Friday Night Lights: Previewing This Weekend's Prep Games

St. Francis at Vernon Hills

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Vernon Hills High School, 145 N. Lakeview Parkway

Records: St. Francis 1-0, Vernon Hills 1-0

Key players

St. Francis: Dan Beck, RB-DB; Kyle Bosch, OT; Nick Donati, QB; Robert Dwyer, OT; Jack Petrando, RB-LB; Jeff Ruskowski, RB-LB.

Vernon Hills: Tyler Alper, RB-ILB; Wayne Didier, OL-DL; Sam Maloof, RB-DB; Steve Nelson, QB-DB; Tyler Peterson, RB-DB; Jarrett Wood, RB-OLB.

About the game

The Spartans trailed Riverside-Brookfield at halftime of their season-opener last week, but rallied in the second half to overtake the Bulldogs. Dwyer and Bosch—heavily recruited by several Division I schools—helped open holes for Petrando and Ruskowski, who scored a combined three touchdowns.

Vernon Hills, which advanced to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs last season, looks as if it hasn’t missed a beat despite losing its top two players—both Division I signees—to graduation. The Cougars won a wild 54-38 shootout over Dunbar in their 2011 debut, racking up over 500 yards of total offense in the process.

Wood scored three TDs and gained over 160 yards, but he’s not the only offensive weapon St. Francis’ defenders such as Petrando, Ruskowski and Dan Beck have to be concerned about. Maloof and Dylan McNamara each totaled over 80 yards rushing and scored twice. Then there’s Nelson, who is a dependable signal-caller.

Wheaton North at Geneva

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Geneva High School, 416 McKinley Ave.

Records: Wheaton North 1-0, Geneva 1-0

Key players

Wheaton North: Landon Bruni, OL; John Daniels, WR; Micah Penn, WR; John Peltz, QB; Patrick Sharp, RB; Mike Swider, LB.

Geneva: Connor Einck, TE; Ben Hodges, WR; Jake Mills, OG; Drew White, DE; Matt Williams, QB; Parker Woodworth, RB.

About the game

If their cross-town counterpart, Wheaton Warrenville South, has what is widely believed to be the toughest non-conference schedule in the state, can’t be far behind.

Fresh off a dramatic Week 1 victory against Bartlett—considered one of the Upstate Eight Conference’s best teams—the Falcons face an equally daunting UEC foe, Geneva, this week. All the Vikings have done is win seven straight conference titles in three separate leagues (Geneva joined the UEC two years ago) while going 70-15 over that span.

The Vikings, who held off 2010 Class 6A playoff qualifier Rock Island in the fourth quarter last week en route to a 27-14 victory, are led by Williams, a Northern Illinois recruit. Williams, who passed for over 1,700 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2010, played minus Hodges, his favorite target, in the season-opener. Hodges missed the game with a strained calf, and it’s not known whether he’ll suit up for Friday’s game.

However, Woodworth picked up the slack by reaching the century mark on the ground and scoring three touchdowns. Einck, a returning all-conference tight end, also is a threat in the red zone.

Peltz shined in his varsity debut, tossing a game-winning 18-yard touchdown pass to Coleton Hrgich to defeat Bartlett, 26-24. In addition to throwing for 150 yards, the junior gained nearly 90 yards rushing. Sharp, meanwhile, is fast emerging as one of the area’s premier backs after torching Bartlett for over 160 yards and two scores—one a 71-yard run.

Wheaton Warrenville South at Maine South

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Maine South High School, 1111 S. Dee Road, Park Ridge

Records: Wheaton Warrenville South 0-1, Maine South 1-0

Key players

Wheaton Warrenville South: Thaddeus Armstrong, QB; Adam Dansdill, LB; Patrick Garner, RB; Jack Lipinsky, DE; Brandon Peterson, LB; Dan Vitale, RB.

Maine South: Matt Alviti, QB; Pat Barrett, OT; Taylor Fahey, LB; Jimmy Frankos, WR; Luke Lenti, LB; Paul Preston, RB.

About the game

The state’s top two high school football programs face off once again in Week 2, this time minus the spotlight of ESPN cameras. Last year, the Tigers handed the Hawks a 44-7 loss, but that was then and this is now.

Your 2011 Tigers are not your 2010 Tigers. , administered by a formidable Glenbard West team, ended a string of 25 consecutive Tiger victories dating back to … a 27-9 loss at the hands of Maine South on Sept. 4, 2009.

The Tigers’ highly publicized ESPN2 opener is one that both their offense, in general, and their starting quarterback, in particular, are happy to put in the rear-view mirror. Armstrong, the senior transfer from Ottawa High School, threw two interceptions, and only one of his 11 completions went for over 10 yards. That said, he was blitzed relentlessly by the Hilltoppers, while the offense, as a whole, converted only one of four Glenbard West turnovers into points.

WWS’ defense earned well-deserved praise from head coach Ron Muhitch after Sunday’s game, and the Tigers will need to amp it up a notch Friday night against a more potent Maine South offense.

The three-time defending Class 8A state champions boast Preston, all of 5-foot-4 who last week ran back the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown in the Hawks’ 40-12 cakewalk over Warren. Preston, who scored twice in the contest, piled up 21 TDs and 1,140 yards last year.

Alviti, however, is the engine that makes Maine South go. The junior QB, who is already receiving scholarship offers from Division I clubs, ran for two touchdowns, threw for another and finished with nearly 200 yards passing last Friday.

The Hawks’ defense has one returning starter from last year’s title team, so it’s conceivable it won’t be quite as devastating as Glenbard West’s unit. Nonetheless, the Tigers, with a short preparation week, have to get improved play out of their offense if they hope to beat the Hawks and avoid an 0-2 start.