Class 8A playoff preview: Glenbrook South at New Trier

Fourth-seeded New Trier (8-1) plays host to 13th-seeded Glenbrook South (6-3) at 6 p.m. Saturday in Northfield in the first round of the Class 8A football playoffs. Here’s what you should look forward to this weekend:

DIFFERENCE MAKERS

New Trier

Scott Hammes, wide receiver/safety, sr. — Hammes scored three touchdowns in New Trier’s 49-24 win over the Titans on Oct. 10, including a 97-yard reception, a 52-yard run and a 36-yard interception return. Senior running back Kevin Mulhern and senior wide receiver Charlie Schoder are also big-play threats.

Andrew Hauser, defensive end/tight end, sr. — Hauser has been a force at defensive end this year. He finished the regular season with 47 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and four sacks. His primary responsibility as New Trier’s starting tight end is to run block, but he’s caught 15 passes and two touchdowns this year.

Glenbrook South

Chase Daniel, wide receiver, sr. — Daniel was quarterback Fitz Stadler’s favorite option in the Titans’ final game of the season Friday against Niles West. Stadler hit Daniel 11 times for 115 yards and a score in Glenbrook South’s 35-31 loss. Any time the Titans needed a chunk of yardage, they looked for Daniel on the outside. He can be a good change of pace to offset the Titans’ rushing attack.

Quinn Conaghan, linebacker/running back, sr. — Running back Ryan Janczak should get the majority of the workload this week as he followed back-to-back 200-yard performances with 129 yards against Niles West. Conaghan has proved to be yet another threat on the ground for the Titans with his downhill, bruising rushing style. He finished with 55 yards on 10 carries Friday.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

When New Trier runs the ball …

New Trier’s offensive line versus Glenbrook South’s undersized defensive line will be the key match-up on Saturday night. The Trevians have been able to run the ball all season behind a big, skilled offensive line led by 6-7, 300-pound tackle Matt Kaskey. New Trier ran 48 times for 306 yards and five touchdowns against Evanston in Week 9, even though the Wildkits have Division I prospect Naquan Jones on their defensive line and — as New Trier coach Brian Doll said afterward — everybody knows the Trevians are going to run.

When Glenbrook South throws the ball …

Stadler struggled against New Trier when the teams played on Oct. 10. He went 3-for-14 for 61 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but he was without Daniel, his No. 1 receiver, that night. The Trevians’ pass defense allowed Evanston to stay in the game last week, however. Evanston senior Brandon Hilliard caught eight passes for 191 yards and four touchdowns. “We did not play the ball well tonight,” Doll said after New Trier’s 44-30 win against Evanston. “The kids didn’t see the ball well on defense.”

When quarterback Fitz Stadler is on the field …

Watch for the play-action pass. The Titans ran for 232 yards on Friday against Niles West, but weren’t afraid to throw the ball downfield. Stadler had completions of 32 and 22 yards against the Wolves, and finished with 182 yards. If New Trier puts extra bodies in the box to stop Janczak, Stadler can get the ball downfield to his receivers.