Created: Friday, August 27, 2010 12:09 a.m. CST Updated: Friday, August 27, 2010 12:28 a.m. CST FONT SIZE:   Week 1 football preview capsulesLast season’s overall and conference records are in parantheses. Fox Valley Conference Fox Division Johnsburg (8-4, 4-2) at When: 7:15 p.m. Where: William C. Eiserman Stadium. About the Skyhawks: Johnsburg is coming off its best playoff performance in school history when it advanced to the Class 4A quarterfinals. Since 2005, the Skyhawks have made the playoffs in odd-numbered years and missed in evens. About the Rams: Grayslake Central seems to be a program on the rise – the Rams’ four wins last season were more than the previous four years combined. Grayslake Central has several key returning players and could make a playoff push. Woodstock (9-4, 5-1) When: 7:15 p.m. today. Where: Prairie Ridge Athletic Stadium. About the Blue Streaks: Woodstock lost to the Wolves, 41-14, in last year’s opener and was 1-2 after three games, but the Streaks put things together after that and wound up in the Class 5A playoff semifinals. The Streaks tied for the FVC Fox title with Crystal Lake Central. About the Wolves: Prairie Ridge tied with Johnsburg for third place in the FVC Fox last season, but advanced to the Class 6A playoff semifinals, the first time in school history the Wolves had made it that far. Grayslake North (3-6, 1-5) at Woodstock North (0-9, 0-6) When: 7:15 p.m. Where: Woodstock North High School. About the Knights: Grayslake North’s three wins were the most in its first four seasons, and Knights coach Steve Wood thinks this team is poised for more this season. About the Thunder: Woodstock North gets to play its first season with a senior class, although Thunder coach Jeff Schroeder still will have a young team. Some Thunder starters have returned, but at different positions, while younger players stepped in at starting positions. Northeastern Athletic Conference Alden-Hebron (7-3, 7-2) at Christian Liberty Academy (0-9, 0-9) When: 1 p.m. Saturday. Where: Arlington Heights. About the Giants: A-H has been to the playoffs seven consecutive seasons under head coach John Lalor. The Giants have won at least seven games each of the past five seasons. About the Chargers: Christian Liberty lost to A-H, 63-0, in last year’s season opener. Non-conference St. Edward (6-4) When: 7 p.m. today. Where: Hampshire Athletic Field. About the Green Wave: St. Edward made the playoffs last year for the first time since 2003. About the Whip-Purs: Hampshire suffered its first losing last year since 2003, when the Whips were 3-6. Big Foot (14-0) When: 7 p.m. today. Where: Dan Horne Field. About the Chiefs: Big Foot defeated Kewaunee, 42-13, last season for the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Div. 4 state championship. The Chiefs were runners-up in 2008. Big Foot is 27-1 the past two seasons. About the Hornets: Harvard has six consecutive winning seasons and made the playoffs five of those years. Oregon (6-5) When: 7 p.m. today. Where: R-B Athletic Complex. About the Hawks: Oregon has made the playoffs four consecutive seasons. The Hawks lost last year’s season opener against R-B, 35-7. About the Rockets: R-B is coming off back-to-back Class 4A playoff semifinal appearances. The Rockets return five starters from last season, led by QB Adam Pittser, who is 19-7 as a starter. R-B is tied for ninth in The Associated Press Class 4A poll this week. North Chicago (1-8) When: 7 p.m. today. Where: George Harding Field. About the Warhawks: North Chicago made the playoffs every year from 2001 through 2006 but has won seven games total in the past three seasons. About the Hurricanes: Marian has made the playoffs five of the seven years Ed Brucker has been coach there. The only years the ’Canes missed were when QB Jon Budmayr was a freshman and in his senior season, when he suffered a broken collarbone in the season opener and missed the rest of the season. Marian is tied for No. 10 in the Class 5A poll. Cary-Grove (14-0) When: 7:15 p.m. today. Where: Owen Metcalf Field. About the Trojans: C-G won the Class 6A state championship and starts the season ranked No. 2 in Class 6A. The Trojans have lost only one regular-season game since 2004. About the Tigers: Central lost the season opener to C-G, 40-0, last season, but won its next seven games. Central won its first playoff game in 31 years and was among teams receiving votes in this week’s Class 6A poll. CL South (9-2) at Grant (4-5) When: 7:15 p.m. Where: Grant High School in Fox Lake. About the Gators: South’s nine-year string of making the playoffs is the longest among area teams. The Gators should make it 10 with the team they have returning. South is ranked No. 6 in Class 7A. About the Bulldogs: Grant made the playoffs four consecutive seasons before last year and made the Class 6A quarterfinals in 2008. Huntley (5-5) When: 7:15 p.m. Where: Wauconda High School. About the Red Raiders: Matt Gehrig takes over as coach for Steve Graves, who retired after the Raiders’ most successful stint in school history. Huntley is trying to make the playoffs for a third consecutive season. About the Bulldogs: Wauconda’s only winning season since 1998 came in 2007 when the Bulldogs were 7-3 and made the Class 5A playoffs. Elgin (3-6) When: 7:30 p.m. Where: D-C Bowl. About the Maroons: Elgin has not had a winning season since 2001. The Maroons lost to D-C, 19-18, in last year’s season opener. About the Chargers: D-C returns some explosive players on offense in RB Danny Sharp (512 yards) and QB Tanner Kotlan (1,068 yards passing). Chargers coach Mike Davis thinks this team is improved over last season. The question is whether that means more victories. McHenry (4-5) at Larkin (5-4) When: 7:30 p.m. Where: Elgin High School Field. About the Warriors: McHenry missed the playoffs for the second consecutive year after a remarkable string of 20 playoff appearances in a row. The Warriors moved the ball well later in the year through a quick, short passing game. QB Robert Tonyan takes over to run the offense this season. About the Royals: Larkin defeated the Warriors, 15-6, in last year’s season opener, but fell short of the necessary points to make the playoffs. That win, ultimately, cost McHenry a spot in the playoffs. Jacobs (2-7) When: 1 p.m. Saturday. Where: Joliet West High School About the Golden Eagles: Illinois Football Coaches Association Hall of Famer Bill Mitz makes his debut as Jacobs’ coach after 28 seasons at Stevenson. Mitz, a resident of Fox River Grove, retired as a teacher and coach at Stevenson and jumped at the chance to continue coaching. About the Steelmen: Joliet coach Jason Aubry had a great two-year run at Johnsburg in 2004 and ’05 when the Skyhawks were 17-5. Aubry’s teams are 4-32 in four years in Joliet. Chicago Christian (4-5) When: 5 p.m. Saturday. Where: Rod Poppe Fields. About the Knights: Chicago Christian had its nine-year playoff string halted last year in large part because of a 20-0 loss in the season opener to Marengo. About the Indians: Marengo’s program showed signs of turning things around last season under coach Matt Lynch with a two-game winning streak to start the season. The Indians have RB Bobby Gaines (545 yards rushing) back and hope they can repeat last year’s strong start. – Joe Stevenson, jstevenson@nwherald.com |
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