Week 6 football preview capsules

Updated: September 29, 2011 8:24PM

Click the link to see the Herald-News Week 6 football preview capsules, the Naperville Sun Week 6 football preview capsules or the Beacon-News Week 6 football preview capsules.

Batavia at Geneva

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Outlook: One of the west suburbs’ premier rivalries has even more at stake than usual, with No. 17 Batavia (5-0, 2-0 Upstate Eight River) and No. 19 Geneva (5-0, 3-0) both heading into this showdown ranked and unbeaten. Batavia hasn’t been tested yet, thanks to an offense led by quarterback Noel Gaspari (68 of 101, 1,175 yards, nine touchdowns) and a defense that has allowed just six touchdowns all season. Geneva, which handed Wheaton North its only loss, also has an elite quarterback in Northern Illinois recruit Matt Williams.

Dunbar vs. Simeon

When: 7 p.m. Friday at Gately

Outlook: Those two losses to Mount Carmel and Jefferson City, Mo., to start the season are just fading memories for No. 18 Simeon (3-2, 2-0 Red Bird). The Wolverines have looked increasingly dominant each of the past three weeks as Arkansas-bound quarterback Robert Gregory gets closer to full strength after an early-season collarbone. Dunbar (3-2, 2-0) has had a similar story line, opening with back-to-back losses to Vernon Hills and Lincoln-Way East before getting in gear behind talented quarterback Darvell Harris.

Lincoln-Way East at Bolingbrook

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Outlook: A pair of explosive offenses meet with the SouthWest Suburban Blue lead on the line. No. 5 Lincoln-Way East (5-0, 3-0) is led by the senior duo of quarterback Blake Winkler (64 of 109, 1,200 yards, 16 touchdowns) and Illinois-bound receiver J.J. Robertson, who averages almost 30 yards per catch. He’s one of six Griffins who have caught touchdown passes this season. No. 8 Bolingbrook (5-0, 3-0) counters with quarterback Aaron Bailey, one of the rising stars of the Class of 2013, and a defense led by Florida-bound linebacker Antonio Morrison and defensive back Tevin Teamer, who had two interceptions last week vs. Homewood-Flossmoor.

Prairie Ridge at Crystal Lake South

When: 7:15 p.m. Friday

Outlook: No. 10 Crystal Lake South (5-0, 3-0 Fox Valley Valley) has been great defensively this season, allowing just five touchdowns. No. 11 Prairie Ridge (5-0, 2-0) has been even better, getting three shutouts and a 43-2 win in its last four games. This is the rivals’ third meeting since the beginning of the 2010 season; they split last year, with South winning in the regular season and Prairie Ridge prevailing in the Class 6A quarterfinals. Nick Nissen has passed for 742 yards and nine touchdowns for Prairie Ridge, while Crystal Lake South has a difference-maker in kicker Brad Walovitch, whose 51-yard field goal beat Cary-Grove in Week 3.

Stevenson at Lake Forest

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Outlook: No. 16 Stevenson (4-1, 3-0 North Suburban Lake) has won four straight since a season-opening loss at Lyons and has a showdown with No. 15 Lake Zurich at home next week. But the Patriots can’t overlook the Scouts (4-1, 2-0), who also are on a four-game run after losing their opener at Buffalo Grove. Running back Kevin Foley, who was sidelined by injury in the opener, has returned to give Stevenson’s offense a lift. Lake Forest’s Owen Williams is coming off a six-touchdown game (four rushing, two receiving) vs. North Chicago last week.

Mount Carmel at Loyola

When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday, WWME-TV

Outlook: This Catholic League Blue matchup went to visiting Mount Carmel in overtime last fall and could go down to the wire again. The No. 3 Caravan (5-0, 1-0) is running its option offense as well as ever, averaging 8.2 yards per carry with Brandon Greer (46 carries, 705 yards, eight touchdowns) leading the way. Linebacker Gavin Vrdolyak (dislocated shoulder) is expected back this week for Mount Carmel, but safety Justin Sanchez (broken collarbone) remains out. No. 6 Loyola (5-0, 1-0) has also shown plenty of offensive punch with playmakers like quarterback Malcolm Weaver, receivers Marquese Martin-Hayes and Charlie Dowdle and running back Willie Palivos.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.