Class 6A playoff breakdown: No. 6 Lake Forest vs. No. 2 Batavia

Both Lake Forest (9-2) and Batavia (10-1) will fight to get back to the Class 6A semifinals at 1 p.m. Saturday. Lake Forest is trying to gain back-to-back berths after losing to Cary-Grove 42-21 in last year’s semifinals. Batavia is trying to reach the semifinals for the second time in three years after losing 33-22 to Prairie Ridge in the 2011 semis. This is a rematch of Batavia’s 31-17 win over Lake Forest in the second round in 2011. Upstate Eight River champion Batavia has won nine consecutive games and suffered its only loss to Richards, 32-25, in Week 2.

When Lake Forest runs the ball…

Senior Hub Cirame has been a workhorse all season for the Scouts. But in the postseason, Lake Forest is attempting to be more balanced in the run game. “We can’t kill Hub,” coach Chuck Spagnoli said. “We have to make sure he’s fresh.” One way to do that is to call more designed runs for senior quarterback Regis Durbin. Friday against De La Salle, Durbin carried seven times for 99 yards, including a 44-yard touchdown on the ground. “He is a great X-factor as everyone is concerned about Hub,” Spagnoli said. Look for Durbin to continue to be a second option for Lake Forest against Batavia.

When Lake Forest throws the ball…

During the Scouts’ state semifinal run last year, Lake Forest threw the ball downfield more often. This playoff run, the Scouts have been content with a more efficient passing game, focusing on intermediate throws and not taking risks. Durbin has played his best football the past two weeks, with a 72 percent completion rate, three touchdowns and just one interception. His favorite targets are senior David Glynn (four catches, 36 yards vs De La Salle) and Cirame, who had three receiving touchdowns in the Scouts’ first-round playoff win over Hubbard.

When Batavia throws the ball…

At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Batavia senior Micah Coffey is much more of a traditional pocket passer than some quarterbacks running spread offenses. Coffey has rushed for only 176 yards, which ties him for fourth on the team. Coffey is much more of a threat through the passing game, where he has completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,836 yards and 23 TDs. He has thrown only seven interceptions on the season. Two of Coffey’s receivers have more than 30 receptions on the season, led by seniors Michael Moffatt (540 yards, seven TDs) and Jordan Zwart (454 yards, four TDs).

When Batavia runs the ball…

He’s only 5-7, 150 pounds, but senior Anthony Scaccia carries a big load for the Bulldogs, who have scored at least 44 points in each game during their winning streak. No one else comes close to Scaccia’s production with his 173 carries for 1,405 yards and 27 touchdowns. Twenty-one of his TDs were rushing, and his other six came through the air. Scaccia is Batavia’s third-leading receiver with 19 catches for 240 yards. Scaccia rushed for 121 yards in a 48-13 victory over Rollling Meadows Saturday.