Geneva, West Aurora, Oswego East, St. Charles North and Yorkville are picks to click for the fourth week of the regular season.
Geneva (3-0, 1-0) at Lake Park (2-1, 0-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Senior quarterback Tony Chahino continues to impress entering second week of DuKane Conference play, completing 69% of his passes (29 of 42) for 750 yards with 12 touchdowns and just one interception.
Equally impressive might be Geneva’s defense, featuring eight players who have been involved in at least 10 tackles through three games. The Vikings are led by senior linebacker Gavin Burt, a Marmion transfer who has 19 stops, 12 solo.
Lake Park hit the wall in a 56-6 loss to Batavia, but senior running back Robert Munaco and junior wide receiver Niko Menos are threats.
X-factor: Dane Turner, Geneva, junior, safety.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Geneva.
West Aurora (3-0, 1-0) at South Elgin (1-2, 1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Early season showdown between two of the top contenders in the Upstate Eight West features two touted receivers in West Aurora senior Terrence Smith, an Iowa recruit, and South Elgin senior Ishmael George. The Blackhawks’ depth there could be the difference.
Junior quarterback Mason Atkins has completed 71% of his passes (29 of 41) for 346 yards with eight TDs and no interceptions for West Aurora.
Junior defensive end Francesco Macaluso is worth watching for the Storm as he will try to keep the pressure on Atkins to disrupt his rhythm.
X-factor: Darrion Thurman, South Elgin, junior, running back.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: West Aurora.
Plainfield South (2-1) at Oswego East (1-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Oswego East wraps up the nonconference part of its schedule with crossover game against Southwest Prairie East leader Plainfield South.
The Wolves did get back on track last week, blanking Plainfield East 42-0. Defensive highlights included senior safety/linebacker Brett Potts scooping up a blocked punt and returning it 19 yards return for a TD, while senior safety Andrew Pohlman had an interception, forced fumble, fumble recovery and six tackles and senior defensive lineman Zach Morrisroe made four tackles for loss.
Keep an eye on wide receiver Caden Pierceall, a senior standout and big-play specialist for Plainfield South.
X-factor: Cody Hogan, Plainfield South, senior, quarterback.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Oswego East.
St. Charles North (3-0, 1-0) at Batavia (3-0, 1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: It’s only the second week of DuKane games, but you can find plenty of observers who think this one may decide the conference champion when it’s all said and done.
Just don’t breathe a word of that in Geneva, which should have a say, especially playing the North Stars in the regular-season finale.
A huge game from junior linebacker Aidan McClure in last week’s win over Wheaton North featured 13 tackles, two fumble recoveries, an interception return for a TD and a blocked punt. That earned him the Chicago Bears Week 2 All-Star of the Week Award.
Senior running back Nathan Whitwell highlighted last week’s 56-6 homecoming rout of Lake Park for Bataiva with 17 carries for 238 yards and three TDs.
X-factor: Malachi Smith, Batavia, senior, defensive lineman.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: St. Charles North.
Plainfield Central (0-3) at Yorkville (1-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The Foxes got the offense untracked last week in a 31-8 victory on the road at Joliet West and look to keep it going in the final conference crossover before diving into Southwest Prairie West play next week.
Junior quarterback Jack Beetham led the way, completing 12 of 24 passes for 208 yards and two TDs, both to senior wide receiver Dyllan Malone. The Northern Illinois recruit had five receptions for 114 yards. Beetham threw one interception.
Junior linebacker Caleb Viscogliosi sparked Yorkville’s defense, making 14 tackles in the game, eight of them solo.
X-factor: Luke Zook, Yorkville, senior, safety/running back.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Yorkville.
