Four Downs: News, notes and observations from Week 3

Who is the best running back in the area? The Sun-Times went with Richards’ Leshon Williams, an Iowa recruit, in the preseason. That was a solid pick based on his numbers last season. The best I’ve seen so far this season is Hillcrest junior Mar’Keise Irving. I’ve seen Williams, Brother Rice’s Willie Shaw and St. Rita’s Kaleb Brown (twice). I watched two of the other top contenders, Cary-Grove’s Blake Skol and IC Catholic’s Kyle Franklin, a few times last season. Irving is the most explosive of the bunch. He had an 86-yard touchdown run against the Bulldogs this week.

Another name to put very high up in the race is Plainfield North’s Marcellus Moore. I haven’t had the chance to watch him yet, but the Purdue recruit is a powerful runner and a track star.

Hanging with the Flyers

Week 1’s Four Downs raved about East St. Louis. The speed and size and style the Flyers displayed against Batavia was incredible. They completely dazed and confused the Bulldogs early. Batavia, one of the best teams in the state, eventually found its footing.

Neuqua Valley was ready to go toe to toe with East St. Louis from the start on Friday in Naperville. The Wildcats lost 50-48. They failed on a two-point conversion that could have sent the game to overtime. It’s hard not to be impressed by that performance, despite the result. That’s why Neuqua Valley jumped 12 spots in the Super 25.

Quarterback Mark Gronowski was the star for the Wildcats with five touchdown passes, 116 yards on the ground and two rushing touchdowns.

Loyola-Mount Carmel showdown looms on Friday

It’s not a newsflash that Mount Carmel quarterback Justin Lynch is a very good football player. He already has a scholarship offer from Temple and his older brother, current Caravan coach Jordan Lynch, was a Heiseman Trophy finalist at NIU.

Watching Lynch precisely and effectively orchestrate Mount Carmel’s win against Montini was a surprise. It was just the junior’s third start and he played with the poise of a three-year varsity starting senior. He’s set a very high bar for himself.

“That kid is a stud,” Caravan senior Tony Livermore said after the 27-20 win against the Broncos.

Loyola doesn’t have that type of leader yet on offense. Perrion McClinton is still finding his footing. Fellow junior JT Thomas played in a few drives against St. Rita on Saturday and made some nice throws.

The Ramblers are also still searching for a consistent producer running back. Vaughn Pemberton was very good in the second half against the Broncos and sophomore Marco Maldonado showed intriguing flashes the last two weeks.

Both teams have looked solid defensively this season and both have excellent kickers. It won’t be any surprise if this matchup of No. 2 vs. No. 5 is decided by a play or two.

Providence’s signal caller

Lynch and Gronowski weren’t the only quarterbacks in the area with eye-opening games in Week 3. Providence junior Kevin Conway led his team to a big win at Brother Rice. He was threw for 175 yard and a touchdown and ran for three scores..

Conway missed last season with a broken collarbone.

The Celtics knocked off a very good Willowbrook team in Week 1 and will face another big test against Notre Dame this week.