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Fox Valley Conference
Crystal Lake Central (2-2, 2-2) at Dundee-Crown (0-4, 0-4)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Central defeated D-C, 28-7, in Week 7 of the 2019 season.
About the Tigers: Central lost to Hampshire, 43-6, last week. … QB Colton Madura was injured early in Central’s Week 3 game against Cary-Grove and tried to come back last week but left the game early. Sophomore Jason Penza came in at quarterback for his second game. … Central struggled on offense and defense against Hampshire. … RB Brent Blitek ran for 83 yards on 18 carries.
About the Chargers: D-C lost to Crystal Lake South, 39-23, last week. … Sophomore QB Zach Randl had his best game, throwing for 204 yards and two touchdowns, including one to his senior brother, Drew. … RB Keegan Otte also had his best game with 199 yards rushing and one touchdown.
Friday Night Drive pick: Crystal Lake Central
Crystal Lake South (2-2, 2-2) at Burlington Central (2-2, 2-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Crystal Lake South defeated Burlington Central, 27-8, in Week 2 of the 2019 season.
About the Gators: South defeated D-C, 39-23, last week. … QB Brady Schroeder had to step in for Justin Kowalak, who was injured, and threw for 244 yards and one touchdown. If Kowalak, who still leads the area with 844 passing yards despite missing a game, is not ready, Schroeder will get the call again. … RB Nate Van Witzenburg has rushed for 399 yards and leads the Gators with 19 receptions. WR Michael Prokos has 18 catches. … WR-DB Cooper LePage has a touchdown in each game, with receiving touchdowns in the first three and a fumble return on defense last week.
About the Rockets: Burlington Central lost to Huntley, 21-12, last week. … The Rockets were driving for a go-ahead scoring in the final two minutes but a fumble was ruled on Huntley’s 2-yard line and defensive back Nick Martino returned it 98 yards to seal the outcome. … RB-LB Gavin Sarvis leads the Rockets with 302 yards rushing, and Shawn Adkerson has 285 yards.
FND pick: Crystal Lake South
Huntley (2-2, 2-2) at Jacobs (2-2, 2-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Huntley defeated Jacobs, 42-8, in the 2021 spring opener.
About the Red Raiders: Huntley beat Burlington Central, 21-12, last week. … DB Nick Martino was the hero with a blocked punt he returned for a touchdown and a 98-yard fumble return touchdown late in the game when Burlington Central was about to score. … The Raiders’ defense has been tough, but they are struggling to score points on offense. … QB Sam Deligio has thrown for 434 yards, and WR Carter Knutsen leads Huntley with eight receptions.
About the Golden Eagles: Jacobs lost to Prairie Ridge, 49-48, last week. … The Golden Eagles went for a 2-point conversion late after scoring a touchdown and were stopped in a terrific FVC battle. … Jacobs has scored the second-most points (172) in the FVC, but its 160 allowed are fourth-most (two teams are at 162 and one is at 161). … RBs Ben Ludlum (746 yards) and Nasir Canty (565) are Nos. 1 and 3 on the area rushing list. Ludlum has 13 touchdowns, Canty has seven.
FND pick: Jacobs.
McHenry (0-4, 0-4) at Hampshire (2-2, 2-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Hampshire defeated McHenry, 13-10, in Week 9 of the 2019 season.
About the Warriors: McHenry lost to Cary-Grove, 56-14, last week. … The Warriors’ schedule was front-loaded with some of the FVC’s best teams. They have played the top three scoring teams (C-G 215, Jacobs 172 and Prairie Ridge 158). … RB Dylan Drumheller had a big rushing game with 112 yards against C-G. RB Brody Hallin leads the Warriors with 246 rushing yards. … WR Kyle Kaempf has 25 receptions and four touchdowns; QB Andrew Hoffman has thrown for 789 yards, third among area players.
About the Whip-Purs: Hampshire beat Crystal Lake Central, 43-6, last week. … QB Tyler Fikis is fifth on the area rushing list at 544 yards after running for 139 yards and three touchdowns last week. He has thrown for 633 yards. … TE Devin Yeats has 13 receptions and averages 24.6 yards a catch. … Hampshire has 152 points scored, fourth among FVC teams.
FND pick: Hampshire
Prairie Ridge (4-0, 4-0) at Cary-Grove (4-0, 4-0)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Last matchup: Cary-Grove beat Prairie Ridge, 20-7, in Week 4 of the 2021 spring season.
About the Wolves: Prairie Ridge defeated Jacobs, 49-48, last week. … The Wolves, ranked No. 5 in The Associated Press Class 6A poll, came up with a crucial stop on Jacobs’ late 2-point conversion attempt to prevail in that game. … The Wolves are the only area team with three players in the top 10 for area rushing leaders: RB Zach Bentsen (2. 587), FB Nathan Greetham (7. 505) and QB Mason Loucks (10. 378). … Prairie Ridge rushed for more than 400 yards in the first three games and had 285 on the ground last week, although Loucks threw his first two touchdown passes.
About the Trojans: C-G defeated McHenry, 56-14, last week. … The Trojans, ranked No. 2 in 6A behind East St. Louis, continued to show great offensive balance and an ability to score from anywhere on the field with their triple-option attack. … RB Drew Magel has seven carries, 254 yards and five touchdowns in the past two games. … FB Nick Hissong leads C-G with 480 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
FND pick: Cary-Grove
Kishwaukee River/Interstate 8 Blue
Sandwich (0-4, 0-1) at Richmond-Burton (4-0, 2-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Richmond-Burton beat Sandwich, 29-20, in Week 2 of the 2016 season.
