Beacon-News Week 6 football preview capsules

Updated: September 29, 2011 8:21PM

Batavia (5-0, 2-0) at Geneva (5-0, 3-0), 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Geneva beat St. Charles North 54-7; Batavia beat St. Charles East 43-7.

Outlook: This game will determine the champion of the UEC River and most likely send the winner on to an undefeated regular season.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Geneva

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Geneva

Jason Bauman’s pick: Batavia

Metea Valley (3-2, 0-2) at Neuqua Valley (4-1, 2-0),
7:30 p.m.

Last week: Metea Valley lost to Waubonsie Valley 51-0; Neuqua Valley beat South Elgin 35-21.

Outlook: Neuqua can’t overlook Metea in advance of rivalry game with Waubonsie and won’t. The Mustangs are reeling.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Neuqua Valley

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Neuqua Valley

Jason Bauman’s pick: Neuqua Valley

Wheaton North (4-1, 3-0)
at West Aurora (2-3, 0-3),
7:30 p.m.

Last week: West Aurora lost 31-21 to Glenbard North; Wheaton North beat Glenbard East 56-12.

Outlook: The Blackhawks came up just short again in DVC play as mistakes continued to haunt them, while the Falcons are thinking conference title. West needs to finish year 3-1 at worst to become playoff eligible.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Wheaton North

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Wheaton North

Jason Bauman’s pick: Wheaton North

Yorkville (4-1, 0-1) at Rochelle (4-1, 0-1), 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Yorkville lost to Morris 35-7; Rochelle lost to Kaneland 35-14.

Outlook: The Foxes are now into the Northern Illinois Big 12 East conference play and face a road trip against an improved Hubs team that was humbled last week. Yorkville still needs to get more production out of passing game.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Rochelle.

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Rochelle

Jason Bauman’s pick: Rochelle

Minooka (3-2, 3-0) at Oswego East (2-3, 0-3), 7 p.m.

Last week: Oswego East lost 14-13 to Plainfield Central; Minooka beat Plainfield South 23-7.

Outlook: The Wolves let another one slip away late last week, and you wonder how much can a team take in that regard. Minooka is proving itself the class of the conference after two tough non-conference openers.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Minooka

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Minooka

Jason Bauman’s pick: Minooka

Oswego (3-2, 3-0) at Plainfield North (3-2, 2-1), 7 p.m.

Last week: Oswego beat Plainfield East 43-36; Plainfield North beat Romeoville 42-0.

Outlook: The Panthers have won three straight, but haven’t looked the smoothest doing so as they still try to figure out ways to stop people.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Plainfield North

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Plainfield North

Jason Bauman’s pick: Oswego

Lake Park (1-4, 0-3) at East Aurora (0-5, 0-3), 7:30 p.m.

Last week: East Aurora lost 49-0 to Streamwood; Lake Park lost to Bartlett 42-0.

Outlook: The Tomcats may need to resort to desperate measures on offense, having scored just one offensive TD all year. But some trickery might work with the athletes they have.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: East Aurora

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Lake Park

Jason Bauman’s pick: Lake Park

Walther Lutheran (1-4, 0-2) at Aurora Christian (4-1, 2-0), 7 p.m.

Last week: Aurora Christian lost to Montini Catholic 55-14; Walther Lutheran lost to St. Edward 49-21.

Outlook: Expect the Eagles to hit the film room and rebound from a disappointing performance last week. Walther Lutheran should prove no match as ACHS takes another step toward an SCC Gold title.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Aurora Christian

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Aurora Christian

Jason Bauman’s pick: Aurora Christian

Aurora Central Catholic (3-2, 1-1) at Guerin (2-3, 1-1), 7 p.m.

Last week: Aurora Central Catholic lost 50-0 to Marian Central Catholic; Guerin lost to St. Francis 58-19.

Outlook: The Chargers have proved to be resilient this season, and were just overmatched last week in an SCC crossover. This week is a big game as ACC hopes to stay alive in the SCC Gold title chase.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Aurora Central

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Aurora Central

Jason Bauman’s pick: Guerin

Waubonsie Valley (4-1)
at Larkin (3-2), 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Waubonsie Valley beat Metea Valley 51-0; Larkin beat Elgin 22-21.

Outlook: Like Neuqua, the Warriors can’t afford to overlook this week’s opponent in advance of a big rivalry game. They won’t.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Waubonsie Valley

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Waubonsie Valley

Jason Bauman’s pick: Waubonsie Valley

Kaneland (5-0, 1-0) at DeKalb (3-2, 0-1), 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Kaneland beat Rochelle 35-14; DeKalb beat LaSalle-Peru 49-33.

Outlook: The Knights are rolling and should march into a Week 9 matchup with Morris undefeated — provided they don’t overlook anyone.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Kaneland

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Kaneland

Jason Bauman’s pick: Kaneland

Sandwich (4-1, 2-1) at
Manteno (4-1, 2-1), 7:30 p.m.

Last week: Sandwich lost to Coal City 31-20; Manteno beat Peotone 39-7.

Outlook: Sloppy play cost the Indians last week on the road, so expect to see a cleaner, motivated performance this week in an effort to keep Interstate Eight title hopes alive.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Sandwich

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Manteno

Jason Bauman’s pick: Sandwich

Mooseheart (5-0, 5-0) at Kirkland Hiawatha (0-5, 0-5), 7 p.m.

Last week: Mooseheart beat Rockford Christian 38-13; Kirkland Hiawatha lost 63-0 to North Shore Country Day.

Outlook: The Red Ramblers are playoff eligible, but can’t overlook a team they should beat in advance of a Week 7 matchup with CICS/Longwood that could determine the Northeastern Athletic Conference championship.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Mooseheart

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Mooseheart

Jason Bauman’s pick: Mooseheart

Wheaton Academy (1-4, 0-2)
at Marmion Academy (3-2, 1-1), Saturday, 1 p.m.

Last week: Marmion Academy beat Immaculate Conception 28-20; Wheaton Academy beat Chicago Christian 41-14.

Outlook: The Cadets are finding ways to score points now, and the defense is perhaps the best in the area.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Marmion

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Marmion

Jason Bauman’s pick: Marmion

Peotone (1-4, 0-3) at Plano
(4-1, 2-1), Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Last week: Plano beat Herscher 34-28; Peotone lost to Manteno 39-7.

Outlook: The Reapers are once again dealing with injury issues and squeaked out a win last week — a home game against an inferior opponent comes at a good time.

Jim Owczarski’s pick: Plano

Rick Armstrong’s pick: Plano

Jason Bauman’s pick: Plano

Pick ‘em records:

Jim Owczarski: 58-15 (.795)

Jason Bauman: 58-15 (.795)

Ri ck Armstrong: 56-17 (767)

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