Week 4 High School Football Capsule Previews
September 13, 2012 6:24PM
Updated: October 15, 2012 9:16AM
No. 7 PLAINFIELD CENTRAL (3-0, 1-0) at MINOOKA (0-3, 0-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Plainfield Central 42, Romeoville 0; Oswego 42, Minooka 0
The breakdown: Plainfield Central is out to prove it is a legitimate title threat in the Southwest Prairie. The Indians feature a strong running game led by Jordan Ellingwood, who has totaled 305 yards. Minooka has struggled, but its three losses are against the only three teams — Morris, Providence and Oswego — that beat the Indians in the 2011 regular season. Minooka topped Central 52-20 last year.
PLAINFIELD EAST (1-2, 1-0) at PLAINFIELD NORTH (2-1, 1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Plainfield East 33, Oswego East 6; Plainfield North 35, Plainfield South 19
The breakdown: Plainfield East played a difficult nonconference schedule and fell to Metea Valley and Batavia. The Bengals may be working their way into contending position in the Southwest Prairie behind the running and passing of QB Jacob Kotopka, but Plainfield North and RB Jay Roberts are a major hurdle. North won last year 38-12.
No. 3 PROVIDENCE (3-0, 0-0) at LOYOLA (2-1, 0-0)
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Saturday (Me-TV)
Last week: Providence 38, St. Laurence 0; Loyola 41, Lake Forest Academy 7
The breakdown: Loyola beat Providence 32-6 last season, so the Celtics enter the Catholic Blue wars with revenge in mind. The Ramblers, who dropped the Class 8A title game to Bolingbrook 21-17, are strong again. Providence RB Brandon Price is approaching full strength. He suffered an ankle injury in the opener against Joliet Catholic, missed a game, then returned and carried 17 times last week.
No. 1 BOLINGBROOK (3-0, 1-0) at JOLIET WEST (1-2, 0-1)
Kickoff: 12:30 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Bolingbrook 54, Joliet Central 6; Sandburg 30, Joliet West 3
The breakdown: With Illinois-bound QB Aaron Bailey throwing better than ever, Bolingbrook is primed to take its best shot at the SouthWest Suburban Blue title and defense of its Class 8A state championship. Joliet West will attempt to rebound after being outscored 27-0 in the second half against Sandburg. The Tigers fell to Bolingbrook 49-12 last season.
LOCKPORT (0-3, 0-1) at JOLIET CENTRAL (0-3, 0-1)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Lincoln-Way East 35, Lockport 0; Bolingbrook 54, Joliet Central 6
The breakdown: Someone will get victory No. 1 when old rivals Lockport and Joliet Central clash in the SouthWest Suburban Blue match-up. The Porters won last year 38-6 and were in the game for most of the first half last week against Lincoln-Way East. The Steelmen were competitive before last week — and at least Bolingbrook is out of the way.
No. 10 LINCOLN-WAY WEST (2-1, 1-0) at ANDREW (2-1, 1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Lincoln-Way West 49, Thornridge 14; Andrew 27, Stagg 20
The breakdown: Lincoln-Way West makes its first appearance in the Herald-News rankings as it prepares for what will be one of its challenges in the SouthWest Suburban Red. With Lincoln-Way North and Thornton looming the next two weeks, the Warriors feel this is one they must have. West won last year’s game 25-17.
HOMEWOOD-FLOSSMOOR (2-1, 1-0) at No. 2 LINCOLN-WAY EAST (0-3, 0-1)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last week: Homewood-Flosmoor 21, Lincoln-Way Central 17; Lincoln-Way East 35, Lockport 0
The breakdown: QB Ron Johnson led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives last week as Homewood-Flossmoor avoided a SouthWest Suburban Blue upset against Lincoln-Way Central. Lincoln-Way East offers an even stiffer challenge. Griffins QB Tom Fuessel is a dual threat and LBs Kyle Langenderfer, Adam O’Grady and Mitch Murphy lead a solid defense.
SANDBURG (3-0, 1-0) at LINCOLN-WAY CENTRAL (1-2, 0-1)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last week: Sandburg 30, Joliet West 3; Homewood-Flossmoor 21, Lincoln-Way Central 17
The breakdown: The big question for Lincoln-Way Central is whether a meeting with old SouthWest Suburban Blue rival Sandburg can erase memories of last week’s disappointment. The Knights led Homewood-Flossmoor 17-7 in the fourth quarter as Grant Bartell and Joe Lyman led a staunch defensive effort. Sandburg won last year’s meeting 31-28.
ROMEOVILLE (0-3, 0-1) at OSWEGO (2-1, 1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Plainfield Central 42, Romeoville 0; Oswego 42, Minooka 0
The breakdown: With QB Jake Bambule sidelined last week because of the after-effects of a concussion, sophomore Kelvin Jones made his first varsity start in the Southwest Prairie opener against Plainfield Central. It gets no easier for the Spartans against an Oswego bunch that may be the team to beat in the SPC.
No. 6 MORRIS (3-0, 0-0) at DIXON (0-3, 0-0)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last week: Morris 43, Geneseo 0; Yorkville 42, Dixon 14
The breakdown: Before last week, Geneseo had not been on the wrong end of a running clock since Providence blasted the Maple Leafs 45-0 in the 1997 state quarterfinals. Morris LB Nik Countryman made 12 tackles, including five solo, and recovered two fumbles in last week’s rout. The Redskins should have little trouble with Dixon in the Northern Illinois Big 12 crossover.
Compiled by Dick Goss
