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Fox Valley Conference
Jacobs (4-2, 4-2) at Cary-Grove (6-0, 6-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: C-G won, 16-6, in Week 7 of the 2019 season.
About the Golden Eagles: Jacobs defeated Burlington Central, 54-14, last week. … The Golden Eagles continue to have the Nos. 1 and 3 rushers in the area in RBs Ben Ludlum (979 yards) and Nasir Canty (780). Canty has 106 carries and Ludlum 100. … The Eagles’ defense has had its two best games of the season the past two weeks, holding opponents to a combined 31 points. … Jacobs’ 253 points is second in the FVC to C-G’s 301.
About the Trojans: C-G beat Huntley, 44-13, last week. … The Trojans trailed in a game for the first time last week after Huntley scored in the first quarter, but they led 16-7 at halftime before breaking the game open with two third-quarter touchdowns. … C-G is No. 2 in The Associated Press Class 6A poll. … FB Nick Hissong (743 yards, 11 TDs) leads a balanced rushing attack. RBs Drew Magel (456 yards, 7 TDs) and Wade Abrams (423 yards, 4 TDs) and QB Jameson Sheehan (338 yards, 7 TDs) all average double-figure yards per carry, as does Hissong. … C-G’s 78 points allowed is 77 fewer than Huntley’s 155, the next-lowest in the FVC.
Friday Night Drive pick: Cary-Grove
Huntley (2-4, 2-4) at Hampshire (4-2, 4-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Huntley defeated Hampshire, 48-14, in Week 4 of the 2021 spring season.
About the Red Raiders: Huntley lost to C-G, 44-13, last week. … The Raiders are playing for their playoff lives in the past three games, needing to win out to become playoff eligible at 5-4. … RB Ryder Hunkins and an offensive line that has played together three weeks has boosted the ground game. Hunkins has 238 yards rushing combined over the past two games. … Huntley’s defense has been solid most of the season and put up more resistance than any other team against C-G’s high-powered offense. … The Raiders have been to the Class 8A playoffs six consecutive seasons.
About the Whip-Purs: Hampshire beat Prairie Ridge, 43-42, last week. … That marked the first time Hampshire had beaten Prairie Ridge. It was the Whip-Purs’ third consecutive win. … QB Tyler Fikis had another big game, running for 112 yards and throwing for 210 and two touchdowns. … Fikis is second in area rushing with 838 yards and fifth in passing yardage with 966. … RB Tristan Villarreal has 302 yards rushing, and TE Devin Yeats leads the Whips with 15 catches and a 27.5-yard average per catch. … The Whips are trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
FND pick: Hampshire
McHenry (1-5, 1-5) at Crystal Lake South (3-3, 3-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday.
Last matchup: McHenry defeated Crystal Lake South, 48-37, in Week 5 of the 2021 spring season.
About the Warriors: McHenry beat Dundee-Crown, 49-13, last week. … That marked the Warriors’ best offensive output by 17 points this season. RB Brody Hallin ran for 154 yards and two touchdowns. WR Kyle Kaempf had six catches for 108 yards and two scores. … Kaempf is second in area receptions with 35, and his seven TD catches are the most.
About the Gators: South lost to Crystal Lake Central, 42-37, last week. … The Gators’ offense was rolling early against Central with 21 first-quarter points. QB Justin Kowalak, the area’s passing leader with 1,345 yards, threw for 253 in that game. … RB Nate Van Witzenburg has rushed for 698 yards, and WR Michael Prokos is tied for third on the area list with 32 receptions.
FND pick: Crystal Lake South.
Prairie Ridge (4-2, 4-2) at Dundee-Crown (0-6, 0-6)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Prairie Ridge defeated D-C, 56-0, in Week 4 of the 2019 season.
