West Aurora, Geneva, Joliet Catholic, Kaneland and Yorkville are picks to click for second week of regular season.
West Aurora (1-0) at Glenbard East (1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: A much tougher challenge awaits the Blackhawks, who are coming off a 53-0 victory over Proviso East in the season opener. The Rams proved resilient in 30-23 nail-biter at Willowbrook, giving up a touchdown and 2-point conversion to trail 23-22 with 21 seconds left.
Senior receiver Amonte Cook returned kickoff 57 yards, setting up a 23-yard TD pass from Michael Nee to junior receiver Muhammad Musleh for the winner. The conversion throw to Amonte accounted for final score.
Nee threw for 317 yards and three TDs. It could be a great matchup vs. West Aurora’s Mason Atkins, a junior quarterback whose favorite target Terrence Smith became a Big Ten recruit last weekend with his commitment to Iowa.
X-factor: Azuriah Sylvester, West Aurora, senior, running back/defensive back.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: West Aurora.
Geneva’s Talyn Taylor (1) runs toward the end zone for a touchdown against Metea Valley during a nonconference game in Aurora on Friday, Aug. 25, 2023. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)
Lemont (0-1) at Geneva (1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Tony Chahino certainly looks the part as a senior for Geneva. A patient understudy the previous two seasons who saw action at linebacker, Chahino made his first varsity start at quarterback in a 63-0 blowout of Larkin.
Chahino completed 6 of 7 passes for 163 yards and four TDs in one quarter of action. He threw two TDs each to Georgia recruit Talyn Taylor and Finnegan Weppner, who had three receptions apiece for 73 and 90 yards, respectively.
Lemont was on the opposite end of a lopsided score, losing 43-0 to Libertyville. Geneva (6-4) took last year’s meeting between the two playoff qualifiers, with a 21-10 win over Lemont (5-5).
Air Force recruit Jake Sulzberger anchors offensive line for Lemont, which has nine straight playoff appearances.
X-factor: Talyn Taylor, Geneva, senior, wide receiver.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Geneva.
Joliet Catholic (1-0) at Oswego (1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Oswego coach Brian Cooney, whose team beat Neuqua Valley 30-7 last week, doesn’t know if his team has ever met Joliet Catholic, a 50-22 winner over Iowa City in the opener.
“We were both looking for a Week 2 game against good competition, and their history speaks for itself,” Cooney said of the Hilltoppers, who are tied with Mount Carmel for most state titles with 15. “It doesn’t matter the class. JCA can line up against any team in the state and not worry.”
Joliet Catholic ran for 333 yards last week and will provide a strong test for the Oswego defense, led by Iowa recruit Carson Cooney, a senior linebacker who is flanked by Mikey Claycombe and Easton Ruby.
X-factor: Ian Campbell, Joliet Catholic, junior, defensive lineman.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Joliet Catholic.
Wauconda (1-0) at Kaneland (1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Jackson Rudolph, a 6-foot, 230-pound junior fullback, scored TDs on runs of 3, 14 and 13 yards to lead Wauconda to a 44-34 win over Hinsdale South. The Bulldogs, who piled up 360 yards rushing and had a 436-414 edge in total yards, are led by senior quarterback Logan Olsen, a three-year starter at quarterback.
Senior quarterback Chase Kruckenberg completed 12 of 15 passes for 162 yards and two TDs in Kaneland’s 20-14 win over Washington, a Class 6A semifinalist last season. Senior kicker Sam Bruno made field goals of 28 and 35 yards that were the difference.
X-factor: Jackson Little, Kaneland, sophomore, defensive back.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Kaneland.
Yorkville (0-1) at New Trier (0-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The Foxes need to get unstuck after holding a 13-5 edge in first downs and a 247-150 advantage in total yards last week in a 3-0 loss to Plainfield South.
Each team had one turnover and the Cougars held a three-minute edge in time of possession.
Junior quarterback Jack Beetham completed 12 of 22 passes for 138 yards to lead Yorkville. He did not throw an interception.
New Trier lost 42-14 to Naperville North despite holding a whopping 11-minute edge in time of possession. Senior quarterback Patrick Heneghan passed for 137 yards and ran for 62. Sophomore wideout Will Miller added 92 yards rushing on five carries and 35 yards receiving.
X-factor: Dyllan Malone, Yorkville, senior, wide receiver.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Yorkville.