Herald-News Week 6 football preview capsules

Updated: September 28, 2011 8:00PM

Lincoln-Way East (5-0, 3-0) at Bolingbrook (5-0, 3-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: The game of the week in the Joliet area eventually may decide the SouthWest Suburban Blue title. Lincoln-Way East is ranked second by The Herald-News and fifth in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times. Bolingbrook is third and eighth, respectively. The Griffins led Sandburg 24-0 at halftime last week en route to a 32-7 win while the Raiders jumped to a 41-7 halftime lead over Homewood-Flossmoor en route to a 41-28 victory. East, which won last year’s game 43-7, has outscored opponents 40.2-12.6 on the average, Bolingbrook 45.8-15.0. The quarterbacks, East’s Blake Winkler and Bolingbrook’s Aaron Bailey (pictured), are dynamite.

Lincoln-Way Central (1-4, 0-3) at Joliet West (1-4, 1-2)

Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday

The rundown: In this SouthWest Suburban Blue battle, Lincoln-Way Central is attempting to recover from allowing several big plays in a 37-10 loss to Lockport while Joliet West tries to build on last week’s 21-0 victory over Joliet Central. The Tigers’ defense allowed 62 net yards. West won last year’s match-up 20-14.

Nazareth (4-1, 4-1) at Joliet Catholic (5-0, 4-0)

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

The rundown: Nazareth’s only East Suburban Catholic loss was 27-3 to Carmel, which Joliet Catholic beat 32-31 in the opener. Nazareth is coming off a 33-20 win over Marist; the Hilltoppers blanked Benet 35-0. Joliet Catholic, No. 1 in the area and No. 4 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times, won last year’s match-up 57-0.

Joliet Central (0-5, 0-3) at Sandburg (4-1, 2-1)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Joliet Central bids for its first win in the South Suburban Blue against Sandburg, which is coming off a 31-7 loss to Lincoln-Way East. The Steelmen showed defensive improvement last week in a 21-0 loss to Joliet West.

Homewood-Flossmoor (3-2, 1-2) at Lockport (4-1, 2-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: While Lockport disposed of Lincoln-Way Central 37-10 last week behind Dexter Taylor’s 133 rushing yards, Homewood-Flossmoor dropped its second straight SouthWest Suburban Blue decision, 41-28 to Bolingbrook. Yet the Vikings still are ranked 21st in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times.

Plainfield Central (3-2, 1-2) at Plainfield South (3-2, 2-1)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Two district rivals seeking to inch closer to playoff berths clash in this key Southwest Prairie game. Plainfield Central rallied from a 13-0 deficit after three quarters to beat Oswego East 14-13 last week, while Plainfield South fell to Minooka 23-7. The Cougars whipped the Wildcats 59-20 last season.

Romeoville (1-4, 0-3) at Plainfield East (1-4, 1-2)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: The game pits two Southwest Prairie teams that planned to be in better shape at this juncture. Plainfield East’s offense was alive last week in a tough 43-36 loss to Oswego with Robert Zamora throwing for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Romeoville is trying to recover from a 42-0 loss to Plainfield North.

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

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Plainfield North’s defense is key in this huge Southwest Prairie game. The Tigers blanked Romeoville 42-0 last week while Oswego rallied past Plainfield East 43-36. North’s Kurt Palandech hit 9-of-10 passes for 194 and Jay Roberts rushed for 128. The Tigers get Minooka, SPC co-leader with Oswego, next week.

Minooka (3-2, 3-0) at Oswego East (2-3, 0-3)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Minooka has righted the ship in Southwest Prairie wars after opening with losses to Morris and Providence. However, Oswego East is no pushover, having lost its three SPC games by a total of 15 points.

Thornton (4-1, 3-0) at Lincoln-Way West (3-2, 2-1)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Six turnovers were a bugaboo as Lincoln-Way West dropped a 7-3 decision to Lincoln-Way North last week. The Warriors face another tough SouthWest Suburban Red opponent in Thornton, which lost only to Naperville North 14-10.

Brother Rice (3-2, 0-2) at Providence (3-2, 0-2)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Catholic Blue rivals Brother Rice and Providence seek their first league victory. St. Rita beat the Crusaders 21-17 two weeks ago and the Celtics 19-0 last week. Jake Godfrey quarterbacked Providence against St. Rita as Chris Salazar was sidelined with an injury.

Lemont (5-0, 2-0) at Bremen (5-0, 3-0)

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Lemont faces a tough South Suburban Blue challenge in Bremen. The Braves’ signature win was 20-13 in overtime over Oak Forest. Bremen averages more than 30 points but Lemont’s defense has only yielded 26 all season, including last week’s 49-20 win over Tinley Park. Lemont is ranked No. 5 in the Joliet area.

Sycamore (4-1, 1-0) at Morris (5-0, 1-0)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The rundown: Sycamore’s perfect season went by the board in last week’s 34-27 overtime loss to Sterling. Morris whipped previously unbeaten Yorkville 35-7 to open its Northern Illinois Big 12 East run as Austin Feeney completed 12-of-17 passes for 161 yards. The Redskins are ranked No. 4 in the area by The Herald-News and No. 23 in the Chicago area by the Sun-Times.

Around the Interstate Eight

With wins over Plano and Sandwich the last two weeks, Coal City (5-0, 3-0) is well on its way to an I-8 Large title entering Friday’s game at Herscher (2-3, 0-3). Wilmington (4-1, 3-0), likewise, is streaking toward an I-8 Small title as it visits Dwight (0-5, 0-3) Frday. Reed-Custer (0-5, 0-3) is at Lisle (1-4, 1-2) Friday in the Small and Peotone (1-4, 0-3) visits Plano (4-1, 2-1) Saturday afternoon in the Large.

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