Herald-News Week 4 football capsules

Updated: September 14, 2011 6:41PM

Joliet Central (0-3, 0-1) at Lockport (2-1, 0-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: The oldest rivalry in the immediate Joliet area is renewed with both teams out to forget their SouthWest Suburban Blue season debuts of a week ago. Joliet Central fell to Bolingbrook 60-6, and Lockport lost to Lincoln-Way East 38-7 despite Ted Snidanko’s 102-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Porters won last year’s meeting 42-6. The Steelmen are seeking their first victory since Joliet Township returned to separate programs in 2010.

Joliet West (0-3, 0-1) at Bolingbrook (3-0, 1-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Joliet West has been competitive, including last week’s SouthWest Suburban Blue opener, when the Tigers fell to unbeaten Sandburg 35-28. SaVaughn Alexander rushed for 202 yards, but mistakes have hurt the Tigers’ cause. Bolingbrook, featuring quarterback Aaron Bailey and strong defense, has been explosive in the early going and appears ready to challenge for the conference championship this season. The Raiders are ranked No. 3 in the Joliet area by The Herald-News and No. 19 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times.

St. Viator (0-3, 0-3) at Joliet Catholic (3-0, 2-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday at Memorial Stadium

The rundown: Joliet Catholic is coming off a 63-34 victory over Richwoods in a game in which the Hilltoppers totaled nearly 600 yards of offense. Area rushing leader Ty Isaac and Malin Jones combined for 524 yards — 288 by Isaac, 236 by Jones. That was the most by two Joliet Catholic running backs in 92 years of Hilltoppers football. While Joliet Catholic, No. 1 in the Joliet area by The Herald-News and No. 4 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times, is averaging 45.7 points, East Suburban Catholic foe St. Viator is allowing 49.7 per game.

Plainfield Central (2-1, 0-1) at Plainfield North (1-2, 0-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Two teams with thoughts of challenging in the Southwest Prairie Conference race collide in what has become an early must-win situation. Plainfield Central fell to Minooka 52-20 last week while Plainfield North committed seven turnovers and slipped against Plainfield East 38-12. Both teams feature good offenses led by talented QBs — Central’s Tim Blake and North’s Kurt Palandech. North won last year’s meeting 33-14.

Plainfield East (1-2, 1-0) at Minooka (1-2, 1-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: What Plainfield East accomplished in last week’s 38-12 victory over Plainfield North turns this Southwest Prairie Conference battle into a featured attraction. Minooka also scored its first victory, 52-20 over Plainfield Central, so the winner knows it can do no worse than share the league lead when this weekend is in the books. Led by Juwan Straughter and Myles Walters, the Bengals used seven turnovers as the springboard to beating North. The Indians’ offense exploded for 42 first-half points in the win over Central.

Romeoville (1-2, 0-1) at Plainfield South (2-1, 1-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Romeoville challenged Oswego before falling 25-14 in the Southwest Prairie Conference opener, while Plainfield South won at Oswego East 34-27. This game has produced fireworks in the past and may again. South, which won last year’s match-up 41-20, must contend with Spartans RB Perez Ford and QB James Rooks. The Cougars like to get the ball in the hands of TB Dantrell Wright, an All-Area receiver a year ago.

Loyola (3-0, 0-0) at Providence (3-0, 0-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Loyola is ranked No. 7 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times, so Providence will need its “A” game for the Catholic Blue opener. The Celtics beat St. Laurence 49-31 last week as their running game clicked behind a huge offensive line. Loyola’s signature victory to date was a 41-24 win over Montini in Week 2. In 2010, the Ramblers beat Providence 21-7.

Lincoln-Way East (3-0, 1-0) at Homewood-Flossmoor (3-0, 1-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: There may not be two teams in the Chicago area more impressive so far than these two SouthWest Suburban Blue rivals. Lincoln-Way East has outscored three opponents by a combined 132-35 while Homewood-Flossmoor owns a 165-13 scoring margin. The Griffins, No. 2 in the Joliet area by The Herald-News, are No. 6 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times, one slot below the Vikings. Quarterbacks are in the spotlight as East’s Blake Winkler duels H-F’s Tim Williams.

Andrew (1-2, 1-0) at Lincoln-Way West (2-1, 1-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: West rebounded from a Week 2 loss to Crete-Monee with a 35-6 victory over Thornridge as Nick Dangles rushed for 132 yards in 17 carries. If the Warriors hope to challenge for the SouthWest Suburban Red title, this is one they need to get. Andrew blanked Stagg 24-0 a week ago. Last year, this was a thriller as West topped Andrew 23-20.

Lincoln-Way Central (1-2, 0-1) at Sandburg (3-0, 1-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Central renews its rivalry with SouthWest Suburban Blue foe Sandburg a week after opening league play with a turnover-plagued 42-7 loss to powerful Homewood-Flossmoor. Sandburg, which beat Central 42-6 in 2010, received a Week 3 scare but survived Joliet West 35-28.

Lemont (3-0, 0-0) at T.F. South (1-2, 0-1)

Kickoff 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Lemont, No. 5 in the area, has outscored three opponents by a combined 131-6. The Indians received their first real challenge in Week 3 and ran past Richards 28-6 as Mike Anzalone rushed for 158 yards on 22 carries including fourth-quarter touchdown runs of 16 and 31 yards. In 2010, Lemont got past T.F. South 23-17.

Morris (3-0, 0-0) at Ottawa (1-2, 0-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Morris is ranked No. 4 in the Joliet area by The Herald-News and No. 24 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times. After breezing past Streator 55-6 in Week 3, the Redskins figure to get more of a challenge in their final nonconference game before Northern Illinois Big 12 East play begins. Ottawa lost a 43-42 shootout at Yorkville last week.

Around the Interstate Eight

The match-ups involving Joliet area teams, all on Friday night, are Plano (3-0, 1-0) at Coal City (3-0, 1-0) and Peotone (1-2, 0-1) at Sandwich (3-0, 1-0) in the Interstate Eight Large, Lisle (0-3, 0-1) at Wilmington (2-1, 1-0), Reed-Custer (0-3, 0-1) at Seneca (1-2, 1-0) and Dwight (0-3, 0-1) at Westmont (1-2, 0-1) in the I-8 Small. While Wilmington hopes to continue rolling in the Small, the Large race will begin to sort itself out as Coal City and Peotone attempt to knock off what appear to be league powers in Plano and Sandwich. The Coalers beat Peotone 28-6 last week.

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