No. 6 Cary-Grove at No. 22 Prairie Ridge, 7 p.m. Friday
This is one of the quirkier and more enduring rivalries in the state. It’s two schools less than nine miles apart that have both been running the same option offense forever and with great success. Cary-Grove (4-0, 4-0 Fox Valley) has won two Class 6A titles in the past three seasons, confounding the skeptics each time by beating high-powered East St. Louis teams. The Trojans have all the pieces in place for another successful playoff run, starting with durable fullback Logan Abrams. Prairie Ridge (4-0, 4-0) had two titles and two runner-up finishes in 6A since 2017 under Chris Schremp, who stepped down to become the Wolves’ athletic director. New coach Mike Frerichs has the Wolves rolling along again, with quarterback Luke Vanderwiel setting the tone.
No. 13 Joliet Catholic at No. 3 Nazareth, 7:30 p.m. Friday
For Joliet Catholic (3-1), this caps as tough a four-game stretch as any in the state so far. The Hilltoppers lost 17-0 to unbeaten Oswego, then handed Fenwick and Marist their only losses — both by one point and the latter in double overtime. Larry Stringham is coming off a 203-yard, two-touchdown rushing effort against Marist. Two-time defending Class 5A champ Nazareth (3-1) also has played strong competition all season with wins against Kankakee, Kenwood and IC Catholic along with a loss at Mount Carmel. Indiana commit Garrett Reese had two interceptions vs. IC Catholic and James Penley caught two touchdown passes from Logan Malachuk.
Lincoln-Way West at No. 11 Naperville Central, 7 p.m. Friday
Thank the merger of the Southwest Suburban and DuPage Valley conferences for this matchup of teams from different classes and different parts of the area, which likely wouldn’t have occurred otherwise. Now, it has major implications for the Southwest Valley Red. Lincoln-Way West (3-1, 2-1) is coming off a 28-22 loss to Sandburg in which quarterback Chase Hetfleisch threw for 184 yards and two touchdowns. Naperville Central (4-0, 1-0) has a productive running back in Aiden Clark, who averages two touchdowns a game.
No. 5 Batavia at Wheaton North, 7 p.m. Friday
Batavia (4-0, 2-0 DuKane) roared back from a 14-3 halftime deficit to beat St. Charles North 45-21 last week as sturdy back Nathan Whitwell ran for 264 yards and five touchdowns. The Bulldogs defense, led by Chase Osborne and Jacob Jansey, had four sacks, eight tackles for loss and 10 quarterback pressures. Wheaton North (3-1, 1-1), which lost 31-14 to St. Charles North the previous week, bounced back with a 27-19 win against St. Charles East. Fullback/linebacker Dylan Jung had a TD, an interception, a sack and a tackle for loss for the Falcons.
Providence at No. 9 St. Francis, 7:30 p.m. Friday
A tough schedule for Providence (2-2) gets even tougher with a three-game stretch of St. Francis (3-1), Marist and Loyola. The Celtics, whose two losses were by a combined four points against Wheaton North and Carmel, are coming off a 14-0 shutout of Notre Dame. St. Francis (3-1) has a potent passing game led by quarterback Brady Palmer, who had 281 yards and two touchdowns through the air — including a 98-yarder to Tanner Glock — in last week’s 31-13 loss to St. Rita.