It’s a loaded weekend around the area in Week 8. Here are previews of a few of the best games.
No. 17 Glenbrook South at No. 6 Maine South, 7:30 p.m. Friday
It was hard to know what to make of Maine South after a 40-0 season-opening loss to Lincoln-Way East. But since then, the Hawks (6-1, 3-0 Central Suburban South) have lived up to their preseason billing as a top Class 8A team by ripping off quality wins over Warren, Barrington and Palatine. Junior Indiana commit Jameson Purcell, part of a bumper crop of elite quarterbacks, threw for 235 yards and five touchdowns over two quarters in a 56-0 shutout of Glenbrook North last week. Glenbrook South (6-1, 3-0) has wins over York and Palatine along with a loss to Barrington. Quarterback Andrew Bonvechio has completed 69% of his passes for 1,719 yards and 22 TDs.
No. 9 Fenwick at No. 1 Mount Carmel, 7:30 p.m. Friday
This CCL/ESCC crossover offers proof of the mega-conference’s depth. Mount Carmel (7-0) hasn’t been tested since a 43-42 Week 1 win over Moeller (Ohio) and is as loaded with talent as any team in recent Illinois history. Senior quarterback Emmett Dowling, who has a pair of elite receivers in Quentin Burrell and Marshaun Thornton, has been brilliant in his first year as a starter. The Caravan’s defensive front, led by USC commit Braeden Jones, Joey Quinn (who just decommitted from Vanderbilt) and Caleb Tucker, is the best in the state. The Thies brothers, Jake and Tommy, are playmakers on both sides of the ball for Fenwick (6-1), while Jamen Williams is another big-armed quarterback.
No. 4 Glenbard West at No. 22 York, 7:30 p.m. Friday
After missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 2006, Glenbard West (7-0, 4-0 West Suburban Silver) is its usual dominant self again with notable wins over Batavia, Downers Grove North, Lyons and Hinsdale Central. Quarterback AJ Rayford has been a dynamic addition to an offense that also features a deep running back group. Returning Class 8A runner-up York (5-2, 3-1) had a five-game winning streak snapped with a 41-28 loss to Downers North last week. Henry Duda, a veteran of that state run, has been a dependable running back.
No. 7 Downers Grove North at No. 19 Lyons, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Minnesota-bound quarterback Owen Lansu returned from an injury layoff last week and was in peak form for Downers North (6-1, 4-1 West Suburban Silver) with 388 passing yards and four TDs in a 41-28 win over York. Oliver Thulin caught eight passes for 195 yards and three scores. Lyons (5-2, 2-2) has had productive seasons from quarterback Jack Slightom and running back EJ Kuhlman.
No. 25 Carmel at No. 12 Loyola, 6:30 p.m. Friday
Three-time defending Class 8A champ Loyola (4-2), which fell 21-20 to Providence last week, has a challenging closing stretch with Carmel (5-2) this week and No. 1 Mount Carmel in Week 9. The young Ramblers have leaned on three talented sophomores: quarterback Matthew Lee, receiver Jordan McKinley and running back Melo Maldonado. Junior quarterback Trae Taylor has completed a remarkable 80% of his passes for Carmel for 2,094 yards and 27 TDs with two interceptions. Kai Owens and Greg Bess-Henning have combined for 1,087 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns.