Inside Look at This Weekend's Games

Elmwood Park at Glenbard South

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: , 22W750 Butterfield Road

Records: Elmwood Park, 2-2, 0-1; Glenbard South 1-3, 0-0

Last week: Norridge 34, Elmwood Park 13; Crete-Monee 64, Glenbard South 13

Head coaches: Luis Arroyo, Elmwood Park (fourth year); Jeremy Cordell, Glenbard South (second year)

Key players

Elmwood Park: Rocco Fanella, RB; Marcellus Hunter, WR; Mike Miller, DL; Carlos Sandoval, RB; Tom Senn, QB; Robert Zeglinski, OL

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

About the game

The Raiders ran in to a buzzsaw last Friday, otherwise known as Crete-Monee. Glenbard South fought back after trailing 36-0 thanks to two touchdowns from Sanders, the Raiders’ speedy, versatile running back-kick returner who scored on a 91-yard return and a 30-yard pass play. But the TD toss to Sanders—who’s scored eight times in four games—was one of only four passes Glenbard South completed on the night.

Granted, Crete-Monee is one of the area’s top-ranked teams, but the Raiders will need to utilize offensive options other than the talented Sanders if they hope to reverse course. Friday’s contest with Elmwood Park will be the Raiders’ first as a member of the Metro Suburban Conference—a conference that some predicted Glenbard South should win prior to the start of the season.

Hunter is a dangerous wideout-kick returner for Elmwood Park. Senn found Hunter for three touchdown passes during a Week 3 40-0 white-washing of Carver Military Academy. Sandoval, meanwhile, had two touchdowns in the Tigers’ 21-13 triumph over Guerin in Week 2.

All that said, Elmwood Park hasn’t faced the level of competition the Raiders have so far this season. Give Glenbard South the edge in this one.

Glenbard West at Oak Park-River Forest

When: 12:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Oak Park-River Forest High School, 201 N. Scoville Ave.

Records: 4-0, 2-0; OPRF 2-2, 1-1

Last week: Glenbard West 45, Hinsdale Central 14; York 35, OPRF 7

Head coaches: Chad Hetlet, Glenbard West (fourth year); John Hoerster, OPRF (first year)

Key players

Glenbard West: Avery Balogh, RB; Johnny Caspers, OL; Andrew Larkin, LB; Justice Odom, QB; Tommy Schutt, DL; Joey Zito, RB

OPRF: Jamal Baggett, WR; Simmie Cobbs, WR; Jakari Cammon, RB; Dain Mrozek, QB; Ryan Nelson, WR: Brennan Van Spankeren, LB

About the game

Glenbard West, the state’s No. 1 ranked Class 7A team in the latest Associated Press poll, continues to be a formidable running club. Several backs got touches in the Hilltoppers’ WSS win over Hinsdale Central while combining for nearly 250 yards. Even Schutt, the Hilltoppers’ standout defensive lineman, scored on a 1-yard run.

But the way in which Odom, a running threat himself, went to the air effectively against the Red Devils is arguably the more noteworthy development coming out of last week. Odom enjoyed his best game passing-wise of the year so far, completing seven for over 180 yards.

This weekend, Glenbard West’s vaunted defense faces its most noteworthy challenge to date: Slowing down Cammon—something none of OPRF’s first four foes have been able to accomplish. Cammon, a junior, is averaging just over 163 yards per game. He sliced through York for 178 yards in last week’s loss to the Dukes—the second time he’s rushed for 170-or-more yards in three games.

In week one of the football season, the Huskies put up 20 points on Glenbard North, one of the state’s top-ranked Class 8A teams. It’s the only points the Panthers have given up all season. OPRF lost its starting quarterback, John Phelan, to a season-ending foot injury the following week, but Phelan’s replacement, Mrozek, a junior, has been effective running the Huskies’ offense.

The Hilltoppers received national recognition this week with a No. 74 ranking in Yahoo! Sports RivalsHigh top 100 prep football teams. Maine South (47th) is the only other Illinois team listed in the rankings.