Football capsules
Last year: Elgin 47, East Aurora 13
Notes: The Maroons have beaten the Tomcats 12 straight times dating to 1994 and in 20 of the past 22 meetings between the schools.
• Defense hasn't been a strong point for East Aurora, which is coming off a 55-6 loss to St. Charles North. The Tomcats are allowing 50.3 points per game. QB Brian Robinson ran for 66 yards in last week's game and is East's top offensive threat. The Tomcats are 6-69 since the start of the 2000 season and haven't reached the playoffs since 1982.
• Elgin will try to avoid an 0-4 start for the second straight year. The Maroons lost 28-14 at Crystal Lake Central last week despite leading at halftime. Elgin allowed 504 rushing yards in that contest. Senior RB/DB Jordan Dean ran for a touchdown and returned a kickoff for a touchdown last week and has five TDs for the year. Maroons quarterbacks have completed only 24.1 percent of their passes this year.
Quote: "We've got to be more proficient in passing. If we're not better in the passing game, people are going to load up the box and it's going to be that much tougher to run the ball."
-- Elgin coach Dave Bierman
Erik Jacobsen's pick: Elgin
Last year: Bartlett 31, Neuqua Valley 28
Notes: The Hawks beat the Wildcats for the first time in four meetings last year. Bartlett has won six of the past 10 contests between the schools.
• The Hawks look to end their first losing streak since 2006 after last week's 21-14 loss to Waubonsie Valley. Bartlett will look to cut back on turnovers after committing eight giveaways the past two weeks. Junior RB Aaron Thabuteau leads the team with 181 rushing yards on 48 carries. Tonight's game marks the only contest away from Millennium Field for the Hawks from Weeks 2-7.
• Neuqua Valley will look to avoid its first 0-4 start since 2000. The Wildcats lost to South Elgin 28-26 last week despite outgaining the Storm 488-168. Neuqua led in the second half of all three of its losses. Senior QB Joe Ippolito ran for 119 yards and four TDs and passed for 170 yards last week. Neuqua, which has an enrollment that is more than 1,000 students larger than any other UEC school, finished 4-5 last year and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2001.
Quote: "Our offense is going to have to go up against a very skilled, quick defense. They play a 3-5 and they blitz from everywhere. Our offensive line will have to be on the ball and able to pick up things."
-- Bartlett coach Tom Meaney
Erik Jacobsen's pick: Neuqua Valley
Last year: Did not play
Notes: Tonight's matchup of Upstate Eight Conference title contenders marks the first meeting between the Warriors and North Stars since 2002. Waubonsie Valley leads the all-time series 2-0.
• The Warriors will try to extend their winning streak to three games after beating Bartlett 21-14 last week. Senior QB Kenny Clay ran for a game-high 101 yards and 2 TDs and passed for another 101 yards and a score in the victory.
• North looks to continue its best start in school history after pummelling East Aurora 55-6 last week. Senior RB Jordan Huxtable returned to action after missing the first two games with an ankle injury and ran for two TDs on two carries. After using three quarterbacks in each of their first three games, the North Stars have named junior Jake Bergren as their starter. North's defense is holding opponents to 189.7 yards per game and 2.9 yards per rushing attempt.
Quote: "The road is definitely a lot tougher from now on. Our guys can't expect it to go the way the other games went."
-- North coach Mark Gould
Erik Jacobsen's pick: North
Last year: Lake Park 42, Streamwood 7
Notes: The Lancers have won four in a row against the Sabres and eight of the past 10 meetings between the schools dating to 1992.
• Streamwood looks to bounce back from a 41-7 loss in their UEC opener at St. Charles East last week. The Sabres defense is allowing 364.3 yards of offense and an area-worst 34 points per game. Sophomore Alex Morrow and seniors Wayne Holloway and Derrick King lead a formidable ground attack. This marks the first time since the season opener that all three players come into the game at full strength following a full week of practice.
• Lake Park rallied to beat Larkin 27-18 last week. Senior QB Larry Nawrot, a three-year varsity member, guides an offense that averages 26.3 points per game. The Lancers look to get one step closer to their first playoff appearance since 2006.
Quote: "(Lake Park) has got generally a pretty solid ballclub. It comes back to us taking advantage of the opportunities when they arise."
-- Streamwood coach Cal Cummins
Erik Jacobsen's pick: Lake Park
Last year: Did not play
Notes: The Royals look to bounce back after surrendering an 11-point halftime lead in a 27-18 loss to Lake Park. Senior RB Jalen Williams leads the area with 410 rushing yards on 75 carries. Larkin's defense has been stout, allowing only 171 yards per game and 3.2 yards per rushing attempt.
• The Caxys are coming off losses to a pair of state-ranked powerhouses, including a 56-28 setback against Bishop McNamara last week. Lake Forest Academy lost to Mount Carmel in Week 2. Senior QB Cole Moore leads the Caxys spread attack and his top target is sophomore WR Charles Harris. Lake Forest Academy is scoring 34.7 points per game, but its defense is allowing 40 points a game. The Caxys finished 4-6 last year.
• Lake Forest Academy is not a member of the IHSA and does not belong to any conference. The private school actively pursues and recruits students from all over the world. Its 43-man football team includes 12 international players.
Quote: "(Lake Forest Academy) runs a true spread offense. They are a team that is dangerous from a big-play standpoint and can really put some points on the board."
-- Larkin coach Matt Gehrig
Erik Jacobsen's pick: Larkin
Last year: Did not play
Notes: Tonight's game marks the first Suburban Christian Conference Gold Division showdown between the Knights and Green Wave. Located in Palos Heights, Chicago Christian comes from the Private School League.
