An Inside Look at This Weekend's Prep Football Games

Fenton at Glenbard South

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: , 22W750 Butterfield Road

Records: Fenton, 5-1, 0-1; Glenbard South 3-3, 2-0

Last week: Ridgewood 32, Fenton 20; Glenbard South 39, Riverside-Brookfield 21

Head coaches: Mark Kos, Fenton (second year); Jeremy Cordell, Glenbard South (second year)

Key players

Fenton: Frank DiLauro, WR-DB; Alan Geneva, WR-RB; Sean Havlovic, QB; Fred Joyner, OL-DL; Adam Kadlec, DB; Ryan Rogers, OL

Glenbard South: Kyle Avaloy, OL; Nick Boesso, LB; Zach Bava, LB; Matt Loos, RB; Tyler Padera, QB; Wes Sanders, RB

About the game

Ridgewood (3-3) handed Fenton its first loss of 2011 last Friday. The Bison were 5-0 prior to this contest, but here’s the rub: Four of the five teams Fenton knocked off had not won a game through Week 5. In other words, the Bison have been cleaning house on some subpar clubs.

Nonetheless, the Raiders have had this game circled on their calendars since the start of the season. The Bison are the two-time defending Metro Suburban champs, and considered a favorite, along with the Raiders, to win the MSC crown again. This game is important for Glenbard South not only from a conference standpoint, but to keep in contention for a playoff spot.

Havlovic and Geneva form a formidable quarterback-receiver combo. Ridgewood managed to keep Geneva, one of the area’s leading pass-catchers, out of the end zone last week, and Glenbard South undoubtedly will have to do the same on Friday.

Preventing Sanders from crossing the goal line, however, could be a difficult task for the Bison, given the senior’s track record so far. Glenbard South’s multi-talented, multi-purpose back now has 12 touchdowns after reaching paydirt three more times last Friday. No team Glenbard South has faced so far—including powerhouses Crete-Monee and Prairie Ridge—has been able to shut down Sanders.

Glenbard West at Addison Trail

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Where: Addison Trail High School, 213 N. Lombard Road, Addison

Records: 6-0, 4-0; Addison Trail 6-0, 4-0

Last week: Glenbard West 51, Proviso West 13; Addison Trail 35, Proviso East 0

Head coaches: Chad Hetlet, Glenbard West (fourth year); Paul Parpet, Jr., Addison Trail (second year)

Key players

Glenbard West: Avery Balogh, RB; Johnny Caspers, OL; Kendall Johnson, RB; Andrew Larkin, LB; Tommy Schutt, DL; Joey Zito, RB

Addison Trail: Trevor Bermingham, QB; Nathan Biewer, OL; Tom Caputo, TE-DL; Anthony Catanese, RB-WR; Wyatt Klemm, OL; Anthony Messina, LB-RB

About the game

Fortunately for the Hilltoppers, the injury to Odom’s left knee, which he injured during the second half of last week’s win over Proviso West, wasn’t as bad as it first appeared. An MRI revealed that the starting quarterback, who’s been instrumental in Glenbard West’s undefeated season, suffered a sprained knee.

Odom not only has complemented the Hilltoppers’ talented stable of running backs with his mobility, but he’s gone to the air with confidence the past few weeks—making Glenbard West an even more dangerous offensive squad.

It remains to be seen whether or not Odom starts on Friday. If he doesn’t go, junior Henry Haeffner will get the start. Glenbard West’s offensive line, led by Division I recruit Johnny Caspers, has proven it can open up holes, regardless of who’s in the backfield and whomever happens to be their opponent. The triumvirate of Balogh, Zito and Johnson is running with authority. And don’t forget Glenbard West’s defense. Schutt, Larkin and company forced five turnovers and made life miserable for Proviso West last week.

Not to take anything away from the Blazers—who are off to their best start in school history—but the competition they’ve played so far this season doesn’t quite match up with the Hilltoppers’ schedule. The Blazers are tied atop the West Suburban Gold with Downers South, yet Addison Trail’s four Gold victories have come against teams with a combined 7-17 record. In fact, Glenbard West will be the first team AT has faced this season that owns a winning record.

The level of competition notwithstanding, AT is a 6-0 team. The Blazers, like the Hilltoppers, had little trouble disposing of Proviso West in Week 2 (a 25-6 victory). A big, experienced offensive line—Biewer and Klemm both weigh in at 260 pounds—opens up holes for Catanese, the 2010 WSG offensive Player of the Year who’s scored eight touchdowns so far. Catanese has been more of a receiving threat this season, with six of his eight scores coming on receptions. The Blazers’ defensive unit, meanwhile, has four shutouts to its credit, including three straight going into Friday’s game.