DuKane Conference

Batavia (6-0, 4-0) at Geneva (4-2, 2-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last Matchup: Batavia 42, Geneva 0 (Spring 2021)

About the Bulldogs: Batavia has dominated this rivalry in the last decade, winning every matchup dating back to 2011. Having already clinched a postseason berth, the Bulldogs are in excellent shape as the regular season is close to winding down. Quarterback Ryan Boe is perhaps playing his best football of the season and Jalen Buckley has been a touchdown machine all year. Batavia only gave up 20 yards rushing last week, which is Geneva’s bread and butter.

About the Vikings: The Vikings were tripped up last week in a perhaps surprising loss to St. Charles East at home. While still in relatively decent shape for a possible trip to the postseason, they’ll have to sneak in a win over either Batavia or Wheaton North – and take care of business vs. Lake Park – to have the best possible chance at six wins to ensure their spot in the next three weeks. The Vikings, of course, have been led by Carter Powelson all year long.

FND Pick: Batavia

-- Jake Bartelson

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

When: 7:30 p.m.

Last Matchup: St. Charles North 34, St. Charles East 0 (Spring 2021)

About the North Stars: St. Charles North rebounded for a much-needed win against Lake Park last week. Drew Surges has proven to be a huge key in multiple phases of the game, and he’ll likely be counted on to produce again. Depending on the health and availability of star linebacker George Litgen, that could swing the pendulum the North Stars’ way (he’s that important to the young defense), but this is truly a coin flip matchup. Who gets more snaps: Freshman QB Ethan Plumb or Will Vaske, who played the majority of the second half last week?

The North Stars defeated Lake Park and were within a field goal of beating Wheaton Warrenville South, while the Saints lost both of those. But the Saints beat Geneva on the road, while the North Stars gave up a big lead and lost in OT.

About the Saints: Each week, there’s a surprise team to pull of an unexpected victory, and the Saints did that against Geneva a week ago, which should be a big boost heading into this one. Mason Tousignant has proven to be a legitimate deep threat for Nathan Hayes and the Saints’ defense has usually played well enough to keep them in the game deep in the fourth quarter.

FND Pick: St. Charles East

-- Jake Bartelson

Kishwaukee River/Interstate Eight White

Rochelle (4-2) at Kaneland (3-3)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Kaneland 41, Rochelle 6 (Spring 2021)

About the Knights: Kaneland is coming off a 49-35 loss to Morris in which the Knights gave up 676 yards of total offense.

Coach Pat Ryan said the team will try to switch some things this week against the Hubs.

“We’ve tried different things scheme-wise, and we’ve tried to practice a little different,” Ryan said. “This week we may make some personnel changes. If we’re not getting it down with scheme and practice, maybe it’s that we don’t have the right people in the right spots. We’ll move some guys around into different positions and look at some guys who haven’t played a whole lot yet.”

On offense, Ryan still saw some room for improvement, even though the Knights posted 35 points in the loss - Morris had allowed only 49 points total in its previous five games. Corey Phillips, back from an injury, ran 10 times for 27 yards against Morris.

“We have to allow him space to do work,” Ryan said. “We just have to do a better job there. We’ve focused on that this week. And our tackling has to get better on defense and special teams. We’re in position to make plays, and we just don’t make them. We need to work on the fundamentals of football, tackling and blocking.

Sophomore quarterback Troyer Carlson has powered the Kaneland offense with 1,628 passing yards, 19 touchdowns and a 67.7 completion percentage while throwing five interceptions. Sam Gagne (40 catches, 726 yards, 7 TDs), Aric Johnson (27-461-7) and Dom DeBlasio (29-342-4) have done most of the damage in the receiving corps.

About the Hubs: They are coming off a 41-32 victory against Marengo last week and sit in second place on the other side of the KR/I-8 heading into the crossover match. They’ve won three straight since a 1-2 start.

Cody Stover-Cullum ran for 102 yards and three touchdowns in the win Friday as the team looks to make the playoff for the first time since 2018.

Since Rochelle knocked off Kaneland, 31-13, in 2018 during a year the Knights went two rounds deep in the playoffs, Kaneland has won the two meetings by a combined 83-20.

FND pick: Kaneland

-- Eddie Carifio

Fox Valley Conference

Crystal Lake Central (4-2, 4-2) at Burlington Central (2-4, 2-4)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Crystal Lake Central 34, Burlington Central 14 (2019)

About the Tigers: CL Central beat Crystal Lake South, 43-37, last week. … The Tigers fell behind, 21-7, last week but rallied back in the second half, then held the Gators off with a late interception to spoil a potential winning drive. … QB Colton Madura made a huge difference with the offense last week when he returned from a hip injury to run for 168 yards and throw for 207. … RB Brent Blitek has 673 rushing yards and WR Jake Carnrite leads the team with 27 catches.

About the Rockets: Burlington Central lost to Jacobs, 54-14, last week. … The Rockets are led by RB Gavin Sarvis (405 yards) and QB Shawn Adkerson (400 yards) in rushing. … WR Jake Herman leads the Rockets with 10 receptions.

FND pick: Crystal Lake Central

-- Joe Stevenson

CCL/ESCC

Carmel (2-4, 1-2) at Marmion (3-3, 0-2)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last Matchup: First known meeting

About the Cadets: Marmion played very well in a close loss to Fenwick last week. The Cadets led briefly in the second quarter, but fourth quarter 48-yard Fenwick touchdown, plus the two-point conversion, sunk them late. Danny Chung has a number of candidates to run the football, which the Cadets have proven to be able to do all season long.

About the Corsairs: Carmel is trying to stop a three-game losing streak, having been outscored 119-41 in the stretch.

FND Pick: Marmion

-- Jake Bartelson

Metro Suburban

St. Francis (5-1) at Bishop McNamara (3-3)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: St. Francis 37, Bishop McNamara 7 (Spring 2021)

About the Spartans: St. Francis once again impressed last week, rolling 49-27 at Aurora Christian in a game that was 42-10 at the half. The Spartans’ high-octane offense has averaged over 46 points per game in its last four wins on the field. Sophomore QB Alessio Milivojevic was 14-for-16 for 287 yards and three TDs, and Adam Criter had 220 all-purpose yards with a 99-yard kickoff return for a TD. Defensively, Sammy Atkins had 10 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and two hurries and Dom Beres had eight solo tackles and three tackles for loss. St. Francis is ranked No. 4 in the latest Associated Press Class 4A poll.

About the Irish: McNamara earned a forfeit win over Aurora Central Catholic last week, coming off scoring 77 points in Week 5 against Elmwood Park. This will be the final regular season home game for head coach Rich Zinanni, who is retiring after this, his 47th season as head coach. And the Irish desperately need a win here to keep their playoff hopes alive, with games remaining at IC Catholic and Riverside-Brookfield. Running back Tony Phillips runs behind an experienced McNamara offensive line. The Irish are expected to be without linebacker and two-way starter Jaydon Wright. McNamara is 0-3 against teams at or above .500.

FND Pick: St. Francis

-- Joshua Welge