Round 1 Playoff Football Capsule Previews
October 24, 2012 8:24PM
Joliet Catholic's Chris Tschida. | Larry Kane~For Sun-Times Media
Updated: November 26, 2012 6:58AM
CLASS 8A
NO. 9 BOLINGBROOK (7-2) at NO. 8 SANDBURG (7-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Bolingbrook 34, Lockport 10; Homewood-Flossmoor 21, Sandburg 8
Up next: Bolingbrook would host No. 1 Neuqua Valley or No. 16 Naperville North; Sandburg would travel to Neuqua Valley or Naperville North.
The breakdown: Sandburg scored a 13-6 overtime win in the SouthWest Suburban Blue match-up in Week 7. Sandburg RB LeMonte Booker is one of the best in the south suburbs but managed only 37 yards in 22 carries in the first collision with Bolingbrook’s rugged defense. The Eagles are preparing as if All-State senior QB, Aaron Bailey, who led the Raiders to the 8A title in 2011, will play for the first time after suffering a knee sprain in Week 6. The Bolingbrook offense has begun to produce behind sophomore QB Quincy Woods.
CLASS 7A
NO. 8 PLAINFIELD CENTRAL (6-3) at NO. 1 LINCOLN-WAY EAST (9-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Oswego 42, Plainfield Central 13; Lincoln-Way East 42, Joliet West 6
Up next: Plainfield Central would host No. 4 Providence or travel to No. 5 Bradley; Lincoln-Way East would host Providence or travel to Bradley.
The breakdown: Plainfield Central enters as a decided underdog. The Wildcats, after struggling offensively last week against Southwest Prairie champion Oswego, need to control the ball, with RB Jordan Ellingwood (165 rushes, 943 yards) a key. SouthWest Suburban Blue champ East features a strong defense to go with a potent spread offense led by QB Tom Fuessel (112 carries, 969 yards; 49-of-89 passing, 685 yards). RB Nick Colangelo (88, 628) is a threat.
NO. 5 BRADLEY (6-3) at NO. 4 PROVIDENCE (7-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Lincoln-Way West 26, Bradley 13; Mount Carmel 17, Providence 0
Up next: Providence would travel to No. 1 Lincoln-Way East or to No. 8 Plainfield Central.
The breakdown: After turning the ball over six times and allowing an 88-yard fumble return against Catholic Blue rival Mount Carmel, Providence has been hard at work to clean up the mistakes. Celtics TB Brandon Price (168 carries, 936 yards) is a weapon, and WR/RB Chad Weaver (47, 419 rushing; 23, 262 receiving) is getting back to being healthy. Bradley lost to Thornton, Lincoln-Way North and Lincoln-Way West in the SouthWest Suburban Red.
NO. 6 PLAINFIELD NORTH (7-2) at NO. 3 OSWEGO (8-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Plainfield North 48, Oswego East 14; Oswego 42, Plainfield Central 13
Up next: Plainfield North would host No. 2 Benet or No. 7 Andrew.
The breakdown: Plainfield North dropped its season opener at Bradley 27-22 and since has won eight of nine, the only hiccup was a 35-7 loss to Oswego in Week 7. The high-powered Panthers, led by QB Brett Wawright, have outscored their previous seven foes by a combined 304-63. North’s offense features RB Jay Roberts (131 carries, 979 yards) and QB Kurt Palandech (45, 381 rushing; 28-of-46 passing, 460 yards).
CLASS 6A
NO. 6 MORGAN PARK (6-3) at NO. 3 LEMONT (8-1)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Morgan Park 52, Urban Prep/Englewood 6; Lemont 42, T.F. North 0
Up next: Lemont would travel to No. 2 Richards or to No. 7 Lincoln-Way North.
The breakdown: Morgan Park once was 1-3 with losses to Mount Carmel and Simeon before a forfeit because of the Chicago teachers’ strike. However, several players who had transferred to Julian were ruled ineligible but were told they would be eligible if they returned to Morgan Park. They did, and since then the Mustangs have won five straight. One returning player was DE Khairi Bailey, a Division I prospect. Lemont RB Chris Giatras (143, 1,115) is the area rushing leader.
