Sports
Friday Night Lights: Previewing Week 5 High School Football Games
WWS finds itself in a must-win situation to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Falcons and Spartans are both going after their fourth wins of the season.
Guerin vs. St. Francis
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Where: College of DuPage football field, Herb Salberg Sports Complex, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn
Records: Guerin 2-2, 1-1; St. Francis 3-1, 1-1
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Last week: Aurora Christian 43, Guerin 0; St. Francis 56, Wheaton Academy 12
Head coaches: Tony Pecoraro, Guerin; Greg Purnell, St. Francis
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Key players
Guerin: John Dabe, WR-DB; Matt DeLeon, RB; Kevin Doyle, RB; Tommy Kelly, QB; Andrew Rangle, WR; Justin Williams, RB
St. Francis: Dan Beck, RB-DB; Kyle Bosch, OT; Nick Donati, QB; Robert Dwyer, OT; Jack Petrando, RB-LB; Jeff Ruskowski, RB-LB
About the game
Guerin should present more of a challenge for the Spartans in this SCC crossover game than Wheaton Academy, whom St. Francis drilled last weekend. The Gators looked good in their two victories—a 55-0 drubbing of Chicago Marine in Week 1 and a 34-7 SCC Gold triumph over Walther Lutheran two weeks ago. On the flip side, the Gators didn’t do much of anything vs. SCC Blue powerhouse Aurora Christian last Friday.
Guerin’s offense centers around the trio of Williams, Dabe and Kelly. Williams scored four TDs against Marine and added a 67-yard touchdown run vs. Walther. Kelly and Dabe also have hooked up for touchdowns over the past few weeks.
Petrando is getting the job done on both sides of the ball for the Spartans. The junior returned an interception 65 yards for the game’s first touchdown last week, and rushed for two more scores as the Spartans amassed a 35-0 lead over Wheaton Academy by halftime. Nate Baratta gives St. Francis added backfield depth. Baratta reached the end zone three times—twice on runs of 25 and 44 yards.
A victory over the Gators would put St. Francis at 4-1 and in the driver’s seat for a playoff berth with next Friday’s SCC Blue showdown at Montini on the horizon.
Glenbard East at Wheaton North
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Wheaton North High School, 701 W. Thomas
Records: Glenbard East 1-3, 0-2; Wheaton North 3-1, 2-0
Last week: Glenbard North 49, Glenbard East 0, Wheaton North 28, West Chicago 6
Head coaches: John Walters, Glenbard East; Joe Wardynski, Wheaton North
Key players
Glenbard East: Malysha Flanders, RB; Joe Kotch, QB; Brian Sanborn, LB; Angelo Walker, DL; Don Wichman, LB; Roy Williams, LB
Wheaton North: Landon Bruni, OL; John Daniels, WR; Micah Penn, WR; John Peltz, QB; Patrick Sharp, RB; Mike Swider, LB
About the game
Which inner-city football team is quietly stealing some of Wheaton Warrenville South’s thunder these days? The Tigers’ cross-town rival, Wheaton North, winners of three of its first four. Both clubs have already faced Naperville North. The Tigers fell to North last Friday, while Wheaton North knocked off the Huskies two weeks ago.
The Falcons breezed past West Chicago in Week 4, and likely will find plenty of holes in a Glenbard East defense that gave up three touchdowns to Glenbard North running back Phil Jackson last week and six to Naperville Central’s Matt Randolph during Week 3.
Sharp missed last week’s game with an injured right ankle; he’s listed as questionable for Friday night’s matchup. The Falcons, though, didn’t miss a beat with Sharp’s replacement, junior Mikey Sammer, who went over the century mark and scored three touchdowns.
The Falcons, who’ll visit West Aurora Sept. 30, could conceivably be 5-1 heading into October and into the meat of their 2011 schedule. That’s when Wheaton North will do battle with Naperville Central, Glenbard North and the Tigers in successive weeks.
Naperville Central at Wheaton Warrenville South
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Wheaton Warrenville South High School, 1993 Tiger Trail
Records: Naperville Central 3-1, 2-0; Wheaton Warrenville South 1-3, 1-1
Last week: Naperville Central 35, West Aurora 14; Naperville North 17, Wheaton Warrenville South 14
Head coaches: Mike Stine, Naperville Central; Ron Muhitch, Wheaton Warrenville South
Key players
Naperville Central: Zach Borta, DL; John Dulleck, LB; Sean Goldner, OL; Mike Keller, OL; Ian Lewandowski, QB; Matt Randolph, RB
Wheaton Warrenville South: Thaddeus Armstrong, QB; Adam Dansdill, LB; Patrick Garner, RB; Jack Lipinsky, DE; Brandon Peterson, LB; Dan Vitale, RB.
About the game
ended the Tigers’ 15-game DVC winning streak last Friday. Now the Tigers find themselves in a must-win situation this week if they hope to entertain thoughts of making the playoffs. WWS would have to win out the rest of the way if the Redhawks upend the Tigers Friday at Red Grange Field. And that could prove to be a difficult task with Glenbard North and Wheaton North remaining on the schedule.
It’s highly unlikely Randolph, who’s piled up eight touchdowns during the past two weeks, will have similar success striking pay dirt as often against a Tigers’ defense that has kept the team in every game all season. Nonetheless, the Tigers must contain Randolph—who’s rushed for 700 yards in four games and has 12 total TDs (seven rushing, five receiving)—and Lewandowski, who’s a dual threat (two rushing touchdowns, six passing TDs).
Armstrong had his best game as a Tiger in last week’s loss. He totaled nearly 250 yards through the air and on the ground, running for one touchdown and passing for another. Yet, as has been the case all season, WWS’ offense hasn’t been able to put enough points on the board for the Tigers to come out on top. Vitale enjoyed a breakout game against West Aurora two weeks ago, but the Huskies held him to under 40 yards rushing.