Hillcrest, Shepard, Lincoln-Way West, Brother Rice and Lincoln-Way East are picks to click for the eighth week of the regular season.
Eisenhower (4-3) at Hillcrest (4-3)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: This South Suburban Conference crossover has major playoff ramifications.
Both teams have tough Week 9 matchups — Eisenhower hosting Shepard and Hillcrest hosting Lemont — and would love to punch their ticket to the postseason now with a fifth win.
The Hawks are on a four-game winning streak since opening with losses to Benet, Montini and Oak Forest, which are all 5-2. Senior running back/linebacker Erimus Wright (South Dakota State) is Hillcrest’s star. He ran for 102 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s 37-7 rout of T.F. North.
Eisenhower is coming off a dramatic 19-14 win over Argo as junior receiver Larnell Moore caught the go-ahead TD pass from senior quarterback Darion Lee in the final minute before Moore’s interception sealed it.
X-factor: Andre Lovett, Eisenhower, senior, running back/defensive back.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Hillcrest.
Lincoln-Way West (4-3) at Lockport (3-4)
Kickoff: 6 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Lincoln-Way West looks to get to five wins while Lockport tries to keep its hopes of getting to five alive in this Southwest Valley crossover.
The Warriors rolled to a 64-0 win over Champaign Centennial last week. Senior quarterback Chase Hetfleisch and junior running back Jahan Abubakar appear ready to lead a late-season surge for a team that reached the Class 7A quarterfinals last year.
The Porters will be playing desperate at home. Junior quarterback Brendan Mecher has played well since taking over in Week 6 and junior Adam Kozak is a game-changer at receiver and kick returner.
X-factor: Zach Hermanson, Lincoln-Way West, junior, kicker.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Lincoln-Way West.
Shepard (5-2, 3-1) at Reavis (4-3, 2-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Shepard comes into this South Suburban Red game having secured that all-important fifth win with a 49-16 victory last week over Oak Lawn.
Senior quarterback Noah Vaughn is a dual threat for the Astros, having thrown for 817 yards and nine TDs while running for 416 yards and six TDs.
Senior lineman Chris Stavrakis is a force on both sides of the ball and leads the defense with 47 tackles and seven sacks.
Reavis is looking to bounce back from a 21-13 loss to Evergreen Park that put the Rams’ playoff hopes in peril, with a Week 9 game looming against Richards.
Junior quarterback Jonathan Liesen and senior receiver/running back Jorden Brown will look to get Reavis back on track.
X-factor: Anthony Loughran, Shepard, senior, running back/defensive back.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Shepard.
Brother Rice (4-3) at St. Laurence (6-1)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The Crusaders come into this CCL/ESCC crossover brimming with confidence, having won three straight games, including a 42-7 rout of Notre Dame last week.
Junior quarterback CJ Gray has grown into a consistent leader for Brother Rice, while senior running back Tyler Lofton (Illinois State) continues to take the pressure off him.
St. Laurence, coming off a 24-13 win over St. Patrick, has struggled offensively the last two weeks after losing senior quarterback Chase Kwiatkowski (Illinois State) to an injury. Senior running back Harley Rizzs will likely be asked to be a workhorse.
X-factor: KJ Morris, Brother Rice, senior, kick returner.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Brother Rice.
Lincoln-Way East (7-0) at Andrew (5-2)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Lincoln-Way East heads into this Southwest Valley Conference crossover having scored between 47 and 49 points in every game aside from the forfeit win the Griffins received in Week 2 from Specially Fit Academy of Florida.
The Griffins beat Lockport 47-14 last week as junior quarterback Jonas Williams (Oregon) continues to look unstoppable and the return of senior running back Zion Gist (Western Michigan) adds another element to the offense.
Andrew is riding high after stunning district rival Sandburg 42-27 last week.
The Thunderbolts’ recipe for a much bigger upset this week is a simple one — run the ball and keep Williams and company on the sideline.
Senior running backs Jordan Wandick and Brady Tanquilut lead Andrew.
X-factor: Talan White, Lincoln-Way East, senior, receiver.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Lincoln-Way East.
