Suburban Life football preview capsules for Week 5

York's Colin Doherty (3) runs behind the line during football game between York at Downers Grove North.  Sept 17, 2021.

West Suburban Conference

Lyons Township (2-2, 1-1) at York (4-0, 2-0)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: York 17, Lyons 3 (2019)

About the Lions: Lyons bounced back from Week 3 its loss to Hinsdale Central in a big way, beating Oak Park-River Forest 35-13. It’s only Week 5, but this shapes up as a pivotal swing game if the Lions are to get to the all-important five wins for a playoff bid.

About the Dukes: York continues to show itself as a program to watch going forward, as it comes off a 28-10 win at Downers Grove North in a matchup of previous unbeatens. Kelly Watson ran for 175 yards and a huge 93-yard TD run, and reserve quarterback Matt Vezza came off the bench for 98 yards passing with two touchdowns and ran for 77 yards and a TD. Defensively, senior linebacker Jeff Coglianese was huge with 17 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks and senior defensive end Everett Snyder had seven tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. The Dukes need two more wins to match the 2010 team’s 6-0 start.

FND Pick: York

Downers Grove North (3-1, 0-1) at Proviso West (0-4, 0-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Downers Grove North 51, Proviso West 12 (2019)

About the Trojans: Downers Grove North will be looking to rebound from its first loss, 28-10 to York, and looks like it has the ideal opponent to do just that. Ethan Thulin, continuing to show himself to be a playmaker for the Trojans, scored on a 66-yard TD against York but the Trojans managed just 93 yards rushing. Downers Grove North has only scored a combined 17 points the last two weeks, so this matchup could be a chance to break out.

About the Panthers: It’s been a tough go of it to say to the least for Proviso, outscored 217-0 this season and coming off a 63-0 loss at Glenbard West – a game in which the Panthers trailed 49-0 at half.

FND Pick: Downers Grove North

Glenbard West (4-0) at Addison Trail (0-4)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Glenbard West 56, Addison Trail 0 (spring 2021)

About the Hilltoppers: Glenbard West is up to No. 5 in the latest Associated Press Class 8A statewide poll. The Hilltoppers have dominated all comers to date, outscoring its first four opponents 222-40 after a 63-0 win over Proviso West. Even better, Glenbard West got senior running back Nick D’Argento back in the fold after he missed the first three games with injury. The Hilltoppers have quite the stable of skill-position talent with D’Argento, Joey Pope and sophomore receiver Julius Ellens, who scored two TDs against Proviso. The schedule does appear to get tougher after this week.

About the Blazers: Addison Trail’s recent struggles continued last week, a 34-23 loss to Proviso East, and a visit from the Hilltoppers does not help. If a silver lining is to be found, the Blazers did score a season-high in that Proviso game and have scored a total of 37 points the last two weeks after two shutouts to start the season.

FND Pick: Glenbard West

Hinsdale Central (3-1, 1-0) at Oak Park-River Forest (1-3, 0-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Hinsdale Central 42, Oak Park-River Forest 7 (spring 2021)

About the Red Devils: Hinsdale Central continues to pile up huge numbers since its only loss in Week 1. The Red Devils beat district rival Hinsdale South 49-0 last week and have averaged 45 points per game the last three weeks. Sean Allison had seven tackles, three for loss and also scored two TDs in about a half of action in the win. Big-play threat Thomas Skokna already is over 450 yards of total offense with six TDs on the season.

About the Huskies: Oak Park-River Forest is coming off a 35-13 loss to Lyons. Defense appears to be a trouble spot for the Huskies, particularly against tougher opponents. In Oak Park-River Forest’s three losses opponents have scored a total of 137 points.

FND Pick: Hinsdale Central

Morton (2-2, 2-0) at Hinsdale South (1-3, 1-0)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Hinsdale Central South 14, Morton 0 (2019)

About the Mustangs: Good times at Morton these days. The Mustangs are coming off a 38-0 win over Leyden, their second straight win. For a program that’s just won one game in six of the last nine seasons, two straight losses is ample reason to celebrate. One more win would match the program’s most wins in a season since 2012.

