Week 6 Capsule Football Previews
September 27, 2012 6:48PM
�Lincoln-Way East's Moe Almasri and the rest of the number-two ranked Griffins will face top-ranked Bolingbrook Friday night. John Patsch | For Sun-Times Media
Updated: October 29, 2012 6:51AM
NO. 1 BOLINGBROOK (5-0, 3-0) at NO. 2 LINCOLN-WAY EAST (5-0, 3-0)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last week: Bolingbrook 45, H-F 28; Lincoln-Way East 28, Sandburg 7
The breakdown: The game of the year in the SouthWest Suburban Blue also is among the state’s top attractions this weekend. Lincoln-Way East won last year’s match-up 20-14, after which Bolingbrook won eight straight en route to the Class 8A state title. The quarterbacks are huge, with Bolingbrook’s Aaron Bailey and East’s Tom Fuessel (578 rushing yards, 358 passing) both capable runners and passsers.
NO. 4 JOLIET CATHOLIC (3-2, 2-1) at ST. PATRICK (3-2, 1-1)
Kickoff: 11 a.m. Saturday at Hanson Stadium
Last week: Marist 27, Joliet Catholic 24; St. Patrick 52, Bloomington 36
The breakdown: Joliet Catholic used senior Ty Isaac as much as a receiver as a wingback last week as his injured shoulder remains at less than 100 percent. Senior quarterback Craig Slowik picked up the slack, passing for 265 yards. St. Patrick is averaging more than 28 points, the Hilltoppers a shade under 32. Hanson Stadium traditionally has been a difficult venue for East Suburban Catholic opponents.
SANDBURG (4-1, 2-1) at JOLIET CENTRAL (0-5, 0-3)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Lincoln-Way East 28, Sandburg 7; Joliet West 21, Joliet Central 3
The breakdown: Joliet Central continues to hang relatively close as it pursues that elusive first victory in this SouthWest Suburban Blue match-up. The Steelmen are looking for some offense to go with a defense that has been playing very well. Sandburg running back LeMonte Booker is a load.
L-W WEST (3-2, 2-1) at THORNTON (4-1, 3-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Lincoln-Way West 16, Lincoln-Way North 13; Thornton 45, Stagg 8
The breakdown: While no opponent has scored as many as 20 points against Lincoln-Way West’s stingy defense, Thornton’s offense is averaging 37.6. West is coming off a huge emotional win over Lincoln-Way North but needs this one — the first night game at Thornton since 1979 — if it is to remain in the SouthWest Suburban Red title hunt. West won last year’s meeting 19-6.
NO. 6 MORRIS (5-0, 1-0) at SYCAMORE (4-1, 1-0)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last week: Morris 41, Yorkville 18; Ottawa 10, Sycamore 6
The breakdown: The Northern Illinois Big 12 East is loaded with quality opponents for Morris, and the Redskins make the long trek north to meet one of them here. The Redskins’ Reese Sobol has rushed for 342 yards and is averaging 7.8 per carry while Zach Cinnamon has completed 21-of-34 passes, 61.8 percent, for 390 yards. Morris won last year’s game 43-19.
NO. 10 MINOOKA (2-3, 2-1) at PLAINFIELD SOUTH (2-3, 1-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Minooka 29, Plainfield East 6; Plainfield South 35, Romeoville 34
The breakdown: Plainfield South, which played last week without regular quarterback Ricky Luna, will need to be aware of Corbett Oughton. The Minooka senior cornerback has intercepted five passes the last two weeks and brought two of them back for touchdowns. The Indians, 23-7 winners over South in 2011, have won their last two Southwest Prairie battles and appear to have righted the ship. Max Brozovich averaged 12.1 yards on 15 carries over the last two weeks.
ROMEOVILLE (0-5, 0-3) at NO. 7 PLAINFIELD NORTH (4-1, 3-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Plainfield South 35, Romeoville 34; Plainfield North 28, Plainfield Central 7
The breakdown: Romeoville got off the deck and nearly won its first Southwest Prairie game last week, falling in overtime as senior RB Caleb Bailey and QB Jake Bambule provided some fireworks. However, the Spartans face a major challenge as North, with senior RB Jay Roberts chewing up major chunks of yardage, have won four straight. North won last year’s match-up 42-0.
JOLIET WEST (2-3, 1-2) at LINCOLN-WAY CENTRAL (2-3, 1-2)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last week: Joliet West 21, Joliet Central 3; Lincoln-Way Central 21, Lockport 0
The breakdown: Both SouthWest Suburban Blue adversairies are hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive. Joliet West will get all of its major weapons — QB Ashton McCullough, RB Jordan Brown and RB/WRs Kameron Hargove and Korey Rogers — involved offensively. Lincoln-Way Central, which lost to West 31-19 in 2011, relies on RB Kyle Waytek (627 yards, 4.5 average).
LOCKPORT (1-4, 1-2) at H-F (2-3, 1-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Lincoln-Way Central 21, Lockport 0; Bolingbrook 45, H-F 28
The breakdown: Lockport has been having a difficult time offensively, although QB Ryan Dalton did hit 6-of-14 passes for 95 yards last week. The Porters will face a SouthWest Suburban Blue opponent in H-F that already has played Lincoln-Way East, in addition to Bolingbrook, and probably is better than its record indicates.
PLAINFIELD CENTRAL (3-2, 1-2) at OSWEGO EAST (3-2, 1-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Plainfield North 28, Plainfield Central 7; Oswego 50, Oswego East 29
The breakdown: Plainfield Central is out to snap a two-game losing streak in this Southwest Prairie match-up. The Wildcats went to junior Mike Smiles at quarterback last week and he threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Brian Blair, the quarterback the first four games. Central won a 14-13 squeaker last year.
OSWEGO (4-1, 3-0) at PLAINFIELD EAST (1-4, 1-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Oswego 50, Oswego East 29; Minooka 29, Plainfield East 6
The breakdown: Plainfield East will attempt to scramble the Southwest Prairie race by knocking off one of the frontrunners in Oswego, which won a 43-36 shootout over the Bengals last year. Junior RB Cullen Rompa (266 yards, 4.6 average) leads the ground attack and QB Jacob Kotopka has rushed for 221 yards and passed for 380.
T.F. SOUTH (4-1, 2-0) AT NO. 5 LEMONT (5-0, 2-0)
When: 7 p.m., Friday
Last week: T.F. South 22, Tinley Park 21; Lemont 17, Oak Forest 14
The breakdown: Lemont workhorse Christos Giatras (585 yards, 6.2 average) will receive the bulk of the work, but QB Zach Brosseau (30-of-57, 488 passing yards) might need to keep a fast T.F. South defensive line honest.
Compiled by Dick Goss
