CLASS 8A
NO. 2 LOYOLA (9-1) AT NO. 10 BARTLETT (7-3)
When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Millennium Field in Streamwood
Winner gets: No. 3 Palatine or No. 6 Schaumburg
Playoff appearances: Bartlett (12th overall, 3rd consecutive); Loyola (23rd overall, 10th consecutive)
Scouting Loyola: The Ramblers are ranked No. 5 in the Sun-Times Super 25 after extending their winning streak to eight with last week’s 41-0 win against Evanston. Senior QB Peter Pujals and senior WR Richie Wehmann headline a high-powered offense that is averaging 36.6 points per game. Loyola has shut out four of its 10 opponents this year, and its only loss came in a 30-29 setback against Dallas Jesuit in Week 2 in Dublin, Ireland. The Ramblers, who claimed their third straight Chicago Catholic Blue title, lost in the Class 8A championship game last year and lost in the state semifinals in 2009 and 2010.
Scouting Bartlett: The Hawks kept their season alive with last week’s 14-0 win at Leyden. Senior RB Aaron Everson is the team’s top playmaker and has already set single-season program records with 1,883 rushing yards and 27 total touchdowns. Senior DE Chris Kantzavelos, a Central Michigan recruit, leads the defense for Bartlett, which finished third in the Upstate Eight Valley and lost all three of its games against state-ranked opponents. A victory Saturday would send the Hawks into the quarterfinals for the second time in program history.
Quote: “Like most teams it all starts with the quarterback, and (Pujals) is very solid. Loyola’s offense is very difficult to cover and they’re just a very good team. But our guys are looking forward to the challenge. We’re definitely the underdog, but we like that.”
—Bartlett coach Tom Meaney
Erik Jacobsen’s pick: Loyola
ERIK JACOBSEN’S RECORD
Last week: 3-1
Season: 80-21
Follow Erik Jacobsen on Twitter @JacobsenECN
