The Big Games

The day that every football player in his teens dreams about has arrived. The Big Game. The one where you leave it all on the field. The one that memories are made. It's time to crown the State Champion. If these games play out anything close to the barn burners last weekend, the entire state of Illinois is in for a few treats this weekend. Lets see....

Friday, November 27

4A

[7]Metamora 41, [8]Geneseo 7
..............................................................................

Saturday, November 28

5A

[12]Montini 29, [6]Joliet Catholic 28

..............................................................................

6A

[1]Cary-Grove 34, [2]Providence 17
..............................................................................

7A

[2]WW South 31, [1]Glenbard West 24---2 OT
..............................................................................

8A

[1]Maine South 41, [4]Marist 17

Game of the Week

Sure, there are 32 games this weekend. But only one can be named Game of the Week. Since my boys bowed out last week against East St. Louis, they obviously can no longer can be my choice. But there are plenty of other area teams that I can root for. But will I?

Let's start it off.

Can [3]Loyola stymie the always surprising [10]Mount Carmel?

Can high rolling [12]St. Charles North upset the unbeaten [1]Glenbard West?

Will [3]Crete-Monee keep the dream alive as they travel to [2]Providence?

Can [5]De La Salle keep the city alive by beating [1]Cary-Grove?

Will Dan Sharp's boys live up to the legacy that he has has built when
[2]Washington visits Memorial Stadium to battle [6]Joliet Catholic?

All great games to catch, but The Game of the Week will be between the two unbeatens down in 3A:

[2]Wilmington goes to pay a visit to [1]Illini West.

Area Leaders From Week 11

These following players were the top dogs this last weekend.

QB:

1. Walter Broder, Highland Park (7-4): 261 yds, 3 tds
2. Tyler Benz, Maine South (11-0): 195 yds, 4 tds
3. Malik Thurman, Proviso West (6-5): 192 yds, td
4. Mike Pullano, Glenbrook South (9-2): 162 yds, 5 tds
5. DaRon Brown, Morgan Park (?-?): 155 yds passing, 257 yards rushing, 4 tds

RB:

1. Alex Hambry, Cary-Grove (11-0): 212, 4 tds
2. Tim Hanrahan, Providence (10-1): 199 yds, td
3. Evan Wright, Fremd (11-0): 181 yds, 2 tds
4. Jamel Martin, Bolingbrook (9-2): 173 yds
5. Travis Starks, St. Rita (9-1): 148 yds, td

WR:

1. Matt McEnry, Elk Grove (7-4): 121 yds, td
2. Kyle Prater, Proviso West (6-5): 94 yds, td
3. ???
4. ???
5. ???

Defense:

1. Tyler Plantz, Providence (10-1): 18 tackles
2. John Huganin, Oswego, (?-?): 10 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 int
3. Joe Quinlan, Providence (10-1): 10 tackles
3. Ray Ames, Providence (10-1): 10 tackles
5. Allan Wielgus, Lemont (10-1): 8 tackles, fumble recovery

HESTER-ISH:

1. Cole Stern, Highland Park (7-4): 98-yard kickoff return for td
2. Artie Monaco, Lake Park (8-3) 98-yard kickoff retun for td
3. ???
4. ???
5. ???

Game of the Week

So, it's Week 8 and it's pretty much determined who it is that will be playing in the playoffs at the end of the month. What class these teams will actually land is yet to be determined, but, that never really has mattered to me. If a team is good enough to get to the dance, it doesn't matter who they're dancing with, all they need to do is dance. If you didn't pick up on it, the dance is the playoffs.

This coming weekend will be big, with explosive game after explosive game.

Somebody's door to a beautiful, undefeated season will be closed this weekend when
(22)Crystal Lake South goes to (19)Cary-Grove Friday night to battle at 7:15.

(9)Glenbard North plays host and hopes to derail (3)WW South Friday night at 7:30.

Two of the L-W schools will do the dance Friday as well as (25)L-W Central hosts (10)L-W East at 7 o'clock.

Dan Sharp's boys at (13)Joliet Catholic go to (21)Marian Catholic to try and better their playoff spot.

And a newby to Steve Tucker's Top 25, (20)Glenbrook South will try to upset (1)Maine South Saturday at 1:30 in the afternoon.

But then there is the game that matters most to me, and since this is my blog, I can admit this game to the list; Minooka at Oswego, 7 p.m. Friday.

With a win, 5-2 Minooka will lock up a spot in the dance. With a loss, they'll have to really step it up for their season ender. Oswego, also 5-2, is sitting in the same boat as the Indians. If the Panthers win, they're in, with a loss, they've got to step it up as well.

Predictions:

Cary-Grove 28, Crystal Lake South 26
Glenbard North 37, WW South 21
L-W East 39, L-W Central 12
Joliet Catholic 56, Marian Catholic 38
Maine South 35, Glenbrook South 32
Minooka 49, Oswego 37