DuKane Conference

Batavia (5-0, 3-0) at Wheaton Warrenville South (3-2, 2-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Wheaton Warrenville South 30, Batavia 7 (Spring 2021)

About the Bulldogs: Batavia once again showed itself capable of making the plays necessary to win close games, Ryan Whitwell coming up with a clutch stop of Glenbard North’s two-point conversion try in the final minutes of last Friday’s 21-20 win. Whitwell is the latest unsung hero to come through for the Bulldogs, also returning a fumble 48 yards for a TD. Junior linebacker Tyler Jansey, who holds an offer from Wisconsin, had 14 tackles, five of them for loss, for a Batavia defense that allowed just 31 rushing yards on 26 attempts against Glenbard North. Batavia is ranked No. 2 in the latest Associated Press Class 7A poll. The Bulldogs no doubt still remember a blowout loss to the Tigers in the spring.

About the Tigers: WW South bounced back from a tough one-point loss to Geneva with a tidy 24-7 win over St. Charles East last Friday. Charlie Hoover had two of the Tigers’ four sacks and WW South also had three interceptions, shutting out the Saints for the final 46 minutes. Offensively, Quentin Spencer had 112 all-purpose yards and scored two TDs. The toughest stretch of WW South’s schedule remains, home games with Batavia, Wheaton North next week and then Glenbard North in Week 9 – and the Tigers will need to get at least one of those to become playoff eligible. WW South is ranked No. 10 in the latest Associated Press Class 7A poll.

FND Pick: Batavia

-- Joshua Welge

St. Charles North (2-3, 0-3) at Lake Park (1-4, 1-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last Matchup: St. Charles North 33, Lake Park 14 (2019)

About the North Stars: After a surprising three-game losing skid, in particular last week’s overtime loss to Geneva, the North Stars are in desperate need of a victory to have a semi-reasonable chance at the postseason. While they’re battling injuries, perhaps none is more important than the status of star linebacker George Litgen, who did not play in the second half against Geneva. John Vendl and Brody Geary have been solid in the backfield offensively, but the North Stars need a wideout to emerge to help Ethan Plumb generate offense.

About the Lancers: Lake Park emerged from probably its most difficult part of the schedule with losses to Batavia and Wheaton North entering this week. The Lancers were out scored 83-15, but now have a suddenly vulnerable North Stars to potentially rebound against. Desmond Horton is perhaps the Lancers’ best receiver and will be weapon against their secondary.

FND Pick: St. Charles North

St. Charles East (1-4, 0-3) at Geneva (4-1, 2-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last Matchup: Geneva 31, St. Charles East 0 (Spring 2021)

About the Saints: St. Charles East is still looking for consistency this season and will try to stop a three-game skid. That’ll start with quarterback Nathan Hayes leading the offense, but he was under 50% passing and had three interceptions last week against Wheaton Warrenville South.

About the Vikings: The Vikings are continuing their incredible turnaround season and have thrust themselves into the upper echelon of the DuKane Conference this season with Batavia, Wheaton North and Glenbard North. Carter Powelson is the engine of the offense, but don’t sleep on Alex Porter and Tyler Costello, either. Mason Pawelko is having a great year on defense.

FND Pick: Geneva

Fox Valley Conference

Burlington Central (2-3, 2-3) at Jacobs (3-2, 3-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Jacobs 46, Burlington Central 26 (2021 spring)

About the Rockets: Burlington Central lost its second straight game, 44-26, to Crystal Lake South last week. … RB Gavin Sarvis (385) and QB Shawn Adkerson (376) lead the Rockets in rushing.

About the Golden Eagles: Jacobs defeated Huntley, 27-17, last week. … The Golden Eagles came from behind with two late touchdowns to put last week’s game away. … RB Ben Ludlum leads the area with 857 rushing yards and RB Nasir Canty is third with 679. … With 199 points, Jacobs is the second-highest scoring team in the FVC.

FND pick: Jacobs

-- Joe Stevenson

Kishwaukee River/Interstate Eight White

Morris (5-0, 2-0) at Kaneland (3-2, 2-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Morris 35, Kaneland 30 (2019)

About the Knights: Having lost in the conference opener to Sycamore, Kaneland gets a shot at the only unblemished team left in the KR/I-8 White.

