South Elgin (5-3, 4-2) at Waubonsie Valley (7-1, 5-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last year: Waubonsie Valley 63, South Elgin 29.
Key players: South Elgin — OL/DL Fernando Vargas, DE/WR Elijah Bonds. Waubonsie Valley — QB Zack Bennema, RB Tony Durns.
Outlook: South Elgin can lock up a playoff spot with a win, but even with a loss, could make it on playoff points. Waubonsie clinches the Upstate Eight Valley title with a win in its last conference game before leaving for the DuPage Valley. Waubonsie, which has won all seven games it’s played against South Elgin, found a new weapon in WR Keaton Casey last week to supplement its powerful offense. South Elgin, beaten up by bigger Neuqua and Metea, can make statement as well as make state playoffs with a win.
Burlington Central (5-3, 5-1) at Rockford Christian (0-7, 0-5), 7 p.m. Friday
Last year: Burlington Central 34, Rockford Christian 0.
Key players: Burlington Central — RB/DB Trevor Davison, LB Anton Christensen. Rockford Christian — QB Patrick McMahon, WR Nolan Gazouski.
Outlook: Teams have been overwhelming Rockford Christian on line of scrimmage, and Burlington can lock up its second playoff berth in coach Rich Crabel’s four seasons by doing the same. Rockford Christian’s running game has only produced 679 yards all year.
St. Edward (8-0, 4-0) at Elmwood Park (2-6, 1-3), 7:15 p.m. Friday
Last year: Did not play.
Key players: St. Edward — WR Trevor Loewen, WR/DB Santos Gomez. Elmwood Park — RB/LB Ernest Deangelo, DB Corey Simmons.
Outlook: Coming off 35-14 win over Walther Christian, Elmwood has struggled defensively against run, but has plenty of speed on offense. Look for Green Wave to hand it to area rushing leader Dwayne Allen Jr. early and often, then tune up passing game for playoffs. St. Edward’s defense has turned it around, allowing only six points combined for three teams after giving up 21 to Guerin to open conference.
Jacobs (4-4, 1-3) at McHenry (3-5, 1-3), 7:15 p.m. Friday
Last year: Jacobs 42, McHenry 14.
Key players: Jacobs — QB Chris Katrenick, OL/DL Carson Shoemaker. McHenry — QB Michael Briscoe, RB Alec Glauser.
Outlook: McHenry hasn’t beaten Jacobs since 2009 and Golden Eagles have averaged 49.2 points in those four straight wins. A wild one is expected. McHenry has scored on even the best defenses. Glauser has 804 yards rushing and Briscoe has thrown for 1,144 yards. Jacobs has been unable to break RB Josh Walker loose for big yardage in three straight losses, but with the season on the line, anticipate more big plays from the Golden Eagles’ ground game.
St. Charles North (6-2, 4-2) at Elgin (1-7, 1-5), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Last year: St. Charles North 49, Elgin 0.
Key players: St. Charles North — DL Jordan Bergren, RB Eric Lins. Elgin — RB Tyreese Riley, QB/WR Dontrell Gaddy.
Outlook: St. Charles North has won three straight in series and is in playoffs for the first time since 2009. The Maroons ended a 19-game losing streak last week, as Riley, who had only 21 yards going into the game, gained 80. Elgin could go with Gaddy at QB in his final game, or to Miller-Allen, who threw for 117 yards last week. The Stars have struggled passing all year, but Lins and Dom Sidari are combining for an effective ground game. North’s Bergren might be the area’s most dominant defender (20 tackles for loss, eight sacks , 11 QB hurries).
