Herald-News quarterfinal football preview capsules

Updated: November 9, 2011 7:07PM

(Quarterfinals; includes seedings)

Class 8A

No. 3 Downers Grove S. (10-1) at No. 2 Bolingbrook (10-1)

Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday

Semifinal: Bolingbrook would travel to Naperville C. or to Homewood-Flossmoor.

The rundown: Downers Grove South finished second in the West Suburban Gold after suffering its only loss 20-14 to league champion Addison Trail in Week 9. But the Mustangs have roared back in the playoffs, ousting Naperville North 37-24 and Brother Rice 41-14. Bolingbrook is coming off a 21-7 victory over Mount Carmel. Downers South, which is in the playoffs for a 15th straight year and won a state title in 2001, has averaged 37.5 points and allowed 9.7 against a good schedule so the Raiders know they have their work cut out. Mustangs 5-9 running back Josh Williams has accumulated 2,238 rushing yards, slightly more than 200 per game. Downers South quarterback A.J. Simoncelli has been effective running and passing. The Mustangs also have a Division I caliber kicker in Anthony Farinella and a long snapper in Scott Daly who is committed to Notre Dame. Bolingbrook counters with quarterback Aaron Bailey, as dangerous a duo threat as there is anywhere, and a lightning-quick defense led by Florida-bound linebacker Anthony Morrison. The Raiders have been in the playoffs all 10 years that John Ivlow has been the head coach, and they are hoping to reach the semifinals for the first time under Ivlow.

Prediction: Bolingbrook 20, Downers Grove S. 17

Class 6A

No. 3 Chicago Hubbard (9-2) at No. 1 Lemont (11-0)

Kickoff: 6 p.m. Saturday

Semifinal: Lemont would host Danville or travel to Peoria Richwoods.

The rundown: The challenge for the Lemont defense, which is allowing only 8.1 points per game, is to limit Hubbard senior quarterback Quincy Skanes, a four-year varsity starter who is adept passing and running. Skanes rushed for 116 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s 29-13 win over Richards. The Greyhounds, who beat Bremen 17-7 in Round 1 and are in the playoffs for a 17th straight year, feature two-way lineman Mario Jones, a 6-3, 275-pounder who is committed to Northern Illinois, and defensive end/tight end Mikhail Dubose, also a Division I prospect. Lemont, a quarterfinalist for a fifth straight year, will have a numbers advantage as Hubbard is not particularly deep. Running back Mike Anzalone and quarterback Damon Aleman have kept the Indians’ offense moving forward. Anzalone has rushed for 1,327 yards and averages 6.5 per carry. Aleman has completed 47-of-91 passes, 51.6 percent, for 1,035 yards. That works out to 22 yards per completion, and he has thrown 16 touchdown passes while being intercepted once. Hubbard lost to Morgan Park 27-14 in Week 8 and Lemont opened the playoffs with a 56-30 win over Morgan Park.

Prediction: Lemont 35, Hubbard 18

Class 5A

No. 4 Joliet Catholic (9-2) at No. 2 Washington (10-1)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday

Semifinal: Joliet Catholic would host Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin or Chatham Glenwood.

The rundown: Joliet Catholic, coming off a 41-7 victory at Morris, is traveling to the Peoria area determined not to have a repeat of a year ago, when the Hilltoppers visited Peoria Richwoods and dropped a 17-14 quarterfinal decision. Washington, which Joliet Catholic beat 49-7 in the opening playoff game a year ago, has eliminated Dunlap 34-14 and Rich East 15-12 in this year’s postseason. The Panthers tied Metamora for the Mid-Illini Conference title and their only loss was to Metamora 27-24 in Week 8. Washington beat Richwoods 35-32 in Week 2, the week before Richwoods lost to Joliet Catholic 63-34. The key for Washington, which averages 32.3 points and allows 13.6, is quarterback/safety Isaac Fisher, the school record-holder for passing yards and passing touchdowns, the team’s leading tackler and the owner of 10 career interceptions. Joliet Catholic is averaging 46.9 points and 435.5 total yards, and the Hilltoppers are plus-17 in turnover margin. Wingback Ty Isaac, who has scored 37 touchdowns, within two of J.R. Zwierzynski’s school record for a season, needs 157 rushing yards to top 2,000.

Prediction: Joliet Catholic 38, Washington 21

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