WEEK 4 AREA FOOTBALL GAME PREVIEWS AP STATE FOOTBALL RANKINGS

EAST SUBURBAN CONFERENCE PREVIEW

ESCC-Player of the Year, Ty Gavin, leads the Dons into a crucial ESCC battle, with the undefeated Redwings. After coming so close to knocking off ESCC co-favorite, Marist last Friday night the Dons need to pick up the “W” Friday. Gavin is fifth in the area in rushing with his 290 yards. His seven touchdowns and 42 points, ties him for second in the area with JCA’s Keenan Hailey. Sophomore QB Anthony Sales, has rushed for  223 yards with two touchdowns and thrown for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
Benet Academy (AP 7A No. 9) is led by their senior QB Colin Gillespie. The multi-threat QB has rushed for 231 yards and four touchdowns. Gillespie has thrown for a third in the area best 384 yards and two touchdowns. Ben Hickey (251 yards, 3 TDs) and David Weymer (209 yards, 4TD) add two more weapons, to the potent Redwing running attack. WR/DB Jack Cooney, never leaves the field and helps anchor the Redwing defense with DE John Benish.

DRAKE – Benet Academy 21 Notre Dame 14

MARK- Benet Academy 20 Notre Dame 17

Carmel invades Will County, coming off of a 48-26 ESCC opening-win over Marian Catholic. RB Syone Usma-Harper(240 yards, 3TD) scored three TDs and rushed for 138 yards in the win over the Spartans. QB Avery Bugaj has thrown for 180 yards and one TD.

JCA (AP Class 5A No. 9) is led by their Area leading rusher senior Keenan Hailey (570 yards, 7TD), Hailey, looks for another big Friday night, running behind his offensive line, known as his “Big Dogs”. Look for the tough, short-yardage plays from Hilltopper FB Nick Iannantone (208 yards, TD). QB Jordan Alvarez, threw for 130 yards, in the 55-10 win at St. Viator last week, Junior WRs Izaiah Murphy and Mike Green were Alvarez’s favorite receivers.

DRAKE – Joliet Catholic Academy 34 Carmel 20

MARK – JCA 40 Carmel 14

INTERSTATE 8 SMALL PREVIEW 

The Lions ( AP Class 3A No. 14) will hop on their bus for the 50-mile trip to Kankakee County in this early-season I-8 Small showdown. The Blue Devils are led by running back Ron Brewer who has rushed for 338 yards and seven touchdowns. Nate Battiato (139 yards 2TD) and Branden Bias (133 yards, 3TD) are addition threats in the Blue Devil backfield.

Blue Devil QB Max Gesswein, has completed 10 of his 16 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown. WR Logan Heflin is Peotone’s top receiver hauling in six passes for 70 yards and a touchdown.
Lisle is led by senior QB/DB Jay McGrath. McGrath has passed for 266 yards and a touchdown and has rushed for 80 yards with four touchdowns. The 24 points scored for McGrath ranks fifth in the area. Jake Kowal is McGrath’s favorite receiver with eight catches for 173 yards. AJ Casmer, leads the Lions rushing attack with 176 yards.
The Lisle defense has only allowed 21 points on the season and no rushing touchdowns.

Oswego (AP Class 8A No. 7) has been relentless, in the Panthers first three SPC games, led by RB James Coleman and WR Jamal Fomby. Coleman has rushed for 364 yards and has scored six touchdowns. Fomby has 13 catches for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Fomby also has a 25-yard rushing touchdown and a 95-yard kickoff return for six. Panther QB Noah Parker has completed 21 of his 30 passes for 192 yards and three touchdowns.

First-year Tiger head coach Bill Lech looks for his first win, behind WR  Kevon Dorris. Dorris’ 183 reception yards, put the Tiger standout, third in the area. Jayden Taylor leads the Tiger rushing attack with 133 yards and a touchdown.

