Herald-News Week 9 football preview capsules

Updated: October 19, 2011 6:20PM

Joliet Catholic (7-1, 6-1) at Marist (6-2, 6-1)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: The winner likely will share the East Suburban Catholic title with Nazareth. Marist, with its spread attack, is coming off a wild 64-63 double-overtime victory over Carmel, while Joliet Catholic has regained its swagger following a 24-21 loss to Nazareth in Week 6. The Hilltoppers, ranked No. 2 in the area and No. 14 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times, drilled St. Patrick 56-7 last week as Ty Isaac rushed for 181 yards and four touchdowns in only seven carries. Isaac (106 carries, 1283 yards) has joined his father Tyrone (166-1,136) as the only father-son combination in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards.

Lincoln-Way E. (8-0, 6-0) at Joliet W. (2-6, 2-4)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday

The rundown: Lincoln-Way East earned its 100th victory in only 11 varsity seasons last week against Joliet Central, and now the Griffins, ranked No. 1 in the area and No. 3 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times, look to clinch the SouthWest Suburban Blue title and enter the 7A playoffs with a high seed. Joliet West has lost two straight. The Tigers scored in their 56-19 loss to Homewood-Flossmoor last week on kickoff returns by Kameron Hargrove and Korey Rogers and a fumble return by Matt Koran.

Lincoln-Way C. (1-7, 0-6) at Joliet C. (0-8, 0-6)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday

The rundown: Lincoln-Way Central senior Brett Ditchman has been among the area rushing leaders all season and is the man Joliet Central has to stop if the Steelmen hope to gain their first SouthWest Suburban Blue victory. The Knights, who have been outscored by a combined 87-7 the last two weeks in losses to Lincoln-Way East and Bolingbrook, allow 34.3 points per game while the Steelmen score 2.5.

Lockport (6-2, 4-2) at Bolingbrook (7-1, 5-1)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Lockport clinched a playoff bid with last week’s 27-24 overtime victory over Sandburg. Dexter Taylor had two big kickoff returns, one for a touchdown, and scored the winning TD on a 4-yard run in overtime. Bolingbrook, ranked No. 3 in the area and No. 8 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times, is out to sew up no worse than second place in the SouthWest Suburban Blue and enter the playoffs with a high seed.

Plainfield N. (4-4, 3-3) at Plainfield S. (4-4, 3-3)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: The district and Southwest Prairie rivals come in knowing the loser will be out of the playoffs and the winner likely will be in. Plainfield North broke a two-game losing streak last week and South snapped a three-game skid. North won last year’s match-up 43-35 and that helped the Tigers earn a share of the SPC title with South and Minooka.

Plainfield C. (5-3, 3-3) at Romeoville (2-6, 1-5)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Plainfield Central is low on playoff points and will not qualify for the playoffs unless it beats Soutwest Prairie foe Romeoville. Two quick third-quarter touchdowns set up by special teams doomed Central in a 21-6 loss to Oswego last week. Romeoville gave Minooka a battle before falling 52-20.

Minooka (6-2, 6-0) at Oswego (6-2, 6-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: The Southwest Prairie championship is on the line as the old rivals, both of whom dropped two nonconference games but are unbeaten in the SPC, square off. Oswego must stop Minooka running back Kalvin Hill, who injured an ankle last week but should be good to go, while the Indians must contend with the passing of Ryan West. Minooka won last year’s game 27-21.

Providence (5-3, 0-3) at Mount Carmel (6-2, 1-2)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Gately Stadium

The rundown: Providence, seeking its first Chicago Catholic Blue victory, has qualified for the playoffs. The Celtics’ offense has scored 100 points over the last two weeks, wins over Lake Forest Academy and St. Ignatius. Mount Carmel, which beat Providence 35-0 in the 2010 season finale and is ranked No. 11 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times, lost to Loyola and St. Rita over the last three weeks.

Oak Forest (6-2, 3-2) at Lemont (8-0, 5-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Lemont already has clinched another South Suburban Blue title and now looks to complete a perfect regular season and grab one of the highest playoff seeds in 6A. The Indians, ranked No. 5 in the area and No. 15 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times, are outscoring the opposition 40.5-4.0 on the average.

Kaneland (8-0, 4-0) at Morris (8-0, 4-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Kaneland, winner of 17 straight regular-season games over two seasons, is averaging 44.7 points and has scored no fewer than 34 in any game. So if Morris, ranked No. 4 in the area and No. 20 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times, is to win the Northern Illinois Big 12 East championship, its defense must step up. Defense was key last week when the Redskins escaped Rochelle 14-10, with the decisive points coming on quarterback Austin Feeney’s 58-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Around the Interstate Eight

Games of local interest in the I-8, all crossovers, include Coal City (7-1) at Dwight (1-7), Sandwich (6-2) at Wilmington (6-2), Peotone (3-5) at Seneca (3-5) and Reed-Custer (0-8) at Manteno (7-1). Coal City beat Wilmington 20-14 last week in a battle of playoff-bound teams, and both need to win this week to secure the highest playoff seeds possible.

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