Week 8 football preview capsules

Updated: October 13, 2011 6:05PM

Click the link to view the SouthtownStar football preview capsules, the Naperville Sun and the Herald-News football preview capsules.

Bishop McNamara vs. Leo

When: 7 p.m. Friday at U. of Chicago

Outlook: Quarterback Channing Dolliger and the Fighting Irish (5-2), who almost knocked off St. Rita last week, will try for the second time to give 37th-year McNamara coach Rich Zinnani his 300th career win. Because the Catholic League White and Red divisions have just five teams each and no automatic playoff berths, both the Irish and Leo (4-3) – which is paced by running back Keith Harris Jr. – both need wins to enhance their postseason hopes.

Loyola at Brother Rice

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Outlook: No. 4 Loyola (7-0, 2-0) can’t afford to look ahead to a Week 9 showdown with St. Rita that will have major Catholic Blue title implications. The Ramblers will rely as usual on elusive quarterback Malcolm Weaver and a deep receiving corps, while No. 24 Brother Rice (5-2, 1-2) will try to keep Weaver off the field with a running attack led by Andrew and Martez Walker.

Mount Carmel at St. Rita

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Outlook: This South Side rivalry game may not produce many points; both defenses have been among the area’s best all season. Defensive back Charles Elmore and linebacker Will McNamara lead No. 9 St. Rita (6-1, 2-0 Catholic Blue), which has held four opponents to a touchdown or less. Linebackers Derrick Bryant (45 tackles) and DJ Romero (40 tackles, 10 tackles for loss) pace No 6 Mount Carmel (6-1, 1-1), which held Loyola to 12 points – 28 below its average.

Jacobs at Crystal Lake South

When: 7:15 p.m. Friday

Outlook: Jacobs (6-1, 3-1 Fox Valley Valley) doesn’t have much time to dwell on last week’s 35-14 loss to league leader Prairie Ridge, which also handed Crystal Lake South (6-1, 4-1) its only defeat. No. 18 Crystal Lake South relies on a defense that has held everyone other than Prairie Ridge under 12 points. Jacobs, which was averaging 38 points a game before last week, counters with a diverse attack led by quarterback Jason Judson and running backs Caz Zyks and Kyle Wright.

Lake Forest at Lake Zurich

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Outlook: After opening with a loss to a Buffalo Grove team that hasn’t won since, Lake Forest (6-1, 4-0) has reeled off six straight wins behind the running of Owen Williams and a defense that has allowed under 10 points a game during the win streak. Quarterback Zach Till and No. 22 Lake Zurich (5-2, 3-1) will try to bounce back from last week’s loss at Stevenson and forge a three-way tie for the league lead.

York at Glenbard West

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Outlook: This looked like it would be a showdown of West Suburban Silver unbeatens, but Lyons spoiled that story line by knocking off York (5-2, 3-1) 29-27 last week on a 47-yard field goal as time expired. No. 2 Glenbard West (7-0, 4-0) has been tested just twice this season, by WW South in Week 1 and by previously unbeaten Addison Trail last week. But big-time recruits Tommy Schutt (Penn State) and Johnny Caspers (Stanford) have keep the Hilltoppers on track.

© 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.