DRAKE Oswego 35 Joliet West 6

MARK Oswego 42 Joliet West 7

Brett Boyter’s Steelmen, will head to Kendall County and take on the SPC tri-leaders, from Oswego East (AP Class 7A No. 15). The undefeated Wolves defense. Six points. One Touchdown in three games. QB Brad Fern, lead the Wolves attack, while SS Justin Clark, leads the Wolves “D”.
Steelmen QB Jared King, has had a fine season, in leading the Steelmen attack. King has thrown for 376 yards and five TDs. King has also scored three rushing TDs. leading the Steelmen ground attack with 119 yards. WR Andrew Murphy (169 yards, 2TD) and Elijah Smith (136 yards, 2TD) are King’s favorite targets.

DRAKE  Oswego East 33 Joliet Central 7

MARK Oswego East 28 Joliet Central 7

Plainfield South (3-0, 3-0) at Plainfield Central (1-2, 1-2) Friday 7

Plainfield South, looks for its first 4-0 start since 2010, as the Cougars travel to Ft. Beggs Drive, on Friday. The vaunted Cougar “D” along with Lisle, have the best defenses, in the area (6.67 ppg). QB Cody Dieball, ran wild against Joliet West, for 207 yards and two touchdowns, in the Cougars 21-6 win over the Tigers, Dieball, now ranks fourth in the area in rushing (331 yards) and scoring (36 points).

Plainfleld Central, hopes to recover from last Friday’s devastating 21-20 loss, at Plainfield East.The Bengals turned away Central’s valiant attempt for the game-winning, two-point conversion with 1:08 left in the game. QB Nick Barner has been improving each game and is currently 5th in the area with 343 yards passing and three touchdowns.

DRAKE – Plainfield South 14 Plainfield Central 0

MARK –  Plainfield Central 17 Plainfield South 14

Minooka (1-2, 1-2) at Plainfield East (2-1, 2-1) Friday 7

It’s a battle of the top two quarterbacks, in the area, on Plainfield’s East Side on Friday night. In a must-win scenario for  both schools, Minooka’s Seth Lehr and Plainfield East’s “Big Ben” Mazurkiewicz square off.

Lehr has passed for 491 yards and also has an area-best, six touchdown passes. Brent Vercler has 109 receving yards and two TDs. Lehr spreads the ball around, among wide receivers, Steven Gonzales (91 yards), Noah Ellens (87 yards, 2TD), Trent Hudak (75 yards, TD) and Mike Zito (63 yards TD). Junior RB Connor Etzkorn (125 yards rushing) leads the Indian ground attack.

Mazurkiewicz has thrown for 437 yard, which ranks second in the area, with four touchdown passes. Mazurkiewciz also spreads the  ball around to his quality receivers. Nick Smith (90 yards, TD), Javen Mays (81 yards,TD) and Aidan Tonarelli (80 yards, TD).
Bengal RB Jordan Pringle, leads the Bengal ground attack, after bustin’ loose for 130 yards, against Plainfield  Central, last week.

DRAKE  Minooka 35 Plainfield East 20

MARK Minooka 21 Plainfield East 7

Romeoville (0-3, 0-3) at Plainfield North (1-2, 1-2) Friday 7
The Spartans travel to Plainfield’s North Side, in search of their first SPC win of the season.The Spartans have been led by the passing combo of QB Donovan DeHoyos (348 yards passing and WR Zach Gibson (179 receiving yards).

The Tigers are led by junior QB/PK Eben Heine. Heine has thrown for 195 yards. Junior RB Marcellus Moore, has rushed for 169 yards and two TDs, leading the Tigers ground attack. Senior LB  Nate Curtis leads the Tiger “D”.