CLASS 5A
NO. 9 LINCOLN-WAY WEST (6-3) at NO. 8 ROCHELLE (6-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Lincoln-Way West 26, Bradley 13; Rochelle 44, DeKalb 31
Up next: Lincoln-Way West would host No. 1 Kaneland or No. 16 Belvidere.
The breakdown: Rochelle plays power football with a full-house backfield. The Hubs went 2-3 in the Northern Illinois Big 12 East. They lost to Sycamore 26-14, and Sycamore beat West 19-13 in the season opener. That was the most points the Warriors, who tied for second in the SouthWest Suburban Red, allowed in any game. They average 24.3 points and yield 12.9. Rochelle averages 33.6 and allows 24.9. West QB Justin Keuch (66-of-134, 830 yards) and senior WR Adam Slattery (24, 328) form an effective combination.
NO. 12 JOLIET CATHOLIC (5-4) at NO. 5 ELMWOOD PARK (7-2)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Benet 31, Joliet Catholic 21; Elmwood Park 34, Ridgewood 14
Up next: Joliet Catholic would host No. 4 Westinghouse or No. 13 Tinley Park.
The breakdown: Elmwood Park coach Luis Arroyo brought the Tigers to their first conference championship in nearly 30 years. But the Tigers have to be wondering what the football gods have against them. Joliet Catholic opened at Providence, negotiated the East Suburban Catholic schedule and battled key injuries all season, disguising how much of a playoff threat the Hilltoppers may be. Most of the wounded played last week, but WB Ty Isaac did not. If he is able to go, it’s a different team.
NO. 7 RICH EAST (6-3) at NO. 2 MORRIS (8-1)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Crete-Monee 38, Rich East 7; Kaneland 33, Morris 30
Up next: Morris would host No. 3 Urbana or travel to No. 6 East Peoria.
The breakdown: Rich East, coached by former Plainfield South and Seneca coach Barry Reade, likes to run the ball and will be matched against a Morris defense that has pitched two shutouts and allows 13.8 points per game. The Redskins missed a perfect regular season and the Northern Illinois Big 12 East title with Friday’s loss to Kaneland. RB Reese Sobol (204, 844) and QB Zach Cinnamon (38-of-63, 720 yards) lead the Morris offense, while LBs Nik Countryman and Jeff Perry, DE Danny Friend and DT Collin Grogan head the defense.
CLASS 4A
NO. 7 PEOTONE (5-4) at NO. 2 COAL CITY (8-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Peotone 23, Westmont 6; Coal City 51, Reed-Custer 7
Up next: Peotone would host No. 3 Sandwich or travel to No. 6 Geneseo; Coal City would host Sandwich or travel to Geneseo.
The breakdown: The previous time the two Interstate Eight Large rivals met, in Week 7, Coal City prevailed 28-7. Peotone had to win last week to qualify for the playoffs, so the Blue Devils have momentum. The Coal City offense, guided by QB Brennen Shetina, has come together late in the season, averaging 36.7 points their last three games. The Interstate Eight Large co-champion Coalers have lost only to Sandwich 14-10, and Sandwich beat Peotone 42-7.
Class 3A
NO. 11 WILMINGTON (7-2) at NO. 6 BYRON (7-2)
Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Wilmington 35, Herscher 28; Byron 42, Mendota 10
Up next: Wilmington would host No. 3 St. Joseph-Ogden or No. 14 Aurora Central Catholic.
The breakdown: Byron RBs Devin Williams and Matt McMullen combined for nearly 400 yards on only 17 carries in last week’s blowout win over Mendota, which gave Byron a share of the Big Northern West title. Wilmington, as usual, won the Interstate Eight Small title. Chris Tworek and Mike Wolfe lit it up for 339 rushing yards in the win over Herscher. The Wildcats’ defense posted five consecutive shutouts earlier but has allowed 52 points in the last two games combined.
Compiled by Dick Goss
