Lincoln-Way West, Crete-Monee, Lincoln-Way East, St. Rita and Marist are picks to click in the season openers.
Lincoln-Way West (9-3 last season) at Eisenhower (7-4)
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Lincoln-Way West has pieces in place to go even further than last season’s run to the Class 7A quarterfinals. Start with senior Chase Hetfleisch returning at quarterback, surrounded by playmakers like senior receivers Austin Rowswell and DeAndre Coates.
Eisenhower is looking to continue the program’s resurgence under new coach Vincent Holmes. The Cardinals’ defense has a proven star in senior defensive back Andre Lovett (Illinois) and a developing one in junior linebacker Damian Lewis.
But an offense full of newcomers for the Cardinals may struggle out of the gates against the Warriors’ defense, which is led by senior linebacker Josh Veldman (Northwestern).
X-factor: Jahan Abubakar, Lincoln-Way West, junior, running back.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Lincoln-Way West.
Richards’ Myles Mitchell (5) turns the corner against Eisenhower during a South Suburban Red game in Oak Lawn on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. (Troy Stolt / Daily Southtown)
Richards (8-3) at Crete-Monee (7-4)
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: These teams were bracketed to square off in the Class 6A quarterfinals last season, but both lost in the second round. Nine months later, they get their chance to face off.
Inexperienced at quarterback, Richards should rely on a workhorse running back in senior Myles Mitchell (North Dakota State).
Crete-Monee has electric athletes on both sides of the ball. Junior quarterback Derrin Couch is a track star and junior defensive back Jayden Marshall has Division I offers.
Can a veteran defense for the Bulldogs, led by senior defensive backs Austin Synoga and Seamus Doyle, get enough stops for a road win?
X-factors: Noah Escobedo, Richards, junior, quarterback. Eric Jacobs, Richards, sophomore, quarterback.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Crete-Monee.
Maine South (10-2) at Lincoln-Way East (13-1)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The Lincoln-Way East debut of junior quarterback Jonas Williams (Oregon) will come in this showdown of traditional Class 8A powers. The big question for the Griffins is how Williams will connect with his new, inexperienced receiving corps. Look for senior tight end Tyson Zvonar to be more involved in the passing attack.
Maine South has a prolific quarterback of its own in senior Constantine Coines, who finished with over 2,500 passing yards and more than 900 yards rushing yards last season. Lincoln-Way East hopes its star defensive ends — senior Caden O’Rourke (Northwestern) and junior Jacob Alexander — can pressure Coines.
X-factor: Zion Gist, Lincoln-Way East, senior, running back.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Lincoln-Way East.
St. Rita’s Nick Herman (8) tries to break free against St. Laurence during a CCL/ESCC crossover game in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. (Vincent D. Johnson / Daily Southtown)
Sandburg (6-4) at St. Rita (8-5)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: St. Rita, which beat Sandburg 42-21 in the 2023 season opener, is looking to build off a solid if unspectacular showing in coach Martin Hopkins’ first season.
Senior running back Nick Herman gives the Mustangs a workhorse capable of controlling the game on the ground.
Sandburg has all the makings of a dynamic offense, starting with the tandem of senior quarterback Anthony Shelton and receiver Charlie Snoreck, but it won’t be easy to pile up points against a veteran St. Rita defense led by senior linebackers Justin Buckner and James Kingsbury.
X-factor: Walter Jones, St. Rita, junior, receiver/defensive back/kick returner.
Steve Millar’s prediction: St. Rita.
Marist’s John McAuliffe (6) looks to turn the corner against De La Salle during a CCL/ESCC crossover game in Chicago on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023. (James C. Svehla / Daily Southtown)
Morgan Park (10-2) at Marist (4-5)
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Matchup breakdown: Marist begins new era under coach Mike Fitzgerald and will try to control the line of scrimmage against the speedy Mustangs. Look for the RedHawks to feed senior running back John McAuliffe (Cornell) often and count on senior defensive linemen Brad Fitzgibbon (Iowa) and Achilles Anderson (Harvard) to control that side of the ball.
Morgan Park has plenty of star power, including a three-year starter at quarterback attracting Division I interest in senior Marcus Thaxton, who also has a new target in junior receiver Nasir Rankin, a Whitney Young transfer. Senior linebacker Jovan Clark (Wyoming) and senior defensive back Jahmare Washington (Wisconsin) lead the defense.
X-factor: Brendan Curran, Marist, senior, receiver/kicker.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Marist.
