Rivalry Weekend is still a week away in prep football, so the schedule tonight is the calm before the storm. We try to use a cliche every sentence or so. However, with five wins needed to become playoff eligible, many of these games are important. The Swami moves onward into the mystical realms of the unknown to reveal all ....
Last week ] Swami's record was 12-2. Now THAT'S more like it. For the year, it's 54-19. (including 0-6 on Upset Specials)
Tonight
Libertyville 23, Mundelein 7 – Libertyville has made the playoffs 10 straight years and is sitting on a 2-3 record with games left against unbeaten Lake Forest and the University of Stevenson. So, the Cats have zero margin for error. Mundelein’s also 2-3 and has made the playoffs exactly twice in the past 33 years. With Lake Zurich still on the schedule, it looks like 2 out of 34.
Lake Zurich 38, Zion-Benton 0 – Lake Zurich is this area’s best defensive team and Zion-Benton has trouble putting the ball in the end zone. Not a good combination for the Bees. Easiy pickings for Z.
Round Lake 7, Antioch 6 – The area’s leading rusher is NOT Wauconda star Brad “The Wiz” Wisniewski. It’s Round Lake’s Ray Bryant, who has gained more than 900 yards in 5 games for a 1-4 team. Antioch is 2-3 but owns zero wins over teams that have won at least once.
Carmel 30, St. Patrick 0 – With QB David Venegoni at the wheel, Carmel’s vaunted option offense is rounding into form. Two more weeks to prepare for the annual tussle with super-power Jolie Catholic. The Swami has been vaunted several times for several different reasons.
Deerfield 40, Niles North 20 – Niles North is good at scoring points and even better at allowing points.
Glenbrook North 20, Highland Park 7 – The Spartans appear to be the class of the Central Suburban North.
Prairie Ridge a real lot, Grayslake North not many – Prairie Ridge is a state powerhouse and is unbeaten. Grayslake North is neither. Ug-leee.
Crystal Lake Central 35, Grayslake Central 7 – Do you think the people in Grayslake are embarrassed that their two high school football teams went into this weekend 0-10 and will come out of it 0-12? This, gentlemen, is a football.
Saturday Afternoon
Stevenson 34, North Chicago 6 – At 3-2, North Chicago must beat either Stevenson, Vernon Hills or Grant to make the playoffs. You can scratch Stevenson off that list. At 2-3, Patriots have no margin for error in their quest to make playoffs for 19th straight year.
Lake Forest 30, Warren 7 – Tiny Greg Kennedy is the area’s top sophomore running back, but Lake Forest’s 5-0 season has been built around its stingy defense. Give Kennedy one long TD run and the Scouts a sixth victory.
Wauconda 19, Lakes 0 – It’s Homecoming at Wauconda, so the Bulldogs can be excused for not being totally focused. Lakes was blanked last week by North Chicago but will score next week against Antioch.
Walther Lutheran 35, Lake Forest Academy 0 – This will be Walther Lutheran’s fifth win, making it playoff eligible.
Upset Special
Vernon Hills 21, Grant 20 – Undefeated Grant’s coming off a huge, emotional win over Wauconda and has Homecoming to look forward to next week. That makes this a trap game, and Vernon Hills is good enough to set it. Besides, the Cougars need to beat somebody good to make the playoffs. They’re 3-2 and play Grant (5-0), at North Chicago (3-2) and Wauconda (4-1) along with Antioch.
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