Metea Valley (3-2, 2-1) at No. 7 Waubonsie Valley (5-0, 3-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last year: Waubonsie Valley won 55-10.
Key players: Metea Valley — QB Kyle Mooney, WR Nick Dodson; Waubonsie Valley — RB Tony Durns, SS Jake McCabe.
Outlook: Warriors have won all four meetings with district rival, outscoring Mustangs 168-34. “It’s important to gain confidence early,” Metea coach Ben Kleinhans said of the Upstate Eight Valley game. “We want to come out in the first quarter and prove we’re good enough to play with them. The last few years we haven’t, but we want to make a statement that it’s going to be a four-quarter game. We think we can match their speed and for the first time, hope to match up physically on both lines.”
Neuqua Valley (3-2, 3-0) at West Aurora (1-4, 1-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last year: Did not play.
Key players: Neuqua Valley — QB Broc Rutter, LB D.J. Warkenthien; West Aurora — RB/S Drake Spears, LB/RB Daquan Cross.
Outlook: Blackhawks got on the board, breaking a 12-game losing streak with last week’s win over Bartlett, sparked by long TD runs of 74 and 44 yards from Spears. The junior RB returned from a concussion and ran for 123 yards in West’s first Upstate Eight Valley win since returning to league this season. West also got a big play from Cross with a 93-yard kick return for a score and QB Johnathon Doyle completed all 10 passes he threw. Indiana State recruit Rutter should give West’s secondary a good test.
Fenwick (3-2, 1-0) at Marmion (4-1, 1-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last year: Did not play.
Key players: Fenwick — QB Jack Beneventi, WR Franklin Taylor; Marmion — RB/S Jordan Glasgow, OL/DL Luke Juriga.
Outlook: Cadets return to Catholic League Green action, coming off a bye week due to 1-0 forfeit win in scheduled crossover with St. Francis de Sales. Coach Dan Thorpe’s pass defense figures to be tested again by 6-6 Iowa-bound Beneventi, who transferred from Benet. Joe Buzinski joins Taylor to give him a pair of 6-2 targets while RB Pat Donahue runs well and is a good receiver out of the backfield.
No. 13 St. Rita (4-1) at Aurora Christian (4-1), 7 p.m., Friday
Last year: Did not play.
Key players: St. Rita — QB C.J. Weydeman, WR Brandon Gaston ; Aurora Christian — LB Joe Betterman, TE/DL Dustin Barrett.
Outlook: Eagles coach David Beebe said of the Class 7A power, “(St. Rita) is the best team we’ve ever had on this field, but (Aurora Christian) kids love the underdog role. They’ll have 75 guys on the sideline waiting to come in, but the good thing is, they can only put 11 on the field.” Gaston has caught, run and thrown TDs but RB Tyre Lee will also test the Eagles’ defense in Catholic League crossover.
No. 23 Oswego (4-1, 3-0) at Oswego East (1-4, 0-3), 7 p.m. Friday
Last year: Oswego won 48-10.
Key players: Oswego — LB Chad Marsh, RB Treshon Weddington; Oswego East — LB Zach Prinz, RB Khalil Driver.
Outlook: Crosstown rivals meet for 10th time and Wolves will be hard-pressed to break into win column in series. Injuries have taken toll on East offense, which has scored league low 50 points in Southwest Prairie. Defense ranks second in points allowed with just 64, but will face tough test even if Oswego QB Steven Frank (leg) remains sidelined. Weddington and Connor Cavins lead a strong run game. Wolves have been outscored 377-110 in series.
Other Friday games
South Elgin at East Aurora, 7 p.m.
No. 24 Batavia at West Chicago, 7:30 p.m.
No. 17 Geneva at St. Charles East, 7:30 p.m.
Kaneland at Sycamore, 7:15 p.m.
Yorkville at Geneseo, 7:15 p.m.
Aurora Central at Fenton, 7:15 p.m.
Manteno at Sandwich, 7 p.m.
Plano at Peotone, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Mooseheart at Hebron, 1 p.m.
