Week 3 game previews: Northwest Herald

FOX VALLEY CONFERENCE

Burlington Central (1-1, 1-1 FVC) at McHenry (1-1, 1-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: This is the first meeting between the two teams.

About the Rockets: Sophomore RB Gavin Sarvis ran for 75 yards in last week's 27-8 loss to Crystal Lake South. … QB Mark Ganziano was 18-of-24 passing for 98 yards. … The Rockets beat Dundee-Crown, 15-9, in Week 1.

About the Warriors: McHenry held D-C to 7 total yards in its 14-7 victory last week. DB Dominic Lorenzo returned a fumble on the first play of the second half for the game-winning touchdown. … Sophomore RB Brody Hallin ran 31 times for 160 yards and a touchdown against D-C.

Friday Night Drive pick: McHenry

Cary-Grove (2-0, 2-0) at Hampshire (0-2, 0-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: C-G won last year's matchup, 49-0, in Week 3.

About the Trojans: The defending Class 6A state champion is ranked No. 2 in The Associated Press Class 6A poll. … FB Blake Skol is third in the area with 289 rushing yards and has five touchdowns. QB Luke Eleftheriou has rushed for 161 yards. … The Trojans' defense has allowed seven total points in two games.

About the Whip-Purs: Hampshire lost to Prairie Ridge, 59-0, and QB Jackson Milison was injured and being evaluated earlier this week. … Ben Curran replaced Milison and threw for 98 yards.

Friday Night Drive pick: Cary-Grove

Crystal Lake South (1-1, 1-1) at Crystal Lake Central (0-2, 0-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Crystal Lake South won, 40-21, in Week 3 last season.

About the Gators: South defeated Burlington Central, 27-8, in Week 2 behind a big night from sophomore QB Justin Kowalak, who leads the area with 325 passing yards. … WR Ian Gorken leads the area with 15 receptions and caught seven for 121 yards and two touchdowns.

About the Tigers: Central had the toughest two weeks of any area team with Prairie Ridge (a 40-0 loss in the opener) and Cary-Grove in Week 2 (a 29-7 loss). … QB Aidan Ellinger threw for 127 yards and one touchdown last week.

Friday Night Drive pick: Crystal Lake South

Jacobs (2-0, 2-0) at Dundee-Crown (0-2, 0-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Jacobs won, 41-7, in Week 3 last season.

About the Golden Eagles: Jacobs defeated Huntley, 14-7, for its first victory over the Red Raiders since 2013. … The defense led the way, holding Huntley to 235 total yards and picking off three passes. … Jacobs picked up four points in the Class 7A poll this week.

About the Chargers: D-C fell to McHenry, 14-7, in Week 2. … The Chargers have struggled to run the ball; they were held to 7 total yards last week. … QB Evan Echlin has thrown for 148 yards in two games.

Friday Night Drive pick: Jacobs

Prairie Ridge (2-0, 2-0) at Huntley (1-1, 1-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Huntley defeated Prairie Ridge, 35-28, in Week 3 last season to end the Wolves' state-best 30-game winning streak.

About the Wolves: Prairie Ridge is No. 4 in Class 6A and has not allowed a point yet this season. … FB Carter Evans is fifth in the area in rushing with 230 yards. He also caught two passes for 44 yards and two touchdowns in last week's 59-0 win against Hampshire.

About the Red Raiders: Huntley lost to Jacobs, 14-7, and struggled to move the ball through the air. … RB Ryder Havens has two 100-yard-plus games. … WR Joey Cauldren leads Huntley with eight receptions.

Friday Night Drive pick: Prairie Ridge

NONCONFERENCE

Harvard (0-2) vs. Macomb (0-2)

When: 3 p.m. Saturday at Galeburg High School

Last matchup: This is the first meeting between the two teams.

About the Hornets: Harvard lost to Sandwich, 20-18, when Ivan Guzman's field goal came up just short in the final minute last week. … QB Jacob Stanley threw for 123 yards and a touchdown against Sandwich. RB Damon Mueller ran for 124 yards and caught the scoring pass from Stanley.

