Sept. 05--Get all the scores here.
Mike Helfgot breaks down this week's top games here.
Want to know where your team is ranked? Check it out here.
No. 5 Loyola (1-0) at No. 17 Maine South (0-1), 7 p.m.
Hard to believe, but tonight's game in Park Ridge between Loyola and Maine South will be the first regular-season meeting of the two north suburban powers.
Maybe that's because the Ramblers and Hawks have so much history in the IHSA playoffs.
Maine South won three consecutive Class 8A titles from 2008-10, eliminating Loyola in each of those seasons -- the last two in the semifinals.
Loyola gained a measure of revenge in 2013, rolling past Maine South 35-0 in the 8A quarterfinals.
A few players from that last meeting are still around, including Hawks quarterback Brian Collis, who's in his third season as a starter. The other marquee players include Loyola's trio of Division I recruits: tight end Eric Eshoo (Northwestern), defensive tackle Ben LeRoy (Northern Illinois) and long snapper John Shannon (Notre Dame).
-Mike Clark @mikeclarkpreps
No. 1 Homewood-Flossmoor (1-0) at No. 6 Stevenson (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
All the talk has been about the rematch of the dramatic Class 8A championship game.
Lost in the memory of Stevenson's dramatic 31-25 victory was an earlier meeting that ended with a 33-24 Stevenson win.
Regardless of the outcome, let's hope for smoother sailing Friday night when No. 6 Stevenson hosts No. 1 Homewood-Flossmoor at 7:30 p.m. in the third ballgame -- and fourth get-together -- between the two in 365 days.
In Week 2 of last season, Stevenson left the north suburbs at 4 p.m., spent two-and-a-half hours in Friday traffic and sat around for another two hours before the game was postponed at 8:30 due to lightning.
The Patriots made the trip again the following day and found themselves in a 17-point hole in the second half before rallying for what turned out to be their closest game of the regular season.
Staying close to Homewood-Flossmoor won't be easy this time around. While Stevenson graduated most of the key players from the championship team, the Vikings' core returned almost completely intact.
From a strategic perspective, Stevenson undoubtedly knows what Homewood-Flossmoor likes to do, but stopping it could be another matter.
Last week, quarterback Bryce Gray threw for 338 yards and four scores on just 8-of-10 passing, hooking up with Wisconsin-bound receiver Kendric Pryor four times for 143 yards and two TDs.
Twin running backs Deante and Devonte Harley-Hampton are also gamebreakers, making the Vikings a nightmare to defend.
Stevenson's offense took on a new look this fall, with Miami (Ohio)-bound receiver Jack Sorenson replacing three-year starter Willie Bourbon at quarterback.
Sorenson was injured on the first possession of the Patriots' 26-24 victory against Palatine last week and did not return. Junior Aidan O'Connell played well in a relief role, but Sorenson could be back under center Friday night.
-Mike Helfgot @mhelfgot
No. 10 Phillips (1-0) at Carmel (0-1), 7 p.m.
After falling 20-13 to Carmel last year, Phillips went on to win 11 in a row before falling in the 4A state championship game to Rochester.
It wouldn't be much of a stretch for the Wildcats (1-0) to thank the Corsairs (0-1) for providing them with their biggest (and closest) challenge of the season. The same may be true Friday night in Mundelein.
While Carmel received a 28-7 whipping at the hands of Waukesha (Wis.) West last week, the Corsairs and their triple-option offense are always a challenge for competitors. But unless the Corsairs' defense can come up with a way to stop quarterback Quayvon Sakes and running back Kamari Mosby, it could be a long night in what looks like another magical season for the Wildcats.
-Phil English @PhillipEnglish
No. 12 Neuqua Valley (1-0) at No. 4 Naperville Central (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
These cross-town rivals have played seven times since 2009, but the schools face off tonight for the first time as DuPage Valley Conference foes. The Redhawks (1-0, 1-0) have claimed five of the previous seven contests, including a 19-0 shutout a year ago, and will need a second straight gritty defensive effort to slow the Wildcats' offense, which put up 38 points in the season-opener vs. Metea Valley.
Four of Neuqua's five touchdowns were on the ground, with three of them coming courtesy of LB Nick Osikowicz, who added his offensive duties late in the summer after a rash of injuries. The Wildcats (1-0, 1-0) had a balanced attack, gaining 174 yards rushing and 183 yards passing. Senior QB Jack Stankoven was efficient in his first varsity start (8-for-13 for 179 yards), with junior WR Isaiah Robertson reeling in six of Stankoven's completions for 121 and a TD, in addition to recording an interception on defense.
Like Neuqua with Robertson, Central will work to get the ball into Iowa recruit Manny Rugamba's hands as much as possible. He caught eight of QB Conor Joyce's 14 completions (for 89 yards and a TD) in last week's 13-12 win at Glenbard North and also sealed the win with a late fourth-quarter interception that he returned 65 yards.
-Steve Reaven @ReavenTrib
Wheaton North (0-1) at No. 8 Joliet Catholic (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
Wheaton North aims for revenge in tonight's Week 2 nonconference game.
The Falcons lost at home to JCA last year 41-13 after trailing 34-0 at halftime. Wheaton North quarterback Luke Anthony, who threw for 145 yards and a touchdown in the 2014 contest, had a TD pass in last week's 10-7 double-overtime loss at Wheaton South. Last year's loss to the Hilltoppers gave the Falcons an 0-2 start for the first time since 2004.
JCA crushed Providence 35-13 last week. The Hilltoppers received 200-plus rushing yards from Michael Johnson. Johnson is a player the Falcons will have to key on in tonight's game. He had a 99-yard scoring run and 77-yard TD catch in Week 1. JCA's defense had six sacks against Providence.
-Bob Hurst @Hurst Sports
