Welcome to Lake County high school football’s Rivalry Weekend!. Tis is the weekend when old neighborhood scuffles get settled and for some the chance to go to the playoffs will be decided.
In the southeast corner of the county, we have intradistrict rivals Highland Park & Deerfield battling it out.
In the heart of the county, we have intradistrict rivals Grayslake Central & Grayslake North clashing.
And in the northern part of the county, we have intradistrict rivals Antioch & Lakes set to do battle.
Plus, neighbors Lake Zurich & Wauconda, and Grant & Round Lake are set to do battle.
But with all that happening, the Game of the Week will be at North Chicago, where the host Hawks and Vernon Hills will meet in a battle for survival. Both teams are 3-3 and are in a must-win situation in order to make the playoffs because each squad has a very losable game remaining on the slate.
So, with that thought in mind, let the games begin!
Last week: 11-3.
For the Year: 65-22, but that record includes 0-6 in upset specials.
FRIDAY NIGHT
Vernon Hills 28, North Chicago 14 – Freshman burner DeVaris Daniels is the most exciting freshman we’ve had on the pitch in many a year. The Cougar returns kickoffs and punts, plus plays wide receiver. Vernon Hills coach Tony Monken is trying to get him a dozen touches a game. North Chicago has 3 wins over the three teams it should have beaten and 3 losses in games against teams that it should not have beaten. This is the Hawks’ only tossup game of the year.
Warren 18, Mundelein 7 – Warren is on fire, as its win over Lake Forest last week made the Devils 3-3 and in position to make the playoffs. The Devils are led by kicker Steve Fox, who will be good for 6 field goals against a bend-but-don’t-break Mustang defense.
Lakes 20, Antioch 19 – Antioch has more wins (3 compared to 2) but the combined records of the Sequoits’ victims is 1-17.
Lake Zurich 48, Wauconda’s Brad “The Wiz” Wisniewski less than 100 yards -- The area’s top running back is over the 1,000-yard plateau for the season and has been over 100 yards in all six Bulldog games. LZ has area’s best defense.
Libertyville 17, Zion-Benton 14 – Zee-Bees will make this way closer than you might think a 1-5 team should.
New Trier 28, Waukegan 15 – Last of four straight losses for Waukegan before finishing with two wins over Niles West & Evanston, which will make the Bulldogs playoff-eligible.
N Deerfield 20, Highland Park 19 – These teams have met twice in each of the last two years, with the team that lost the regular-season matchup winning in the playoffs.
N Carmel 35, Nazareth Academy 28 – This will be a good tuneup for Carmel as it nears its game against state-power Joliet Catholic.
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
N Grant a lot, Round Lake a little – There is no stopping the unbeaten Bulldogs.
N Stevenson 28, Lake Forest 13 – Last week’s loss to unheralded Warren might have shaken the Scouts confidence after a 5-0 start. It’s shaken our confidence.
UPSET SPECIAL
Grayslake over Grayslake for first win of season – Team with most fans in the stands will win!
Leave a comment