Once he was done holding court/getting his ankles taped in the Naperville Central training room, senior H-back Antwon Harris talked X's and O's before Thursday's practice and explained his role in the spread offense.

The key for Harris Friday night will be beating Glenbard North's cornerbacks off the line of scrimmage. Beyond individual assignments, as a team Central is feeling confident. Harris believes the Redhawks are better prepared after absorbing losses in consecutive weeks to two of the state's best teams.

"Wheaton South, (they) whooped us, everybody knows but that wasn't (our) best," Harris said. "We just had a bad game...That game just pretty much taught us a lesson, (that) we have to come in (from) the get-go.

"If we play a good team like that, (you) got to come in firing right off the bat, cause that's what they did. They came in, scored the first three drives, 21-0 just like that.

"It just taught us a lesson (to) come in prepared for a game. Then that (Naperville) North game just taught us another lesson. (We) only put up 14 points on the board but we were moving the ball against them so we just need to put the ball in the end zone more."

Elsewhere Paul LaTour breaks down the other area matchups with these capsules.

In The Beacon News Jim Owczarski looks ahead to the postseason.

Check back Friday night for the Live Blog from Memorial Stadium.