Previewing Week 10’s Top High School Football Games
Class 8A: No. 24 Maine South at No. 21 Naperville North, 6 p.m. Saturday
In the year of the quarterback, few have been better than Jacob Bell of Naperville North (7-2). The Ball State recruit has completed 72% of his passes for 2,788 yards and 34 touchdowns, setting program single-season records for passing touchdowns and completions. Maine South (6-3) started 1-3 with losses to Lincoln-Way East, Hersey and Barrington, but has won five in a row since. A switch to sophomore quarterback Jameson Purcell, who has multiple Power Four offers, has been one reason for the recent surge.
Class 8A: Warren at No. 15 Palatine, 7:30 p.m. Friday
At 5-4, this is a down year by Warren’s usual standards. But the Blue Devils are built to win in November with an elite running back in junior Aaron Stewart, who has 24 touchdowns and averages 27 carries and 196 rushing yards per game. Palatine (8-1) finished first in the tough Mid-Suburban West, which sent five of its six teams to the playoffs, and has won eight in a row since losing 28-27 to St. Charles North in Week 1. The Pirates offense is fueled by an offensive line led by guard Parker Brault, a Marshall recruit, and tight end Jaylen Williams, a four-star prospect committed to Michigan as a defensive lineman.
Class 7A: No. 17 Brother Rice vs. No. 18 Fenwick at Triton, 1:30 p.m. Saturday
Brother Rice (6-3) lost to Marist, St. Rita and Loyola in consecutive games in September. But the Crusaders have won five in a row since, including a victory over Mount Carmel. The defense has allowed just 33 points during the run, and an offense led by running back Tyler Lofton and quarterback CJ Gray has found its stride. CCL/ESCC White champ Fenwick (7-2) has the area’s top prospect in defensive lineman Nate Marshall, an Auburn recruit who also has made his presence felt in the Friars’ passing game.
Class 7A: Hersey at No. 23 Prospect, 7 p.m, Friday
With 1-32 seeding in the two biggest classes, it’s unusual to see a conference rematch so early in the playoffs. But here’s the second meeting of the season between the Mid-Suburban East rivals. Prospect (7-2) is on a seven-game winning streak — including a 30-27 victory over Hersey — since opening the year with losses to Lyons and Palatine. In a banner year for quarterbacks, the Knights have a proven and productive veteran in Jack Skoog along with a talented running back in Noah Easter. After a pair of early playoff exits, Hersey (6-3) intentionally beefed up its schedule and opened with losses to Warren and Barrington. But UCLA-bound quarterback Colton Gumino and the Huskies are 6-1 since.
Class 7A: Kenwood vs. Young at Rockne Stadium, 7:15 p.m. Friday
Here’s another conference rematch between Public League Red co-champ Young (9-0) and Kenwood, the only 4-5 team to make the 256-team playoff field. Young won the first meeting 14-13 in Week 6 when Von Konrad threw a 52-yard touchdown pass to Quinn Duhon with under two minutes left. That was one of three one-point wins over a four-week stretch for the Dolphins, who have a big, experienced line anchored by four-year starter Nikola Dale. Kenwood has played as tough a schedule as any team in the area, with losses to St. Francis, Nazareth and Morgan Park among others.
Conclusion
Week 10 is shaping up to be a thrilling week of high school football, with several top-ranked teams facing off in the playoffs. From Naperville North’s star quarterback Jacob Bell to Palatine’s powerful offense, there’s no shortage of talent on display. Will Maine South be able to contain Bell, or will Palatine’s offense be too much for the Hawks? Can Brother Rice’s defense continue its shutout streak, or will Fenwick’s top prospect Nate Marshall be too much for the Crusaders to handle? And can Hersey bounce back from a tough early schedule to take down Prospect once again?
FAQs
Q: What time do the games kick off?
A: The games are scheduled as follows: No. 24 Maine South at No. 21 Naperville North, 6 p.m. Saturday; Warren at No. 15 Palatine, 7:30 p.m. Friday; Class 7A: No. 17 Brother Rice vs. No. 18 Fenwick at Triton, 1:30 p.m. Saturday; Hersey at No. 23 Prospect, 7 p.m, Friday; and Kenwood vs. Young at Rockne Stadium, 7:15 p.m. Friday.
Q: What are the current records for the teams involved?
A: The records for the teams involved are as follows: Maine South (6-3), Naperville North (7-2), Warren (5-4), Palatine (8-1), Brother Rice (6-3), Hersey (6-3), Prospect (7-2), Kenwood (4-5), and Young (9-0).