About the Indians: Sandwich is returning from two forfeit losses (to Plano and La Salle-Peru) for a COVID-19 quarantine. … RB Seven Tornga has 122 yards rushing to lead the Indians. … Sandwich lost to Ottawa and Geneseo, both by wide margins, in its first two games.
About the Rockets: R-B defeated Plano, 21-14, last week. … That was the first close game the Rockets had been in since the 2019 Class 4A quarterfinal playoff victory over IC Catholic, 24-14. R-B, No. 3 in Class 4A, has the state’s longest winning streak at 24 consecutive games. … FB Brock Wood is No. 4 on the area rushing list at 564 yards and has 10 touchdowns. RB Steven Siegel has 227 yards and seven touchdowns. … R-B’s defense has allowed 21 points in four games.
FND pick: Richmond-Burton
Plano (3-1, 1-1) at Johnsburg (0-4, 0-2)
When: 7:15 p.m. Friday.
Last matchup: Johnsburg defeated Plano, 32-20, in the 2016 season opener.
About the Reapers: Plano lost to Richmond-Burton, 21-14, last week. … The Reapers tied the score at 14-14 with less than four minutes remaining, but R-B came back with a winning drive and then a key defensive stop. … RB Ray Jones leads the Reapers with 384 rushing yards. … QB Sam Sifuentes has thrown for 263 yards and WR Kam Williams leads Plano with eight catches for 118 yards.
About the Skyhawks: Johnsburg lost to Rochelle, 35-10, last week. … RB Jake Metze is the Skyhawks’ go-to player with 256 rushing yards and an area-best 30 receptions for 285 yards. … QB Luke Conroy has thrown for 604 yards and WR Cade Piggott has 12 catches.
FND pick: Plano
Rochelle (2-2, 1-1) at Harvard (1-3, 0-1)
The game, set for 7 p.m. Friday, but was canceled because Harvard’s team was put under a COVID-19 quarantine.
Kishwaukee River/Interstate 8 White
Ottawa (1-3, 0-2) at Woodstock North (0-4, 0-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: This is the first time the two teams have played.
About the Pirates: Ottawa lost to Sycamore, 42-6, last week. … The Pirates’ losses in the past three weeks came against teams that are all 3-1. … QB Braiden Miller was 15 of 22 for 183 yards last week against Sycamore, No. 5 in Class 5A. … WR Levi Sheehan has 25 catches for 413 yards.
About the Thunder: North lost to Kaneland, 56-21, last week. … FB Henry Goetz has 105 carries, 25 more than any other area ballcarrier, and has 437 yards. … QB Jay Zinnen has 246 rushing yards.
FND pick: Ottawa
Kaneland (2-2, 1-1) at Woodstock (2-2, 0-1)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: This is the first time the two teams have played.
About the Knights: Kaneland beat Woodstock North, 56-21, last week. … That win snapped a two-game losing skid for the Knights. … “We got back on the winning side of things after a couple tough losses in Weeks 2 and 3,” coach Pat Ryan said. “We got back rolling again. I think we’re feeling good and we’ve got some momentum, but the road doesn’t get any easier.” … Playing without lead running back Corey Phillips, Chris Ruchaj ran for 147 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Ryan said Phillips’ status for Friday is up in the air.
About the Blue Streaks: Woodstock lost to Morris, 63-13, last week. … The Blue Streaks prefer an aerial attack, with quarterback Liam Mickle completing 65% of his passes for 784 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. … WR Kaden Hunter leads the Streaks with 16 catches, Caden Monti has 12 and Jared Kniola has 11.
FND pick: Kaneland
Nonconference
Marengo (3-1) at Morris (4-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: This is the first time the two teams have played.
About the Indians: Marengo defeated Harvard, 39-0, last week. … QB Josh Holst had another big game, throwing for 144 yards and four touchdowns. He has 873 passing yards and 12 touchdowns, with two interceptions, for the season. … WR Collin Aubry has become Holst’s favorite target and has 27 receptions, second in the area, with an area-best six touchdowns. … RB Dylan Stolz leads the Indians with 328 yards rushing.
About Morris: Morris defeated Woodstock, 63-13, last week. … QB Zach Romak ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns and threw for two other touchdowns in last week’s victory. … RB Ashton Yard had 117 rushing yards against Woodstock.
FND pick: Morris
Marian Central (2-2) at Providence (2-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: This is the first time the two teams have played.
About the Hurricanes: Marian was awarded a forfeit victory last week because it had no opponent after St. Joseph closed in the spring. … The Hurricanes are led by RB Dante Ricciardi (201 yards rushing) and QB Brendan Hernon (125). … Hernon has thrown for 637 yards and six touchdowns. … Sophomore WR Christian Bentancur has 18 catches for 365 yards and three touchdowns.
About the Celtics: Providence lost to Joliet Catholic, 42-0, last week. … Providence is ranked No. 3 in Class 5A, while Joliet Catholic is No. 1 in 4A. … The Celtics defeated Fenwick, 21-20, in Week 3. Fenwick is Marian’s Week 8 opponent.
FND pick: Providence