About the Hornets: Hinsdale South comes off a 49-0 loss to district rival Hinsdale Central. The Hornets have allowed 45.3 points per game in their three losses, but a return to the friendly confines of the West Suburban Gold could very well bring those numbers down.

FND Pick: Hinsdale South

Proviso East (1-3, 1-1) at Downers Grove South (0-4, 0-1)

When: 6:30 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Downers Grove South 39, Proviso East 23 (2019)

About the Pirates: Proviso East carries momentum into this one, its 34-23 victory over Addison Trail the program’s first win since the 2019 season. With what looks to be plenty of winnable games ahead, scrambling to a playoff bid doesn’t seem like the longest of long shots – and a win here wouldn’t hurt.

About the Mustangs: A difficult start to the season didn’t get much better for Downers Grove South last Friday, a 34-7 loss at Willowbrook. Scoring has been quite difficult to come by; the touchdown run by Deon Davis last Friday was the Mustangs’ first points of the season. The schedule does lighten up quite a bit during the second half of the season so opportunities do exist for progress to translate into results for a very young team.

FND Pick: Downers Grove South

Willowbrook (2-2, 2-0) at Leyden (1-3, 0-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Willowbrook 40, Leyden 0 (spring 2021)

About the Warriors: After an 0-2 start, Willowbrook is back to .500 and back to its familiar position of dominating West Suburban Gold opponents. The 34-7 win over Downers Grove South was the Warriors’ 24th straight in league play. Josh Brown ran for 154 yards and three TDs behind a dominant effort from his offensive line. Defensively, Cristian Lager had 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks, Nick Mabutas 14 tackles and Joey Tumilty five tackles and a 99-yard fumble return for a TD.

About the Eagles: It’s been a tough two weeks for Leyden, outscored by a combined 59-0 margin in losses to Hinsdale South and Morton. Aside from a Week 2 win over Proviso East, the Eagles have scored just three points. A date with Willowbrook wouldn’t seem to help any.

FND Pick: Willowbrook

Wheaton North's Brayton Masks (23) and Gregory Fotinopoulos (75) celebrate Maske's touchdown during a home game against St. Charles North on Friday, Sept. 17, 2021.

DuKane Conference

Lake Park (1-3, 1-1) at Wheaton North (3-1, 1-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Wheaton North 50, Lake Park 7 (spring 2021)

About the Lancers: After a long-awaited win over St. Charles East in Week 3, the Lancers came back to Earth last Friday, a 42-8 loss to Batavia. Lake Park quarterback Frank Moorman threw for 141 yards but was sacked five times and the Lancers also turned the ball over four times. A visit to another beast of the DuKane Conference is not what the doctor ordered.

About the Falcons: Wheaton North bounced back from its heartbreaking overtime loss to Batavia in resounding fashion, a 35-3 blowout of St. Charles North. Brayton Maske enjoyed a huge night, running for 210 yards and three TDs. Ross Dansdill and the Falcons’ defense is proving to be quite fierce. Wheaton North has allowed a total of 10 points in its three wins. Wheaton North is ranked No. 4 in the latest Associated Press Class 7A poll.

FND Pick: Wheaton North

Wheaton Warrenville South (2-2, 1-1) at St. Charles East (1-3, 0-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Wheaton Warrenville South 49, Lake Park 7 (spring 2021)

About the Saints: St. Charles East is coming off a 23-0 loss to Glenbard North, and it doesn’t get much easier this week for a program trying to regain its competitiveness in the DuKane Conference facing a WW South team surely eager to get back on the field. Senior quarterback Nathan Hayes, a North Dakota State commit, is a player to watch. Austin Barrett, a 6-foot-7, 275-pound lineman, holds offers from Illinois, Iowa State and Syracuse.

About the Tigers: WW South is no doubt still smarting from a 13-12 loss to Geneva, a game in which the Tigers missed a potential winning field goal with just under three minutes left. Grant Rylander’s 5-yard TD run, a 38-yard Ben Berkley field goal and a safety accounted for WW South’s only points. With the bruising schedule ahead – games remain with Batavia, Wheaton North and Glenbard North – the Tigers can’t afford any more slip-ups if they hope to be playing football into the postseason. For starters, WW South needs to get its offense back on track. The Tigers have scored a combined 31 points over their last three gams.