About the Wolves: Prairie Ridge lost to Hampshire, 43-42, last week. The Whip-Purs went for a 2-point conversion late for the win. … The Wolves got an offensive boost last week with the return of RB Tyler Vasey from an elbow injury. Vasey was supposed to play quarterback, but Mason Loucks stepped in when Vasey was hurt. Playing running back, Vasey ran for 66 yards, caught a 65-yard touchdown pass from Loucks and returned a kickoff 85 yards for another score. … Prairie Ridge’s defense has yielded 133 points in the past three games.
About the Chargers: D-C lost to McHenry, 49-13, last week. … RB Keegan Otte (539 yards) has put together some big games for D-C, while sophomore QB Zach Randl has made strides in the offense and has 529 passing yards.
FND pick: Prairie Ridge
Crystal Lake Central (4-2, 4-2) at Burlington Central (2-4, 2-4)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Crystal Lake Central defeated Burlington Central, 34-14, in Week 4 of the 2019 season.
About the Tigers: CL Central beat Crystal Lake South, 43-37, last week. … The Tigers fell behind, 21-7, last week but rallied back in the second half, then held the Gators off with a late interception to spoil a potential winning drive. … QB Colton Madura made a huge difference with the offense last week when he returned from a hip injury to run for 168 yards and throw for 207. … RB Brent Blitek has 673 rushing yards and WR Jake Carnrite leads the team with 27 catches.
About the Rockets: Burlington Central lost to Jacobs, 54-14, last week. … The Rockets are led by RB Gavin Sarvis (405 yards) and QB Shawn Adkerson (400 yards) in rushing. … WR Jake Herman leads the Rockets with 10 receptions.
FND pick: Crystal Lake Central
Kishwaukee River/Interstate 8 Blue Division
Richmond-Burton (6-0, 3-0) at Johnsburg (1-5, 1-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: R-B defeated Johnsburg, 46-0, in Week 5 of the 2021 spring season.
About the Rockets: R-B beat Sycamore, 42-20, last week, stretching its state-best winning streak to 26 games. … FB Brock Wood is fourth on the area rushing list with 753 yards and has 14 touchdowns. RB Steven Siegel has 294 yards and 10 touchdowns. … The Rockets thrive behind their defense, which has allowed only 47 points this season. … R-B’s last loss came to IC Catholic in the 2018 Class 4A playoff semifinals.
About the Skyhawks: Johnsburg beat Sandwich, 35-0, last week. … The Skyhawks focus a lot of their offense around RB Jake Metze, who has 472 yards rushing and an area-best 38 receptions. … QB Luke Conroy has thrown for 802 yards and WR Cade Piggott has 14 receptions.
FND pick: Richmond-Burton
Plano (5-1, 3-1) at Marengo (3-3, 2-1)
When: 7:15 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Marengo beat Plano, 54-0, in Week 2 of the 2019 season.
About the Reapers: Plano received a forfeit victory from Harvard last week because the Hornets were quarantined by COVID-19. … The Reapers have played only two games in the past four weeks because Sandwich was quarantined in Week 3. … In those two games, Plano lost to R-B, 21-14, and came back in Week 5 to beat Johnsburg, 27-26. … RB Ray Jones leads the Reapers with 620 yards rushing.
About the Indians: Marengo lost to Rochelle, 41-32, last week. … The Indians had trouble making defensive stops against the Hubs in a game in which they produced well offensively. QB Josh Holst threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns. Holst is second in the area with 1,236 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. … WR Collin Aubry is tied for third in the area with 32 receptions and has six touchdowns. … RB Dylan Stolz leads Marengo with 474 rushing yards.
FND pick: Plano
Sandwich (0-6, 0-3) at Harvard (1-5, 0-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Sandwich defeated Harvard, 20-18, in Week 2 of the 2019 season.