Kaneland comes into the contest having won two straight since the loss to Sycamore.

“We’re feeling good. I think we’ll be healthy,” coach Pat Ryan said. “We’ve got two wins in a row now. We’ve got a lot of confidence and we’re playing better.”

Ryan said he expects starting running back Corey Phillips back against Morris. He was injured early in the 56-28 loss to Sycamore and hasn’t played since. He has rushed 36 times for 170 yards and two scores.

Chris Ruchaj has been averaging 10.5 yards a carry the past two games, rushing for 252 yards and three scores. Ryan said although he’ll still get carries, he’ll shift back to playing more on defense and special teams.

The passing game has been holding down the fort, with Troyer Carlson completing nearly 70% of his passes for 1,303 yards, 15 touchdowns and four interceptions. Sam Gagne (35 catches, 626 yards, 6 TDs), Aric Johnson (22-322-5) and Dom DeBalsio (22-263-3) have been the main recipients.

Ryan said the defense has been improving, coming off a 42-7 win at Woodstock. It was the first time they’ve held an opponent to single digits this year.

“Our defensive front is playing a lot better,” Ryan said. “We had a lot of inexperienced guys playing at the beginning of the season that now have some experience and are playing a little bit better, including against the run.”

About Morris: Zach Romak is a dual-threat quarterback for Morris, completing 46 of 66 passes for 647 yards and seven touchdowns. He has yet to throw an interception this season. He also has rushed for 358 yards and six touchdowns.

Ashton Yard has 483 rushing yards and five scores, while Myles Johnston (15-233-3) has been the top target for Romak.

Morris is averaging more than 40 points a game and is allowing less than 10. They’ve scored more than 40 in three straight, more than 30 in four straight and are coming off their first shutout in a 42-0 win against Marengo.

Jorge Loza leads the defense with 43 tackles, while defensive back A.J. Zweeres, a sophomore, is second with 36 tackles. He also has forced a fumble and come up with an interception.

FND pick: Morris

-- Eddie Carifio

CCL/ESCC

Marmion (3-2, 0-1) at Fenwick (3-2, 1-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Triton

Last matchup: Marmion 20, Fenwick 19 (Spring 2021)

About the Cadets: Marmion has lost back-to-back games after a 3-0 start, dropping a Week 5 game to Marist 38-13. Quarterback Dan Chung threw for 155 yards and a TD to Anthony Kuceba, who had three catches for 59 yards. Wide receiver Dane Pardridge, an NIU recruit, is a player to watch.

About the Friars: Fenwick’s record may not be quite an indication of how strong the Friars have played this season. No. 1-ranked Loyola needed a last-second field goal to beat Fenwick 27-24 last week, and the Friars’ only other loss came by one point to Providence. Eastern Michigan recruit Max Reese caught a 37-yard tying TD from Ball State commit Kaden Cobb in the fourth quarter against Loyola and earlier threw a 65-yard TD to Bryan Hunt on a double pass. Danny Kent had a 70-yard TD run. Fenwick is ranked No. 2 in the latest Associated Press Class 5A poll.

FND Pick: Fenwick

-- Joshua Welge

Metro Suburban

St. Francis (4-1, 2-0) at Aurora Christian (4-1, 2-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: St. Francis 48, Aurora Christian 6 (Spring 2021)

About the Spartans: St. Francis has had a relatively stress-free couple weeks after playing a tough non-conference schedule, a forfeit win over Chicago Christian followed by a 51-0 victory over Thornridge in a game in which the Spartans’ starters did not play much. A road game at Metro Suburban Red contender could provide a stiffer challenge, although that wasn’t the case in the spring. Adam Criter and Tyler Bishop are among the skill-position standouts for a St. Francis offense that’s averaged 40 points per game. St. Francis is ranked No. 4 in the latest Associated Press Class 4A poll.

About the Eagles: Aurora Christian bounced back from its only loss in Week 4 to Riverside-Brookfield with a 48-0 win over Chicago Christian. The Eagles have averaged just under 54 points per game in its four wins, but St. Francis provides a significant step up in class and certainly Aurora Christian’s toughest test to date.

FND Pick: St. Francis

-- Joshua Welge