FND Pick: Wheaton Warrenville South

CCL/ESCC

Carmel (2-2) at Nazareth (1-3)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Nazareth 55, Carmel 17 (2018)

About the Corsairs: Carmel comes off a 37-20 loss to St. Viator, its first loss on the field this season – the Corsairs forfeited a Week 1 game to Lake Forest. The Corsairs started a sophomore at quarterback, Johnny Weber. Jason McKie a former fullback with the Chicago Bears, is in his first full season as head coach after leading the Corsairs to a 1-3 record in the shortened spring season. Wide receiver Jon Buckley is a player to watch, a potential Division 1 recruit.

About the Roadrunners: Nazareth got a win it had to have last Saturday, a 24-12 come-from-behind win at Notre Dame. Junior Kaleb Miller provided the spark with 105 yards and two TDs. Can the Roadrunners keep the momentum going? It surely will feel good to be back on their home field for the first time since Week 1.

FND Pick: Nazareth

Leo (2-2) at Montini (1-3)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Montini 41, Leo 0 (2015)

About the Lions: Leo comes in off a 28-14 win over DePaul Prep as the Lions look to build toward their first winning season since 2013. Even with Montini’s early-season struggles, this will be a test for the Lions. Leo has been able to generate offense, averaging just under 30 points per game.

About the Broncos: Montini is in must-win territory after a 21-13 loss to St. Laurence last week. With games ahead against Providence, Marist, Nazareth and Joliet Catholic, the Broncos are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the first time since 1992. Josh Robinson comes off his best game of the season, as he went for 173 yards and a TD against St. Laurence. Jackson McWhinney, with 58 tackles, leads the Broncos’ defense.

FND Pick: Montini

Marian Catholic (2-2) at Benet (1-3)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Benet 38, Marian Catholic 15 (2019)

About the Spartans: Marian comes in off a 41-40 loss to St. Patrick. The Spartans moved into the CCL/ESCC Purple this fall after going 3-0 in the Red in 2019 and 2-0 in the shortened spring season. Marian’s two losses are by a total of six points. Junior QB Kyle Thomas is one to watch after a huge game against St. Patrick – 317 rushing yards and three TDs and 90 passing yards and a TD.

About the Redwings: Benet comes in off a 21-0 loss to St. Rita. It’s been a tough stretch of games to say the least with road trips to Moline, Brother Rice and St. Rita. Benet has scored a total of 19 points in its three losses. Is a return home what the doctor ordered?

FND Pick: Benet

Loyola (4-0) at Fenwick (3-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Loyola 41, Fenwick 14 (2017)

About the Ramblers: Loyola is ranked No. 1, unanimously, in the latest Associated Press Class 8A poll. The Ramblers come in off a 46-43 barnburner over Brother Rice. Marco Maldonado had a huge hand in it, with 38 carries for 335 yards and four TDs, a Loyola program single-game rushing record – but he broke his collarbone late in the game. Loyola junior QB Jake Stearney threw for 196 yards and a TD and had a 49-yard TD run. The Ramblers are averaging a tick over 45 points per game.

About the Friars: A huge test for Fenwick, itself coming in off a 49-0 win over DeLaSalle. The Friars do have the firepower to at least try to score with Loyola with Ball State-bound QB Kaden Cobb, Illinois commit Eian Pugh and Eastern Michigan recruit Max Reese at receiver, and Purdue recruit Jimmy Liston at center. Fenwick is averaging 36.5 points per game, so expect the scoreboard operator to be busy Friday.

FND Pick: Loyola

Glenbard South's Cam Williams (8) celebrates his late second quarter touchdown against South Elgin on Friday, September 10, 2021.

Metro Suburban Conference

Westmont (0-4, 0-2) at St. Francis (3-1, 1-0)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: St. Francis 63, Westmont 0 (2019)

About the Sentinels: Westmont lost to St. Edward 38-8 in Week 4, and has been outscored 152-22 on the season. A trip to St. Francis doesn’t sound like a recipe to get that turned around.

About the Spartans: St. Francis returns to the field after Chicago Christian had to forfeit its Week 4 game. Adam Criter has proven to be a playmaker for the Spartans in the early going this season with 381 yards and six TDs in three games. Ryan Calcagno is among the Spartans’ leaders defensively with 18 tackles against Prospect Week 3. This game could be an opportunity to get multiple players on the field with more challenging league games remaining on the St. Francis schedule. St. Francis remains at No. 4 in the latest Associated Press Class 4A poll.

