Some really interesting matchups this week!
I waffle in the MS/Warren game. On paper MS destroyed Stevenson but that game was 7-3 with 5 and a half minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter so not really a blowout. MS made adjustments and scored a couple at the end against backups. Warren is certainly more diverse offensively but they don’t have the stars of last season on offense. I think Warren is more talented. If I have to pick one I will go with Warren in a low scoring affair.
LF/Carmel is another even game. I will take Carmel. LF is always well coached and this year will be no exception. I think Carmel has a few more horses as LF is working with a smaller senior class.
LZ/SCN-LZ is always one of the toughest pound for pound teams in the conference. They will compete on every play. SCN is allegedly very strong this year. Nobody will score easily against LZ so I anticipate a low scoring game. SCN by 3.
LB/E-town- I will go with Etown in this one.
Stevenson/NT- 2 schools that weren’t happy after Week 1. Stevenson discussed above kept it tight with MS for a majority of the game and moved the ball consistently. Just couldn’t score in the Red Zone. NT lost to Hersey who is turning into a power. With Tom Nelson running TNT and working with kids all year it is no surprise that Hersey was able to hit the ground running and won big. The question is whether Hersey was that good or NT was that bad. I will go with Stevenson.
Mundelein/GN Mundy will make some plays but lacks skill position talent. GN has a very good QB and some skill position guys (including a Warren transfer). Coming off a beat down on VH. I will take GN by a couple TDs.
ZB/NC-ZB has some talent. Not sure they have line play but they should have more than enough talent to beat up on NC.
Negative on the Zion-Benton/North Chicago game and the Maine West/Waukegan game. Last week's season opener between Waukegan and North Chicago never made it to the finish line as a brawl between players on the two teams forced the game to be halted in the fourth quarter.
As a result, North Chicago has stated on facebook that it will forfeit this coming week's game vs. Zion-Benton. The Warhawks have said online that there will be a lower-level game played on Friday afternoon. Someone who's opinion about high school football in Wisconsin I respect told me that Kenosha Bradford's football program is not strong. It beat Z-B 40-10 in Week 1 which could be an indication of where the Z-B season is heading when it begins NCS play in Week 3.
I have not found any information from the Waukegan side on Waukegan's plans to play this week's varsity football game. However, on the Maine West 8 to 18 football page, it is reporting that the Warriors of Maine West will be hosting Zion-Benton on Friday night in a Week 2 non-conference game.
That makes sense as because of the North Chicago/Waukegan melee, those teams will both apparently be forfeiting Week 2 games. I confess I have no clue as to whether or not the Z-B/Maine West result will count as a win/loss for those teams or if they get the forfeit win over North Chicago and Waukegan. If the rule involving games when a school strike causes a football game. to not be played, then clearly the Z-B vs. Maine West result will count for those two schools. It's probably not very likely that either of those teams is going to navigate its way to four wins, but the fact that one of those teams is going to take an "L" instead of the forfeit "W" could play a factor for its opponents on its schedule in terms of playoff points (wins by a school's nine opponents is a tiebreaker).
Finally, several words have appeared about Mundelein's playoff chances and its needed victories, which include Week 1 and 2 victories in winnable games, plus wins over Z-B and Waukegan in the NSC, That gets them to 4. Whether or not the Mustangs can beat anybody else in the NSC might not be decisive. Because of the number of teams eligible for the playoffs this year has shrunk down into the high 400s and 256 teams quality for the playoffs, it is a virtual mathematical certainty that 4-5 teams will qualify. That means all 5-4 teams will be in. So, the 4-5 teams with the most wins by its nine opponents will be the teams that advance to the postseason. Given that, Mundelein got hurt in Week 1 as Stevenson, Lake Forest and Libertyville — all playing high-quality opponents to challenge themselves — took L's.
And finally finally, this is strictly second-hand speak, but rumor has it that both Waukegan and Zion-Benton are trying to join the Northern Lake County Conference (Grayslake North, Grayslake Central, Antioch, Lakes, Round. Lake, Grant, Wauconda, North Chicago).
Right now, the North Suburban is at 8 teams and the Northern Lake County is at 8 teams. Based on school enrollment, it makes zero sense for Waukegan and Z-B to join the Northern Lake County Conference.
Based on the ability for Z-B and Waukegan to compete in football in terms of roster size and based on recent history, it makes all the sense in the world.
That's all I. got.