DRAKE – Plainfield North 28 Romeoville 0

MARK – Plainfield North 27 Romeoville 0

Homewood-Flossmoor (3-0, 1-0) at Bolingbrook (3-0, 1-0)  Friday 7
The Brook will be hopping Friday as the AP’s Class 8A No. 2 team Vikings tangle with the Class 8A No. 6 Raiders. H-F demolished Stagg 46-0 in the Vikings SWSC-opener last week. The Raiders crushed Sandburg 54-0 in their SWSC-opener last week The Brook is led by the area’s second, leading rushern Quentin Pringle. Pringle has rushed for 461 yards and his eight touchdowns for the season, leads the area. Anthony Williams Jr. is sixth in the area, with his 276 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

H-F transfer, Raider QB Devyn Suggs (181 yards passing, 2TD) will lead the Raiders against many of his former H-F high school classmates. The Raider defense is ranked third in the area and is led by Jordan Martin and Cameron Mitchell. Advice to H-F. Do not kick the ball to No.1 on Bolingbrook. Antonio King.

H-F is led by QB Dominick Jones, who has thrown for 520 yards and six touchdowns. Jones’ favorite receivers are Maurion Scott and Isaiah Stanback. Scott has hauled in 186 receiving yards and three touchdowns, Stanback also has three receptions for touchdowns to go along with his 160 yards in receptions. RB Leon Tanna, has rumbled for over 400 yards, to lead the Viking ground attack.

Lincoln-Way Central (2-1, 2-0) at Lockport ()-3, 0-1) Friday 7

The Porters host the SWSC-leading  Knights (AP Class 7A No. 13), in search of their first win of the season. Porter junior QB Marcos
Voulgaris is seventh in the area with is with 334 yards passing. Voulgaris’ favorite target, WR Malik Malhoulf, is seventh in receiving yards, with 140.

The Knights are led by their junior QB Bryce Hayes, who has passed  for 380 yards and a pair of TDs. Senior WB Connor McWilliams is Hayes’ favorite receiver hauling 15 passes for 257 yards and the two touchdown catches.

DRAKE  Lincoln -Way Central 42 Lockport 7

MARK   Lincoln -Way Central 40 Lockport 14

WEST SUBURBAN GOLD PREVIEW
Downers Grove South (1-2, 1-0) at Hinsdale South (2-1, 1-0)   Friday 7:30
The Rebel Cannon Trophy will be on the line, as the Mustangs travel to play their archrival Hornets, in Darien. The Mustangs picked up their first win of the season, Saturday in Maywood 31-15. The Mustangs are led by QB George Ross, who threw for over 100 yards in the win over Proviso East. Ross hooked up  with WR Vinnie Provenzano from 37-yards for six. Provenzano ranks ninth in the area, with his 127 yards in pass receptions.

Devean Washington and Kendall Burows, each returned Pirate fumbles for TDs.
Hinsdale South is led by its dual-threat QB Marquese Garrett. Garrett has ran the ball for 264 yards with three touchdowns. Garrett has also passed for 188 yards and two touchdowns, to his favorite receiver Terrill McCray III (133 yards, 2TD),
RB Devin Smith adds depth in the Hornet  backfield, with his 264 yards and three TDs.

DRAKE  Hinsdale South 14 Downers Grove South 7

MARK PICK  Downers Grove South 14  Hinsdale South 7

Downers Grove North (2-1, 1-0) at Hinsdale Central (2-1, 1-0) Friday 7:30
Another edition of  the battle for the “Old Oaken Bucket” takes place in Hinsdale on Friday night. The guests from DGN enter the contest with a two-game winning streak, fresh off of its 42-6 shellacking of Proviso West. The Trojans are led by their sophomore QB Drew Cassens. Cassens, is fifth in the area in rushing yardage, with 320 yards and five touchdowns. Cassens, has also thrown for 188 yards and one touchdown. Cassens five touchdowns (30 points) has him ranked fifth, in the area in scoring.

Hinsdale Central is led by QB Matt Rush, who has completed 22 of his 43 passes for 185 yards and one touchdown. RB Matt Bobek leads the Red Devil ground attack with 319 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

DRAKE  Hinsdale Central 24 Downers Grove North 20

MARK PICK Downers Grove North 21  Hinsdale Central 20

NONCONFERENCE
Maine South (2-1) at Conant 2-1)
Cole Dow and the Hawks travel to Hoffman Estates and try to bounce back from the heartbreaking loss to Barrington. With 3 minutes to go in the game at Wilson Field, the Broncos’ WR EJ Darlington caught a lateral from QB Tommy Fitzpatrick and found a wide-open WR Tim Lowe, from 46-yards for the Bronco game-winner.