FND Pick: St. Francis

St. Edward (2-2, 1-0) at Riverside-Brookfield (3-1, 2-0)

When: 7:15 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Riverside-Brookfield 21, St. Edward 14 (2017)

About the Green Wave: St. Edward returned from a COVID pause to beat Westmont 38-8 in Week 4, although the Green Wave did so short-handed because of COVID protocols. St. Edward had all 11 starters playing both ways and had many players getting their first taste of varsity action. Ben Zielinski, who starred in all three phases against the Sentinels, is a player to watch.

About the Bulldogs: Riverside-Brookfield comes in off a big 26-14 win over Aurora Christian. The Bulldogs have an opportunity to lock up a playoff bid with games the next two weeks against St. Edward and Westmont before the schedule toughens considerably.

FND Pick: Riverside-Brookfield

Wheaton Academy (3-1, 2-0) at Ridgewood (1-3, 0-2)

When: 7:15 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: First meeting

About the Warriors: Wheaton Academy comes in off a big 34-14 win over Bishop McNamara, a game in which the Warriors scored the last 20 points to break way from a 14-14 third-quarter tie. David Dorn was a two-way standout in the game. He threw for 116 yards, ran for 63, scored two TDs and had six tackles and a key fourth-quarter interception. Sophomore defensive end Ethan Brunner had a game-high 12 tackles and Peter Johanik 11. A home game with IC Catholic Prep looms a week from now, but the Warriors can’t get caught looking ahead.

About the Rebels: Ridgewood lost to IC Catholic Prep 47-0 in Week 4. The Rebels have been shut out during a three-game losing streak, and it wouldn’t seem to get easier against a Wheaton Academy defense that has allowed just 38 points this season in four games.

FND Pick: Wheaton Academy

Upstate Eight Conference

South Elgin (4-0, 3-0) at Glenbard East (4-0, 4-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: South Elgin 28, Glenbard East 0 (spring 2021)

About the Storm: South Elgin comes in off a 51-0 win over Larkin, and has outscored its four opponents by a combined margin of 192-14. Anthony Marshall scored three TDs and Jordan Jones ran for two scores against Larkin for the Storm, who played without starting QB Jake Sullivan. The Storm, defending UEC champs, has won nine consecutive leagues, all by double figures, since a 2019 loss to Bartlett. This could be South Elgin’s biggest hurdle from another league title.

About the Rams: For Glenbard East, league champs in 2018 and co-champs in 2019, this is a huge opportunity to ascend to the top spot in the league again. Glenbard East, which beat East Aurora 48-6 last week, has bounced back in a big way from a so-so spring season, outscoring its four opponents 148-26. But this week represents a big step up in class.

FND Pick: South Elgin

Larkin (2-2, 2-2) at Glenbard South (3-1, 3-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Glenbard South 12, Larkin 6 (2019)

About the Royals: Larkin lost to South Elgin 51-0 in Week 4. After a winless spring the Royals do own wins over Fenton and West Chicago, but winning at Glenbard South is a tall order.

About the Raiders: Glenbard South returns to the field after earning a forfeit win over Fenton in Week 4. Sophomore receiver/cornerback Cam Williams picked up an offer this week from Illinois, joining offers from Iowa, NIU, Toledo and Central Michigan.

FND Pick: Glenbard South

South Suburban Conference

T.F. North (0-4) at Lemont (4-0)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Lemont 34, T.F. North 6 (Spring 2021)

About the Meteors: It’s been a brutal start for T.F. North. The offense really has lacked punch. It took the Meteors until Week 3 to score, and they have only managed solitary touchdowns in each game since. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where they give Lemont much resistance.

About Lemont: After Lemont completely demolished what was believed to be its top competition in the South Suburban in Hillcrest in a Week 4 matchup, it is hard to see Lemont being seriously pushed the rest of the way. The offense has put up big numbers, but it appears the defense really is setting the tone, having allowed only 29 points through four games.

FND pick: Lemont

-- Steve Soucie