Round 2 Playoffs High School Football Preview Capsules
October 31, 2012 7:32PM
Bolingbrook's John Hall. | Patrick Gleason~For Sun-Times Media
Updated: December 2, 2012 6:57AM
CLASS 8A
NO. 1 NEUQUA VALLEY (10-0) at NO. 9 BOLINGBROOK (8-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday
Last week: Neuqua Valley 56, Naperville North 20; Bolingbrook 39, Sandburg 7
Up next: Bolingbrook would travel to Waubonsie Valley or host Oak Park-River Forest.
The breakdown: Neuqua Valley RB Joey Rhattigan rushed for 228 yards and four touchdowns and QB Dylan Andrew completed 10-of-13 passes for 268 yards and three scores in the Round 1 rout of Naperville North. The Wildcats average 45.3 points, but the defense defending 8A state champion Bolingbrook will throw at the Wildcats is a different animal. Emile Wisdom returned a fumble 25 yards for a touchdown and Greg Amos scored on a 55-yard interception return against Sandburg as Bolingbrook erased a 7-6 halftime deficit. RB Omar Stover (105, 1,006) is expected back after sitting out last week with an injury. Will this mark the return of Raiders QB Aaron Bailey returns? He was quoted this week that he is “95 percent” and should be back.
CLASS 7A
NO. 4 PROVIDENCE (8-2) at NO. 1 LINCOLN-WAY EAST (10-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Providence 44, Bradley 7; Lincoln-Way East 47, Plainfield Central 22
Up next: Providence would host Edwardsville or travel to East St. Louis; Lincoln-Way East would host Edwardsville or travel to East St. Louis.
The breakdown: Providence had a nice “rebound” game against Bradley after falling to Mount Carmel 17-0 in Week 9. The Celtics defense turned two second-quarter fumbles into quick points, including Jeff Cesario’s 26-yard touchdown return, to blow the game open. But attempting to lasso Griffins elusive QB Tom Fuessel will be a whole other challenge. The Northern Illinois-bound Fuessel has rushed for 1,042 yards and completed 54-of-97 passes for 797 yards. Celtics TB Brandon Price (1,031 yards) and versatile Chad Weaver (453 rushing yards; 25 receptions, 300 yards) will test East’s rugged defense.
CLASS 6A
NO. 3 LEMONT (9-1) at NO. 2 RICHARDS (9-1)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Lemont 45, Morgan Park 0; Richards 36, Lincoln-Way North 14
Up next: Lemont would travel to Oak Forest or host Shepard.
The breakdown: Richards, whose only loss was 15-13 to Morris in Week 2, boasts a diverse offense featuring QB Hasan Muhammed-Rogers, RBs Tommy Mister and Ramontay Hill and WRs Tacari Carpenter and Jimmy Wujcik. For Lemont, Chris Giatras (166, 1,261), the area rushing leader, went for 147 yards vs. Morgan Park, and QB Zach Brousseau was 6-of-9 passing for 133. The teams last met in Week 3 of 2011, with Lemont winning 28-6. The Indians have reached no less than the quarterfinals the last five seasons and have two runner-up finishes in that span.
CLASS 5A
NO. 13 TINLEY PARK (6-4) at NO. 12 JOLIET CATHOLIC (6-4)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday at ATI Field at Joliet Memorial Stadium
Last week: Tinley Park 27, Westinghouse 23; Joliet Catholic 58, Elmwood Park 0
Up next: Joliet Catholic would travel to Kaneland or to Lincoln-Way West.
The breakdown: Joliet Catholic’s up-and-down defense must contend with FB Preston Thompson and QB Christian Plummer. Tinley Park led Westinghouse 21-0 at halftime, then fell behind 23-21 in the fourth quarter before scoring the decisive touchdown. Of course, Tinley Park’s defense, which has allowed at least three touchdowns to the last five opponent with winning records, must step up against a Hilltoppers offense that has WB Ty Isaac back from injury and scored 51 first-half points against Elmwood Park. Isaac has rushed for 892 yards, Tyler Reitz for 740 and Mike Ivlow for 703.
NO. 1 KANELAND (10-0) at NO. 9 LINCOLN-WAY WEST (7-3)
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Kaneland 48, Belvidere 0; Lincoln-Way West 35, Rochelle 0
Up next: Lincoln-Way West would host Joliet Catholic or travel to Tinley Park.
The breakdown: Kaneland boasts a potent offense behind QB Drew David and TB Jesse Balluff, but the Knights also play defense. Last week was their fourth shutout as they limited Belvidere to 74 total yards and three first downs. West dominated Rochelle in a game most observers predicted would be tight. RB Javier Montalvo rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns, and the Warriors defense did the rest. West, with twins Alex and Andrew Gray playing key roles, has not allowed more than 19 points in any game.
NO. 3 URBANA (9-1) at NO. 2 MORRIS (9-1)
Kickoff: 4 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Urbana 36, East Peoria 22; Morris 44, Rich East 0
Up next: Morris would travel to Normal University or to Washington.
The breakdown: If history is your thing, this match-up offers a study in contrasts. While Morris has a proud tradition of playoff success, Urbana in Round 1 won a playoff game for the first time. The Tigers trailed most of the way but staged a wild finish behind QB Cameron Mammen to pull it out. Urbana also has nine straight victories for the first time in 48 years. After allowing 33 points in a Week 9 loss to Kaneland, Morris’ defense was not happy and took it out on Rich East, limiting the Rockets to 41 rushing yards. RB Reese Sobol (945 yards) leads the Redskins’ balanced running attack.
CLASS 4A
NO. 2 COAL CITY (9-1) at NO. 6 GENESEO (6-4)
Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday
Last week: Coal City 27, Peotone 20; Geneseo 17, Sandwich 0
Up next: Coal City would host Alleman or Stillman Valley.
The breakdown: Geneseo has a rich history of success in the playoffs. If the Maple Leafs can control the ball the way they did last week, Coal City will have a problem. Geneseo ran 55 plays to Sandwich’s 30 and used almost eight minutes in a drive to a second-half field goal. The Coalers, whose defense has been a staple all season, survived by stopping Interstate Eight Large rival Peotone at the 1-yard line as time expired. QB Brennen Shetina enjoyed a big game passing (8-of-13 passing, 162 yards, 2 TDs) and running (25 yards, TD). Ryland Tondini (778 yards) leads the Coalers’ ground game.
CLASS 3A
NO. 3 ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN (9-1) at NO. 11 WILMINGTON (8-2)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday
Last week: St. Joseph-Ogden 42, Aurora Central Catholic 23; Wilmington 31, Byron 14
Up next: Wilmington would host Sterling Newman or travel to Monmouth-Roseville.
The breakdown: Under 25-year coach Dick Duval, St. Joseph-Ogden has four second-place finishes on its resume. The two teams met in the playoffs three straight years, with St. Joseph-Ogden winning 26-7 in 2007 and Wilmington winning 41-6 in ’08 and 57-26 in ’09. Spartans RB Chase Patton has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and is just getting back from a shoulder injury. QB Dalton Walsh has passed for more than 1,000 yards. Wilmington, which will have a size advantage, sports a defense that has shut out five opponents. The Wildcats’ Mike Wolfe rushed for 182 yards and Chris Tworek chipped in 106 against Byron.
Compiled by Dick Goss
