Herald-News Week 5 football preview capsules

Updated: September 21, 2011 7:07PM

Joliet West (0-4, 0-2) at Joliet Central (0-4, 0-2)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday

The rundown: The SouthWest Suburban Blue game originally scheduled for Memorial Stadium has been moved to Central’s new home on campus. The Steelmen would like nothing better than to make their first home victory a win over district rival West. Central hopes to control the clock with running back Malik Neal and keep the Tigers’ stable of running backs, led by SaVaughn Alexander, on the sideline. The Tigers may be winless, but their record is deceiving. They have played a tough schedule and been in three of their four games. West won last year’s game 32-8.

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

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Two quality teams that perhaps are overlooked because of the overall strength of the SouthWest Suburban Blue renew their rivalry. Central is coming off a heartbreaking 31-28 loss to unbeaten Sandburg, while Lockport rebounded from its only loss to mighty Lincoln-Way East with a 38-6 win over Joliet Central. The Knights’ passing combination of quarterback Cale Hayes to receiver Kevin Ward has been clicking, while quarterback Billy Reed leads Lockport’s balanced attack. The Porters won last year’s meeting 35-14.

Joliet Catholic (4-0, 3-0) at Benet (0-4, 0-4)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Illinois Benedictine

The rundown: Joliet Catholic is ranked No. 1 in the Joliet area by The Herald-News and No. 4 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times. The Hilltoppers used their vaunted running attack to whip Benet 45-0 last season, the Redwings could have similar issues this time around. Joliet Catholic junior wingback Ty Isaac leads the area in rushing with 747 yards and a 13.6 average per carry and senior wingback Malin Jones has chipped in with 491 yards and a 9.4 average. The most positive result on Benet’s ledger is a 17-14 loss to Marist last week.

Plainfield S. (3-1, 2-0) at Minooka (2-2, 2-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: The two Southwest Prairie rivals join Oswego atop the league standings. They met twice last season, and both were exciting. Plainfield South won the regular-season game 41-31 and Minooka gained revenge in the playoffs 41-38. Minooka senior wingback Kalvin Hill (right) exploded for 310 yards in 29 carries and scored five touchdowns in last week’s 54-27 win over Plainfield East. The downside for the Indians was allowing three kickoff returns for touchdowns. Minooka beat Plainfield Central 52-20 two weeks ago, so that’s 106 points in two games for the Indians. South, meanwhile, beat Romeoville 34-14 last week as the Cougars’ defense stepped up.

Plainfield North (2-2, 1-1) at Romeoville (1-3, 0-2)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Plainfield North put on an offensive show last week as Kurt Palandech completed 18-of-26 passes for 258 yards and Jay Roberts rushed for 124 in a 35-28 win over Plainfield Central. The Tigers may need another blast of offensive in this week’s Southwest Prairie match-up because Romeoville, featuring running back Perez Ford, also has the ability to score points. The Spartans are coming off a 34-14 loss to Plainfield South.

Plainfield East (1-3, 1-1) at Oswego (2-2, 2-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Plainfield East’s Aris Irizarry, Brennen Rompa and Myles Walters all returned kickoffs for touchdowns in last week’s 54-27 loss to Minooka, while Oswego battled from behind all night before overtaking Oswego East 35-28. The Bengals can stay in the thick of the Southwest Prairie race with a victory in what shapes up as a shootout. Oswego won last year’s game 40-24.

Oswego East (2-2, 0-2) at Plainfield Central (2-2, 0-2)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Oswego East may be 0-2 in the Southwest Prairie, but the Wolves have dropped tight decisions of 34-27 to Plainfield South and 35-28 to Oswego, two of the title contenders. Plainfield Central is coming off a hard-fought 35-28 loss to Plainfield North. The outcome may hinge on which team’s defense can slow down the other’s offense. Oswego East won last year’s match-up 28-17.

Providence (3-1, 0-1) at St. Rita (3-1, 1-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: The Catholic Blue wars never get easier. After absorbing a 32-6 spanking at the hands of Loyola, Providence steps right back into the fire against St. Rita, which is ranked No. 9 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times. The Mustangs’ loss was 7-0 to Whitehaven of Memphis, Tenn. St. Rita won last year’s game 31-19.

Sandburg (4-0, 2-0) at Lincoln-Way East (4-0, 2-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Lincoln-Way East is ranked No. 5 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times and is coming off one of the most impressive victories anywhere so far this season, a 38-21 triumph over Homewood-Flossmoor. Blake Winkler completed 10-of-19 passes for 290 yards and J.J. Robertson caught five passes for 226 yards, including 66- and 67-yard touchdown receptions. SouthWest Suburban Blue rival Sandburg survived Lincoln-Way Central 31-28 last week after edging Joliet West 35-28 two weeks ago.

Bolingbrook (4-0, 2-0) at H-F (3-1, 1-1)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Bolingbrook may be catching Homewood-Flossmoor at a bad time as the Raiders, ranked 16th in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times, attempt to at least maintain a share of the SouthWest Suburban Blue lead. Homewood-Flossmoor still is ranked 11th by the Sun-Times despite last week’s 38-21 loss to Lincoln-Way East, and the highly regarded Vikings are likely to be in a foul mood. H-F won last year’s match-up 19-6.

Lincoln-Way West (3-1, 2-0) at Lincoln-Way North
(2-2, 0-2)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Lincoln-Way West is hoping to continue its march toward the SouthWest Suburban Red championship. The Warriors dropped a 35-28 decision to district rival North last year. West is coming off a huge 25-17 win over Andrew. North’s record is deceiving. The Phoenix has dropped two straight, 20-14 to Thornwood and 20-7 to Thornton, two teams that are a combined 7-1.

Morris (4-0, 0-0) at Yorkville (4-0, 0-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: The schedule-maker came up with an ideal match-up for the Northern Illinois Big 12 East opener. Morris, which is ranked No. 24 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times, has topped 50 points once and Yorkville has topped 40 twice, so there may be fireworks in the offing. Morris blanked Yorkville 19-0 last season.

Tinley Park (4-0, 1-0) at Lemont (4-0, 1-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: The numbers suggest this South Suburban Blue showdown will feature a classic confrontation. While Tinley Park is averaging 48.5 points per game, having won by scores of 40-28, 56-52 and 44-27 the last three weeks, Lemont has allowed a total of six points all season. But the Indians not only are stingy defensively, they also are efficient offensively. Their lowest output of the season was 28 points in a victory over Richards.

Around the Interstate Eight

The games involving area teams, as usual, all are scheduled Friday night. In the Interstate Eight Large, Coal City (4-0, 2-0) entertains Sandwich (4-0, 2-0) in a battle for first place, while Peotone (1-3, 0-2) is home against Manteno (3-1, 1-1). Coal City, which knocked off previously unbeaten Plano 21-7 last week, has ridden the passing combination of Cody Onsen (45-of-77, 736 yards, 11 touchdowns) and Matt Halloran (18-365 receptions, 19.2 average, 6 TDs) to four consecutive victories. In the I-8 Small, Wilmington (3-1, 2-0) is home against upstart Seneca (2-2, 2-0), Reed-Custer (0-4, 0-2) entertains Westmont (2-2, 2-0) and Dwight (0-4, 0-2) travels to Lisle (0-4, 0-2).

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