Brother Rice at No. 2 Mount Carmel 7:30 p.m. Friday
Mount Carmel (8-0, 2-0 CCL/ESCC Blue) has been dominant on defense against a schedule that has included just one team with a losing record. The leaders of that unit include Austin Mariel-Haygood (71 tackles), Lance Swain (56 tackles) and Ben Perry (49 tackles, five interceptions). Quarterback Justin Lynch has completed 64 percent of his passes for 1,081 yards and 12 TDs. Brother Rice (5-3, 1-1) has a pair of impact players on the defensive line in Justin Jefferson and Denver Warren, along with one of the area’s top running backs in junior Willie Shaw.
Rolling Meadows at No. 19 Hersey 7:30 p.m. Friday
One of these teams has won or shared the Mid-Suburban East title every year since 2012, and that trend will continue. Quarterback Jordan Hansen, a Northern Illinois recruit, leads Hersey (8-0, 4-0), which averages 49 points a game. Hansen has passed for 1,548 yards and 21 touchdowns with just two interceptions, and he’s rushed for 1,330 yards with a 9.8 average per carry. Rolling Meadows (8-0, 4-0) has been almost as productive, averaging 40 points behind the pass-and-catch duo of quarterback Carson Schiller (1,534 yards, 17 TDs) and receiver Daniel Sobkowicz (33 catches, 400 yards).
No. 17 Minooka at Oswego 7 p.m. Friday
Oswego (8-0, 4-0 Southwest Prairie West) has gone 68-2 in league games since 2012 and is looking for its ninth consecutive conference title. Lineman Jack Hugunin, a Northern Illinois recruit, leads the defense. Quarterback Cole Pradel has thrown for 1,248 yards and 11 touchdowns, including seven to Jack Lemke. Minooka (8-0, 4-0) returned 16 starters from last year’s Class 8A playoff qualifier and has held six opponents to 10 or fewer points.
East Aurora at Elgin 7:30 p.m. Friday
Two of the season’s Cinderella teams -- both 4-4 overall and in the Upstate Eight -- are hoping to end long playoff droughts. East Aurora hasn’t played a postseason game since 1982, while Elgin has reached the playoffs just once since 2001. Quarterback Orlando Garcia came up big for East Aurora in last week’s win over Fenton, passing for 218 yards and throwing for 92 more. Elgin has been playing elimination games since Week 5 after starting 0-4, and also had a big game from its quarterback last week. Jeff Lomax threw for 308 yards and three TDs in a victory over crosstown rival Larkin.
East St. Louis at Naperville Central 7 p.m. Friday
East St. Louis (8-0) is loaded with Division I talent, including three of the state’s top 10 seniors: safety Antonio Johnson, a Texas A&M recruit; defensive tackle Kevon Billingsley (Missouri) and center Javontez Spraggins (Tennessee). Also getting major-college attention are quarterback Tyler Macon and receivers Lawaun Powell, Dominic Lovett and Keontez Lewis. Naperville Central (4-4) has played one of the state’s tougher schedules -- its losses were to teams who are a combined 29-3. Quarterback Sam Jackson, a Minnesota recruit, has a pair of productive receivers in Jadon Thompson (Illinois) and sophomore Reggie Fleurima.
