 15-5.

Conant (2-5, 1-2) at Barrington (3-4, 0-3)

When: 7:30 p.m. today at Tom Frederick Field

Last week: Conant d. Hoffman 10-6; Barrington lost to Palatine 35-7

Outlook: Gaining only 71 yards of total offense in a victory hardly classifies as pretty, but it has Conant feeling pretty good as it has a chance to end Barrington's hopes of a sixth-straight playoff trip. "I don't mind," Conant coach Bill Modelski said with a laugh. "The way it unfolded our defense actually really played very well because the week before we didn't." With the offense hamstrung by injuries and a sudden inability to execute shotgun snaps, the defense didn't allow a point juniors Anthony Pasowicz and Jake Prestia and seniors Brad Briarton and Nate Campbell got the job done up front. "They were running things down pretty well and keeping them out of the secondary," Modelski said. That will be a key again this week against Barrington's big-play potential that was stifled last week by Palatine. Conant QB Tom Houle continues to show his toughness as he carried the ball 25 times for 31 yards last week and has been playing safety the last month. "He's held up pretty well under the fire of it all," Modelski said. "My hat goes off to him." Barrington's 42-7 win last year tied the series at 10-10.

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC

Carmel (6-1, 5-0) at St. Viator (4-3, 2-3)

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

Last week: Carmel d. Nazareth 34-12; St. Viator d. St. Joseph 42-7

Outlook: Carmel has rebounded quite nicely from its Week 1 loss to Morgan Park. So nicely, in fact, that a victory over St. Viator could set the stage for an epic showdown in Joliet next week with Joliet Catholic, which is also a sparkling 5-0 in East Suburban Catholic Conference action. But first things first. The Corsairs need to take care of one of their top rivals. And St. Viator, which defeated Carmel in overtime last year (43-42) will be no slouch. "I really feel like they out-coached us the last few years," Carmel coach Andy Bitto said of St. Viator, which won its first three games, but has lost three of its last four. "Offensively, they did some things that we weren't prepared for. We know that, as coaches, we need to be better prepared to take on St. Viator's challenges this year." The biggest challenge the Lions will present is a prolific passing game that is keyed by a quarterback turned receiver. Eric Huber was St. Viator's starting quarterback the first five games but separated his shoulder and moved back to receiver, where he played last year. Huber had 150 yards receiving 2 weeks ago against Notre Dame and Viator coach Chris Kirkpatrick said junior Dan Faerber will stay at QB. "He's been doing fine," Kirkpatrick said. Viator has won the last three meetings and needs to win its last two to be assured of a playoff berth against a Carmel defense that is allowing just 12.6 points per game and less than 5 yards per pass. "Our defense has been really solid," Bitto said. "If you don't count the points our offense has given up, we're really only giving up 9 points per game." Speaking of the offense, Carmel quarterback David Venegoni continues to cause headaches for defenses. He ran for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Corsairs also got 2 touchdowns from Geoffery Fields, who tallied 138 yards on 18 carries. Mike Taylor added 82 yards on 7 carries and a touchdown. "They've been playing better defense," Kirkpatrick said. "(Venegoni) is really good. He can do both (pass and run) and we've definitely got to stop him."

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD

Leyden (4-3, 3-1) at Addison Trail (1-6, 1-3)

When: 7:30 p.m. today

Last week: Leyden lost to Lyons 56-0; AT lost 43-12 to Downers South

Outlook: When you've lost your last two games by a combined 96-7, there's no looking past a 1-6 team -- particularly when undefeated Downers Grove South waits in Week 9 and Leyden needs one more win for its first playoff berth since 1998. "We can't afford to do that to anybody," Leyden coach Tom Cerasani said of AT. "It's a big game for our kids." Especially since Cerasani knows the reality of the situation if the Eagles needed to win next week to make the playoffs. "Looking at the schedule, this is a game if we're going to make the playoffs, I feel we have to win this game," Cerasani said, "because Downers South is obviously a very good football team." AT may be down but it hasn't been out of many games this season with senior CB Vince Beachem and RB Michael D'Ambrose, who had 200 yards last week. "When you play a team like that you have to do everything right," Cerasani said. Senior Josh Serrano broke the 1,000-yard rushing barrier last week and would love to have a few more games to add to his totals. "We've been down the last two weeks but they realize what's at stake right now," Cerasani said.

CENTRAL SUBURBAN NORTH

Maine West (1-6, 1-2) at Highland Park (4-3, 2-1)

When: 7 p.m. today at Wolters Field

Last week: Maine West lost to Niles North 35-28; Highland Park d. Deerfield 33-14

Outlook: For the second time this year Maine West had a shot to win in the final seconds as it had to overcome a 14-point deficit in the final six minutes and the loss of junior QB Frank Hess to a first-quarter ankle injury. But senior Sean Willett, who missed the previous week because of a concussion, stepped in and passed for 2 TDs as the Warriors outgained Niles North 365-191. Highland Park rebounded from a 33-0 loss to Glenbrook North by beating its biggest rival last week as QB Johnny Lindquist threw for a TD and ran for two scores. The Giants other losses were by 7 points in their opener at 5-2 York and by 9 points to 6-1 Glenbrook South. Highland Park's 28-3 win last year was its fifth in the last six meetings.