NOTE: The Sandwich at LaSalle-Peru game has been canceled because of a COVID situation at Sandwich, with the Indians forfeiting the game.
Southwest Prairie Conference
Oswego (1-2) at Romeoville (0-3)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Oswego 56, Romeoville 6 (2018)
About the Panthers: Oswego picked up its first win of the season in Week 3 by forfeit. The Panthers are likely itching to earn a win on the field after a rigorous non-conference slate did not go their way. Odds favor Oswego getting back to .500 heading into the division schedule, which seems extra important to the Panthers’ playoffs chances with no sure-fire wins in the SPC West. Deakon Tonielli leads Oswego receivers with nine catches for 90 yards, but the Panthers, averaging just 3.8 yards per carry, surely would love to re-establish their power running game.
About the Spartans: Romeoville was just happy to get back on the field for Week 3 after losing its Week 2 opportunity to forfeiture. There should be more opportunities for Romeoville to be in the mix when divisional games begin next week, but this one might be a little too much of a haul for Romeoville at this point.
FND Pick: Oswego
UPDATE: Joliet Central will forfeit its week 4 game with Oswego East due to a combination of COVID and academic issues on its roster.
Joliet Central will forfeit is week 4 game with Oswego East due to a combination of COVID and academic issues on its roster. Joliet Central also forfeited its Week 3 contest.
— Steve Soucie (@thesouc) September 16, 2021
Oswego East (3-0) at Joliet Central (0-3)
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Oswego East 56, Joliet Central 0 (2018)
About the Wolves: QB Tre Jones has proven to be quite the dual-threat, and the Wolves’ biggest weapon offensively up to this point with 308 passing yards and four TDs and 222 rushing yards and four TDs. He ran for three TDs in last Friday’s 42-18 win over Plainfield East. Ty Carlson is a playmaker in all three phases; the Wolves’ leading receiver with 10 catches for 203 yards had a kickoff return for a TD and an interception last week. Speedy running back Darquel Sanders returns to the Wolves’ lineup after missing Week 3. Oswego East’s defense, which intercepted five passes last week, has been the team’s steadying force so far.
About the Steelmen: Joliet Central is simply hoping it will be able to return to the field after losing its Week 3 game to forfeiture. If the Steelmen are cleared to play, this is a rough matchup to return for. If anything, Joliet Central might be best served to limit passing attempts as the ballhawking Oswego East secondary had five interceptions in its Week 3 game.
FND Pick: Oswego East
Yorkville (2-1) at Plainfield East (1-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: First meeting
About the Foxes: Yorkville’s defense proved to be very opportunistic in a Week 3 win over Plainfield South. The five turnovers it created gave the offense some much needed extra chances to break through. The Foxes cashed in three of those for scores, highlighted by Andrew Garton’s pick-six. Quarterback Nate Kraus has thrown for a modest 186 yards and two TDs in three games, but he’s also run for 118 yards at 7.9 yards per carry. Blake Kersting and the Foxes’ secondary figures to be busy with a Bengals’ no-huddle offense not afraid to air it out.
About the Bengals: For the second time this season, Plainfield East’s young roster was a little shellshocked by an opponent’s fast start. Oswego East came out firing in Week 3 and before the Bengals could recover they found themselves in much too large a hole. A youth movement may also be underway with the Bengals as freshman QB Brandon Parades has worked his way into the rotation. He had two touchdown tosses against Oswego East, while Quinn Morris had four receptions and an interception.
FND Pick: Yorkville
Kishwaukee River/Interstate Eight Blue
Richmond-Burton (3-0) at Plano (3-0)
When: 7 p.m. Friday
Last matchup: Richmond-Burton 42, Plano 0 (first round of 2018 Class 4A playoffs)
About the Rockets: R-B defeated Rochelle, 34-7, in Week 3. The Rockets are No. 3 in Class 4A and have the longest winning streak in the state at 23 consecutive games. FB Brock Wood has run for 432 yards with eight touchdowns and a 14.4-yard average a carry. QB Joe Miller is 15 of 20 and has thrown for 198 yards. R-B’s defense has allowed only seven points.
About the Reapers: Plano received a forfeit victory against Sandwich in Week 3, wiping out a rivalry game. RB Ray Jones leads the Reapers with 250 yards rushing in two games with speedy sophomore Waleed Johnson another threat running and receiving. QB Samuel Sifuentes has thrown for 138 yards and one touchdown. Plano’s defense, anchored by Nemo Denton, has not allowed a point in two games. The Reapers and Rockets have one common opponent, Aurora Central Catholic. Plano beat ACC, 44-0, in Week 1, while R-B beat the Chargers, 41-0, in Week 2.
FND Pick: Richmond-Burton
— Steve Soucie and Joe Stevenson contributed to these previews
Source: The Daily Chronicle
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