About the Bombers: Macomb lost to Charleston, 35-25, and Canton, 57-14, in its first two games. … The Bombers have not been to the playoffs since 2012.

Friday Night Drive pick: Harvard

Johnsburg (1-1) at Richmond-Burton (2-0)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: R-B defeated Johnsburg, 31-21, in Week 9 last season. This is a nonconference game; the rematch in Week 8 is a Kishwaukee River Conference game.

About the Skyhawks: Johnsburg defeated Rochelle, 18-6, last week. … RB Jacob McKinney ran back the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown and later rushed for another touchdown. … The defense has allowed nine points through two games.

About the Rockets: R-B beat Aurora Central Catholic, 50-0, last week and is ranked No. 4 in Class 4A. … QB Jacob Huber threw for four touchdowns on six completions. … RB Dalton Wood leads the area with 355 yards rushing, and his six touchdowns rank No. 2 in the area.

Friday Night Drive pick: Richmond-Burton

Marian Catholic (2-0) at Marian Central (2-0)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: Marian Central beat Marian Catholic, 32-20, in Week 4 of last season.

About the Spartans: Marian Catholic has outscored its opponents, 119-21, in the first two games. … The Spartans have not had a winning season or made the playoffs since 2010.

About the Hurricanes: Marian beat Chicago Lindblom, 38-0, last week and has yet to allow a point this season. The Hurricanes received 10 points in the Class 4A poll and are one spot out of the top 10. … RB Luke Rogers has 232 rushing yards, fourth in the area.

Friday Night Drive pick: Marian Central

Rich East (1-1) at Marengo (1-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: This is the first meeting between the two teams.

About the Rockets: Rich East beat Rich South, then lost to Thornton in its second game. … The Rockets were 6-4 last year, made the Class 5A playoffs and lost to Marion in the first round.

About the Indians: Marengo defeated Plano, 54-0, behind a six-touchdown performance from RB Finn Schirmer, who scored four times in the first quarter. … Schirmer is second in the area with 291 rushing yards. … WR Cole Davis caught two passes for 51 yards and a touchdown.

Friday Night Drive pick: Marengo

Woodstock (1-1) at Chicago Hope Academy (1-1)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: This is the first meeting between the two teams.

About the Blue Streaks: Woodstock defeated Ottawa, 15-7, last week behind a big game from QB Michael Purkey, who completed 20-of-27 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns. … WR Zach Heelein caught seven balls for 108 yards and a touchdown.

About the Eagles: Hope defeated Chicago Harlan, 50-0, last week and lost to Sandwich, 15-14, in the opener. … The Eagles have won their past three Class 2A playoff openers, then lost in the second round. Hope lost to Deer Creek-Mackinaw, 91-70, in 2016, setting the record for the highest-scoring game in IHSA playoff history.

Friday Night Drive pick: Woodstock

Woodstock North (1-1) at Norwood, Ohio (0-2)

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Last matchup: This is the first meeting between the two teams.

About the Thunder: North lost to Antioch, 26-0, last week and lost QB Ryan Zinnen to an injury in the process. Coach Jeff Schroeder said Zinnen was waiting on test results. … Elijah Pena stepped in at quarterback and rushed for 61 yards against Antioch.

About the Indians: Norwood has been outscored in its two games by a combined score of 109-14.

Friday Night Drive pick: Woodstock North

Eight-Man Football

Alden-Hebron (1-0) at Westminster Christian (0-2)

When: 1 p.m. Saturday

Last matchup: A-H won, 28-22, in 2017 against the Warriors.

About the Giants: RB Thomas Webber rushed for 144 yards in A-H's only game so far this season. RB Nikolas Rapa carried for 90 yards in that game, a 32-0 win over Wisconsin School for the Deaf.

About the Warriors: Westminster Christian did not have football last season but is back this year. … The Warriors lost to Flanagan co-op, 36-6, and to Rockford Christian Life, 46-12.

Friday Night Drive pick: Alden-Hebron