Football capsules: Best of the rest, Rd. 2
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday
Up next: Wilmington would travel to Carthage Illini West or to Monticello.
Playoff history: St. Joseph-Ogden is in the playoffs for the 21st time, including 19th in succession. The Spartans are 37-20 in playoff games and have finished second four times. Wilmington is in for the 17th time, including 14th in succession. The Wildcats are 21-16 in playoff games and finished second once.
The rundown: This playoff matchup in Wilmington is getting to be habit as it happens for the third consecutive year. St. Joseph-Ogden won 26-7 in 2007 and Wilmington evened the score 41-6 last year. The Interstate Eight Small champion Wildcats have been especially strong defensively, allowing 10.5 points and an area-leading 108.5 yards per game. But the Spartans, featuring the passing of sophomore quarterback Blake Hoveln and the running of junior tailback Jake Bock, have been explosive offensively, averaging 35 points per game. They finished as the runnerup in the Sangamon Valley Conference behind Champaign St. Thomas More. Wilmington is No. 1 in the Joliet area in scoring offense, averaging 44.9 points. Senior wingback Cort Scheel has rushed for 920 yards and is averaging an area-best 11.4 per carry. Junior Jeremy Bailey has chipped in with 796 yards and averages 8.8. The two have combined for 28 rushing touchdowns, 41 total touchdowns and also are mainstays on the Wildcats' defensive unit, Bailey at linebacker and Scheel in the secondary. Senior quarterback Colin Webb has completed 40-of-63 passes, 63.5 percent, for 742 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday
Up next: Morris would host Bishop McNamara or travel to Geneseo.
Playoff history: Mendota is in the playoffs for the 13th time, including fourth in succession. The Trojans are 10-12 in playoff games. Morris is in for the 27th time, including ninth in succession, and is 60-23 in playoff games. The Redskins have won 3 state titles and finished second 6 times.
The rundown: Mendota claimed second place in the NCIC Lincoln, finishing behind Chillicothe IVC, while Morris shared the top spot in the NCIC Reagan. Mendota, which lost to playoff-bound Peoria Richwoods 16-9 in Week 9, features speedy running back Kurtis Knapp, a 1,000-yard rusher, and the Trojans have three other capable backs, plus a decent passing game. So a Morris defense that continues to play well will be challenged. The Redskins are allowing 204 total yards and 14.4 points per game. Mendota beat Elgin St. Edward 27-13 last week while Morris got past Chicago Raby 19-6. Redskins quarterback Martin Maldonado has completed 57-of-116 passes. 49.1 percent, for 818 yards and 8 touchdowns. But he has been intercepted an area-high 15 times. Junior Corey Scapellato stepped in and had a big game rushing the ball against Raby. Morris played a difficult nonconference schedule and was 2-4 at one point, but has won four straight. The Redskins have the largest enrollment in Class 4A.
Kickoff: 2 p.m. Saturday
Up next: Coal City would host Johnsburg or travel to Herscher.
Playoff history: Coal City is in the playoffs for the 21st time, including third in succession. The Coalers are 26-19 in playoff games and have finished first once and second once. Richmond-Burton is in for the 19th time, including third in succession, and is 20-17 in playoff games. The Rockets have won 1 state title.
The rundown: Coal City will attempt to avoid being the second Interstate Eight Large playoff entry to be eliminated by Big Northern East champion Richmond-Burton. The Rockets spanked Peotone 40-7 last week, while Coal City was posting a 30-7 victory over Dunlap. Coalers senior quarterback Colt Smith was on target, hitting 11-of-15 passes to an array of receivers for 175 yards. For the season, he has completed 81-of-124 for an area-best 65.3 percent. He has thrown for 1,088 yards and 12 touchdowns. Senior back Bobby Kroeger led the ground attack against Dunlap with 118 yards in 18 carries. Against Richmond-Burton, though, defense will be the key. The high-powered Rockets average 38 points per game. Coal City allows 15.5. Richmond-Burton has won seven straight games since a 25-7 loss to still-unbeaten Stillman Valley. Coal City has won four straight against four opponents whose seasons ended last week with 6-4 records.
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday
Up next: Lemont would travel to Danville or to Richards.
Playoff history: Morgan Park is in the playoffs for the 14th time, including 10th in succession, and is 15-13 in playoff games. Lemont is in for the 11th time, including sixth in succession. The Indians are 14-10 in playoff games and finished second each of the last two years.
The rundown: Lemont's toughest playoff game before the 6A state championship game a year ago came in Round 2, when the Indians and Morgan Park were locked in a 7-7 tie in the fourth quarter at Gately Stadium. Lemont eventually broke away for a 21-7 victory and went on to finish second for a second straight year. This season, Morgan Park is averaging 38.5 points and allowing 13.0. The Mustangs opened with a 19-3 win over Brother Rice, lost to Geneva 31-20 in Week 2 and beat Simeon 29-28 in Week 3. They also beat Hubbard 34-33 in Week 8 and opened the playoffs with a 16-7 win over Quincy. So Lemont's staunch defense, which allows a meager 5.8 points and 112.5 yards per game, will be tested. The Indians, in fact, have yielded 6 points total over the last five games, following a 16-10 overtime loss to Hillcrest in Week 5. Lemont, which opened the playoffs with a 37-0 win over Lincoln-Way North, relies offensively on senior tailback Danny Hayes, who has rushed for 1,269 yards and a 6.7 average.
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Friday
Up next: Lincoln-Way East would host East St. Louis or Minooka.
Playoff history: Lincoln-Way East is in the playoffs for the ninth straight year, all 9 years it has been a varsity program. The Griffins are 17-7 in playoff games and have won 1 state title. O'Fallon is in for the 16th time and is 9-15 in playoff games.
The rundown: O'Fallon scored touchdowns off a blocked punt and a fumble return in beating Lincoln-Way Central 16-0 last week. The Panthers have lost to Cahokia (JCA's opponent in a 5A game this weekend) 8-3 in the season opener, to East St. Louis 44-0 and to Belleville West 17-7. Their forte is defense, having held all seven of the teams they have beaten to a touchdown or less. O'Fallon also has a couple of good running backs in its stable to lead the offense. Lincoln-Way East, of course, is outstanding on both sides of the ball. The Griffins are scoring 38.8 points per game, second in the Joliet area, and are fourth in scoring defense at 10.7 per game. In addition, they are outgaining the opposition 391.5 yards to 174.9 on the average. Senior quarterback Ryne Van Gennep has completed 119-of-193 passes, 61.7 percent, for 1,675 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was 15-of-18 for 186 yards in last week's 35-7 win over Belleville West. Senior wide receiver Brandyn Jackson has caught 42 for 558 yards and 5 TDs. Senior Alex Evans has caught 27 for 442 yards and 4 touchdowns, and senior running back Kevin Starke, who has rushed for 803 yards in the 8 games he has played, provides another productive target.
