Playoff football preview capsules

Updated: October 27, 2011 11:45AM

Class 8A

H-F at Marist

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Outlook: Few teams can light up the scoreboard like Marist (7-2), which scored 120 points en route to wins over Carmel (64-63 in double OT) and Joliet Catholic (56-51) the past two weeks. RedHawks quarterback Ian Woodworth has thrown for 1,009 yards and 12 touchdowns in those games alone (28 total) with Nic Wieshar, Ryan Carroll and Ryan Meyer among his targets. H-F (6-3) has a prolific passer of its own in 6-foot-7 Tim Williams (27 touchdowns), so don’t expect a defensive struggle.

Sandburg at Brother Rice

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Outlook: Both teams are battle-tested after playing in two of the state’s premier conferences: Sandburg (6-3) in the SouthWest Suburban Blue and Brother Rice (6-3) in the Catholic League Blue. Kicker Teddy Vergados could give the Eagles an edge in a close game. Rice will again rely on the running of Martez and Andrew Walker, who have combined for 1,865 yards and 29 touchdowns rushing.

Class 7A

Carmel at Addison Trail

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Outlook: Addison Trail (8-1) relies on a defense that held Glenbard West to a season-low 14 points (24 below average) and limited Downers South back Josh Williams to a season-low 59 yards after he had about 1,900 in the first eight weeks. Carmel (6-3) counters with one of the area’s deepest running games, led by Jordan Kos (1,342 yards, 18 touchdowns), Brian Brennan (761 yards, nine touchdowns) and Michael Panico (552 yards, 10 touchdowns).

Providence at WW South

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Outlook: This opener matches two of Illinois’ iconic programs – two-time defending Class 7A champ Wheaton Warrenville South (6-3) with seven state titles and Providence (6-3) with nine championships. Ball-hawking defensive back Troy Sheppard has eight interceptions for Providence, which is coming off a Week 9 win over Mount Carmel. Northwestern-bound back Dan Vitale and a stingy defense have made the difference for WW South, which has won five straight after a 1-3 start.

Geneva at Lake Zurich

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Outlook: Northern Illinois-bound quarterback Matt Williams will try to help Geneva (7-2) improve to 14-0 all-time in IHSA playoff openers. Lake Zurich (7-2), last year’s Class 7A runner-up, counters with a defense led by linebacker Jack Lynn, a Minnesota recruit. The reward for the winner? A likely second-round matchup with Penn State-bound defensive lineman Tommy Schutt and 9-0 Glenbard West.

Class 6A

Crystal Lake Central at Cary-Grove

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Outlook: Teams from the Fox Valley Conference’s two divisions have made a habit of playing deep into November, a trend that likely will continue this season. Quinn Baker has more than 1,200 yards of total offense and 19 touchdowns for Cary-Grove (7-2), which knocked off previously unbeaten Prairie Ridge last week and earlier beat Lake Zurich. Fox Valley Fox tri-champ Crystal Lake Central (6-3) relies on a balanced attack that features back Matt MacAlpine among others.

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