About the Indians: Sandwich has only four touchdowns on the season – albeit with two of its six games to this point forfeited because of COVID-19 containment measures – but does feature a dangerous running attack when the Indians’ wing-T gets going. Last week, RB Seven Tornga continued to shine with an 18-carry, 123-yard performance that included a 74-yard tote. Finding a strong second option, however, has eluded the Indians to this point, although RBs Austin Marks and Doug Taxis have shown flashes, as has QB Logan Frantzen. This is the Indians’ last game on the schedule against a team that currently is under .500.
About the Hornets: Like the Indians, Harvard had to sit out a two-game COVID-19-related quarantine this season. The Hornets forfeited a meeting with Rochelle in Week 5 and last week’s game at Plano. The Harvard offense features RB Bailey Livdahl, who had 524 yards and five TDs rushing on 58 attempts through four weeks, along with fellow RB Eduardo Flores. The Hornets’ only win this season came in Week 2, a 34-22 topping of Woodstock North. In its other three on-the-field contests, Harvard has been within 10 points other than a 39-0 defeat at the hands of Marengo.
FND pick: Harvard
Kishwaukee River/Interstate 8 White Division
Sycamore (4-2, 3-0) at Woodstock North (0-6, 0-4)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: This is the first time the teams have played each other.
About the Spartans: Sycamore lost to Richmond-Burton, 42-20, last week. … QB Eli Meier threw for 172 yards and ran for 111 in last week’s loss. … RB Nathaniel Altepeter leads Sycamore with 322 yards rushing. … WR Kayden Galto has 16 catches for 302 yards.
About the Thunder: North lost to La Salle-Peru, 49-7, last week. … The Thunder’s defense has allowed 271 points this season, the most in the division. … FB Henry Goetz leads North with 695 yards rushing, and QB Jay Zinnen has 291. …TE Justin Van Acker has 11 receptions to lead the Thunder.
FND pick: Sycamore
La Salle-Peru (4-2, 2-1) at Woodstock (3-3, 1-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: This is the first time the teams have played each other.
About the Cavaliers: La Salle-Peru beat Woodstock North, 49-7, last week. … Dynamic QB Sean Whitfield ran for 158 yards and three touchdowns and threw for two more scores in last week’s win.
About the Blue Streaks: Woodstock defeated Ottawa, 24-20, last week. … QB Liam Mickle is third in the area with 1,146 yards and has thrown for 11 touchdowns. … WR Caden Monti (21) and TE Kaden Hunter (20) top the Streaks in receptions.
FND pick: La Salle-Peru
Nonconference
St. Rita (4-2) at Marian Central (3-3)
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: This is the first time the teams have played each other.
About the Mustangs: St. Rita beat Nazareth, 42-39, last week. … The Mustangs’ losses came to Loyola (No. 1, 8A), 37-7, and Mount Carmel (No. 4, 7A), 16-9. … RB Kyle Clayton averages 112 yards rushing per game. QB Thomas Ulatowski is throwing for close to 100 yards a game. … St. Rita lost to Rochester, 42-28, for the 2019 Class 5A state championship.
About the Hurricanes: Marian defeated Chicago Leo, 29-0, last week. … The Hurricanes are led by dual-threat QB Brendan Hernon, who has 288 yards rushing and has thrown for 1,075 yards and 12 touchdowns. … WR Christian Bentancur has 31 receptions and six touchdowns. … Marian needs two wins in its final three games (Fenwick and Chicago DePaul are the Weeks 8 and 9 opponents) to become playoff eligible.
FND pick: St. Rita
Eight-Man Football
Alden-Hebron (2-4) at South Beloit (4-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: South Beloit played 11-man football until the 2021 spring season, and A-H had no games in the spring.
About the Giants: A-H received a forfeit win from Ashton-Franklin Center last week. … The Giants lost to Milledgeville, 48-16, in Week 5 and defeated Sciota West Prairie co-op, 34-8, in Week 4.
About the Sobos: South Beloit lost its last two games – to Orangeville, 57-24, and to Freeport Aquin, 42-22.
FND pick: South Beloit
· J.T. Pedelty contributed to this report.