Previewing the Fox Valley Conference Valley Division

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Players to watch:

Derek Brown

Woodstock, Senior, Quarterback

The Blue Streaks should greatly benefit from Brown’s experience as a third-year starter. He threw for 1,565 yards and 14 touchdowns last season.

Eric Chandler

Cary-Grove, Junior, Fullback

A 5-9, 183-pound junior ran like a man possessed after taking over for injured Nick Parfitt early in the season. The focus of C-G’s running game is its fullback, and the position’s in good hands with Chandler.

Alex Hembrey

Cary-Grove, Junior, Running Back

Hembrey started on defense last season at safety, but the Trojans will utilize his speed in the backfield this season. He is small (5-8, 158), but very fast and also will returns kicks and punts.

Matt Nelsen

Cary-Grove, Senior, Defensive Back

Nelsen returns as one of the area’s best defensive players on the area’s top defense for the last four seasons. He picked off nine passes last year, one of the highest totals in the state.

Jon Lesniak

McHenry, Senior, Defensive End

The Warriors’ defense should be solid with eight returning starters, including Lesniak (6-3, 190), who led them in sacks (11) last season.

Vince Benedetto

Crystal Lake South, Senior, Tight End-Defensive End

Benedetto (6-3 1/2, 220) is the third brother to come through South’s program, and the biggest. He will be a valuable performer on both sides of the line for the Gators.

Team on the Rise

Woodstock

The Blue Streaks bounced back nicely from their 1-8 season in 2006 to qualify for the playoffs. They can make even more of an impact in the FVC Valley this year with senior QB Derek Brown, a third-year starter, leading the charge.

Top three contenders

Cary-Grove, Crystal Lake South, McHenry

Pivotal Games

Crystal Lake South at McHenry

Friday, Sept. 26, 7:45 p.m.

South has won the last five meetings (including a 2004 playoff game), a streak the Warriors desperately want to end in the first week of division play.

Woodstock at Cary-Grove

Friday, Oct. 3, 7:45 p.m.

The Blue Streaks hope they fare better in the second week of division games than they did in the final two games of 2007, which they lost to the Trojans by a combined score of 57-7.

Crystal Lake South at Cary-Grove

Friday, Oct. 10, 7:45 p.m.

The games have drawn some huge crowds since 2004, but C-G has gotten the best of the Gators in regular-season contests.

McHenry at Woodstock

Friday, Oct. 17, 7:45 p.m.

McHenry has won the last two meetings in this rivalry. This game is big since these two appear the most likely candidates to give C-G some trouble.

Cary-Grove at McHenry

Friday, Oct. 24, 7:45 p.m.

The FVC Valley title could come down to this final game of the regular season at McHenry’s McCracken Field.

Predicted champion

Cary-Grove

The Trojans haven’t lost a Fox Valley Conference or FVC Valley Division game since 2003, so until someone knocks them off, they’re the favorite. C-G has won 28 FVC or Valley games in a row.