• Despite their sub-.500 record, the Knights represent another formidable test for St. Edward. Chicago Christian took a lead into the fourth quarter last week before losing 20-15 its league opener to Aurora Christian. Junior QB Jason VanderLaan leads an offense that Green Wave coach Mike Rolando says is similar to the double-wing attack St. Edward saw in Week 1 against Hampshire. The Knights also run the option at times. The Knights haven't had a losing season since 1996.
• The Green Wave looks to carry the momentum from last week's 46-38 win at state-ranked Immaculate Conception. St. Edward can improve to 4-0 for the first time since 1984 with a victory. A prolific offense has been key to the Wave's success so far this year. St. Edward leads the area with 45 points per game. The Wave is averaging 485.3 yards of offense per contest and 9.5 yards per rushing attempt. Junior QB Ben Lehman threw for 3 TDs last week and senior RB David Hoebbel and senior FB Jordan Torres are both averaging over 100 rushing yards a game.
Quote: "Offensively, when you have that many weapons and tools that are successful, it all comes down to the offensive line. It doesn't matter who we're giving the ball to or how we're moving the ball. The offensive line is protecting Ben when we pass and they are opening up great holes when we run."
-- Rolando
Erik Jacobsen's pick: St. Edward
Last year: Oregon 20, Central 7
Notes: The Rockets notched their first win of the season last week, knocking off Byron 35-13. Junior quarterback Tim Maroder led his team's offensive breakthrough, running for 164 yards and three TDs and passing for another score. After mustering only 256 yards of offense through the first two weeks, Central compiled 358 yards against the Tigers.
• The three-time defending BNC West champion Hawks picked up their first win of the year last week by beating Hampshire 35-13. Oregon was outgained 277-195 in that contest but took a comfortable 21-0 lead into the fourth quarter. Nick McKeown ran for 71 yards and a pair of TDs in the triumph.
• Tonight's game marks the final non-conference contest for both teams. Oregon beat Central each of the past two years.
Quote: "When we play Oregon it is always a physical battle. Their offensive line year in and year out is very good and they come off the ball pretty hard. They are a physical team."
-- Central coach Aaron Wichman
Erik Jacobsen's pick: Central
Last year: Hampshire 20, Byron 6
Notes: Tonight's game marks only the second meeting between the Whip-Purs and Tigers since 1994. Byron has won eight of the past 10 in the series.
• Hampshire looks to avoid its first 0-4 start since 2002 after losing to Oregon 35-13 last week. The Whips outgained the Hawks 277-195 and snapped a streak of seven straight quarters without a point with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Senior Ryan Burke made his first start at quarterback and completed 14 of 21 passes for 188 yards and 2 TDs. Joe Peralta, who started under center the first two games, moves to right tackle. Hampshire is averaging an area-worst 6.3 points per game.
• The Tigers are coming off a 35-13 loss at Burlington Central. Byron will be trying to avoid its first 0-4 start since 1992. RB Jared King has run for 231 yards and three TDs the past two weeks.
Quote: "We have to be more consistent on both sides of the ball. We've had flashes on offense and defense, but then we'll have a breakdown here or there and a lot of times that's a problem."
-- Hampshire coach Dan Cavanaugh
Erik Jacobsen's pick: Byron
Last year: G-K 42, North Boone 9
Notes: The Cogs have dominated the Vikings in the three years since North Boone joined the BNC, winning the three meetings between the teams by a combined score of 121-16.
• Junior QB Alex Albrecht leads a prolific Vikings offense that averages 48.7 points per game. North Boone trounced Rockford Lutheran 60-24 last week. Albrecht leads all BNC quarterbacks with 801 passing yards and 11 passing TDs. He also leads the Vikings with 382 rushing yards. His top target is twin brother Jon Albrecht, who has 14 catches for 290 yards and four TDs. North Boone can improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2004 with a win.
• G-K looks to bounce back from a humbling 27-6 loss at Harvard. The Cogs entered that game having outscored their first two opponents 85-0. G-K will be without senior RB/LB Garrett Johnsen after he broke all five toes on his right foot last week. The unanimous 2008 All-BNC West honoree will miss the rest of the season. The Cogs expect senior Nick Lopez, the team's leading receiver, to return from an ankle injury.
Quote: "(Alex Albrecht) is the real deal. He can run the ball, he can throw it on a dime and he's a good-sized kid. He's just a good player. "
-- G-K coach Bill McCarty
Erik Jacobsen's pick: North Boone
Last year: Did not play
Notes: The Red Raiders beat the Blue Streaks 14-13 in their most recent meeting in 2006. The teams have split their four matchups since Huntley joined the FVC in 2003.
• Woodstock is coming off a 60-6 thrashing at the hands of state-ranked Cary-Grove last week. Senior QB Logan Kunzie leads an offense that is averaging only 11 points per game. Despite holding Grayslake North to three points in a Week 2 win, the Blue Streaks defense is still surrendering an average of 34.7 points.
• The Raiders maintained the No. 10 ranking in the Class 7A state poll after hammering Woodstock North 47-7. Senior RB Brett Kleckner ran for 92 yards and a pair of TDs in the triumph. Huntley will try to improve to 4-0 for the second straight year in its final tuneup before opening FVC Valley play next week at McHenry.
Quote: "(Woodstock) will match up with us very well. We think both teams have an equal shot at winning so it will be an interesting challenge for us."
-- Huntley coach Steve Graves
Erik Jacobsen's pick: Huntley