Dow, in relief of injured Hawk QB Bobby Inserra, completed 17 of his 21 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown. Hawk wide receivers Ryan Kilburg (241 yards 3 TD) and Danny Lazic (210 yards 3TD), are 1-2 in the area in receiving yardage,

Conant is led by its sophomore tailback Maik Frederick, who has rushed for 242 yards and scored one touchdown.

DRAKE   Maine South 35 Conant 0

MARK  Maine South 42 Conant 0

Hoffman Estates (3-0) at Maine East 0-3)
Demons host another unbeaten; this time the Mid-Suburban League West-power Hawks

DRAKE   Hoffman Estates 40 Maine East 6

MARK  Hoffman Estates 35 Maine East 14

Wolves QB Jake Lochner looks to lead West past the Mid-Suburban League East’s best..

DRAKE   Buffalo Grove 40 Niles West 7

MARK Buffalo Grove 35 Niles West 13

After pounding first-year program Christ the King, the Sentinels look to win for the third straight week as they host a school from Canada.

DRAKE   Westmont 40 Wallaceburg 0

MARK Westmont 42  Wallaceburg 3

Week 3 Picks
DRAKE   14-3 .823

MARK     14-3 .823
Season: DRAKE 39-10 .796    MARK 34-13 .723

  1. Lincoln-Way East           3-0

  2. Homewood-Flossmoor   3-0

  4. Loyola                             2-1

  5. Barrington                       3-0

  6. Bolingbrook                  3-0

  7. Oswego                          3-0

  8. Marist                             3-0

  9. Glenbard West               3-0

10. Hinsdale Central             3-0

11. Edwardsville                   3-0

12. Huntley                           3-0

13. Stevenson                      3-0

14. St Charles East              3-0

15. Oswego East                  3-0

  1. Batavia                           3-0

  2. Nazareth                        3-0

  3. East St Louis                  3-0

  4. Brother Rice                   3-0

  5. Mount Carmel                2-1

  6. Normal Community       3-0

  7. Simeon                          3-0
8. Lake Zurich                   2-1
  9. Benet Academy           3-0

10. Rockton Hononegah     3-0

11. Belleville West              3-0

12. Lincoln-Way West         2-1

13. Lincoln-Way Central     2-1

14. Moline                           2-1

  1. Cary Grove                    3-0

  2.Richards                         3-0

  3.Prairie Ridge                  2-1

  4 Willowbrook                   3-0

  5. Phillips                          1-2
6. DeKalb                          3-0

  7. Providence                    3-0

  8. Chatham Glenwood      3-0

  9. Sacred Heart-Griffin      2-1

10. Normal West                 3-0

11. Bloomington                  3-0

  1.Washington                    3-0

  2. Dunlap                           3-0

  3. Montini                           3-0

  4. Highland                        3-0

  5. Hillcrest                         3-0

  6. Sterling                          3-0

  7. Antioch                          3-0

  8. Joliet Catholic             2-1

  9. Peoria Central               2-1

10. Decatur MacArthur       3-0

11. Marian C Catholic         2-1

12. Sycamore                     3-0

13. Kaneland                      3-0

14  Carbondale                   2-1

 1. Byron                            3-0

 2.Williamsville                   3-0

 3.Farmington                    3-0
4. Carlinville                     3-0

 5. Monticello                    3-0

 6. Bishop McNamara       3-0

 7. Vandalia                      3-0

 8. RI Alleman                   2-1

 9. Beardstown                 3-0

10 North Boone                2-1

11 Du Quoin                     3-0

12 Elmwood Brimfield      3-0

13. Pleasant Plains          2-1
14 Lisle                            3-0

15 St.Joseph-Ogden        2-1