SC North's Mikes almost ready for action
St. Charles North's offense could be getting a big boost in the near future.
Junior receiver Josh Mikes is close to making his season debut after being sidelined for the first five games with a back injury. That could pose problems for opponents, who already face a tough task stopping senior receiver Jeffrey Stolzenburg.
Mikes, who starred for the North Stars varsity basketball team last year, checks in at 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds and is one of the most dynamic athletes in the Upstate Eight Conference. Stolzenburg is also 6-4, meaning junior quarterback Jake Bergren could have the benefit of throwing to two of the biggest targets in the league.
"(Mikes) is working to come back," North coach Mark Gould said. "He's got clearance and now we've just got to get the practices in. It was really nice to hear. Two 6-4 receivers isn't bad."
Stolzenburg already has 16 catches for 266 yards and five touchdowns. That's good for an average of 16.6 yards per reception.
The timing of Mikes' return could also prove critical given the absence of senior running back Jordan Huxtable, who was unavailable for last week's game against Larkin.
Huxtable missed North's first two contests with an ankle injury. Gould said Huxtable twisted an ankle in practice prior to last week's game, but then declined to answer when asked if the offensive star was sidelined for disciplinary reasons.
"I really can't say anything," Gould said.
Gould also couldn't elaborate on when Huxtable might return.
Bartlett feeling playoff pressure -- The season may be barely halfway complete, but Bartlett is already looking at every game as a must-win.
The Hawks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 38-14 win against Streamwood last week. The victory improved Bartlett's record to 2-3, moving the team one step closer to becoming playoff eligible for the 10th straight year.
But Hawks coach Tom Meaney doesn't know if simply being eligible for the postseason will be enough. Teams need to win six games or win a conference title to guarantee a spot in the playoffs. Teams with five wins have to qualify based on playoff points, which is largely tied to strength of schedule.
"Looking at our schedule and looking at the points, I think we may have to win out to make the playoffs," Meaney said. "We may need six wins to be able to make it, so our backs are up against the wall."
Reaching six wins will be easier said than done for Bartlett. The Hawks square off against surging South Elgin this week and also have upcoming games against current UEC leaders St. Charles East and Lake Park.
Challenges abound in SCC Gold -- St. Edward is coming off a convincing win against Aurora Central Catholic, but don't assume the Green Wave isn't still smarting from a 19-16 loss to Chicago Christian two weeks ago.
That setback stands as the Green Wave's only defeat, and it also dealt a blow to St. Edward's hopes of winning the Suburban Christian Conference Gold Division title.
Aurora Christian is alone atop the league standings with a 2-0 division mark. The Green Wave, Immaculate Conception, Wheaton Academy and Chicago Christian are all 1-1 and can be considered legitimate title contenders.
If anything is for sure, the loss to Chicago Christian taught St. Edward not to overlook its upcoming SCC Gold opponents that were members of the Private School League last year.
"Everybody is looking pretty tough in our division," said St. Edward coach Mike Rolando. "Chicago Christian brought a lot more than we thought they would and we won't be caught off guard again. I think all these teams are pretty tough up and down."
