Jacobs, Bolingbrook, Aurora Christian, Kaneland and West Aurora are picks to click for Week 4.
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Jacobs (3-0, 3-0) at Burlington Central (2-1, 2-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Will this one be a tale of two quarterbacks? Could be.
Jacobs junior Austin Stennett and Burlington Central junior Reece Beemer both have had good starts. They lead offenses that won’t be labeled “pass happy” but have had their moments.
Stennett’s 76-yard touchdown strike to sophomore receiver Henry Shower highlighted last week’s 35-20 win over Prairie Ridge. Beemer came through with a 50-yard TD to senior receiver Bennek Braden in the opener and connected six times for 101 yards with senior receiver Wagner Viebrock in a 32-20 loss to Cary-Grove.
“This one is usually close and could be again,” Burlington Central coach Brian Iossi said. “They look solid but are a little younger in some spots. They beat Cary in their opener and we lost to Cary last week, so we have to get back in the saddle.
“Reece has been at or near 100 yards passing all three games, and I’ll take that every game.”
X-factor: Aiden Brunner, Jacobs, junior, running back/linebacker.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Jacobs.
Oswego (3-0, 1-0) at Bolingbrook (2-1, 1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The Panthers rolled to a 42-7 win last year in this matchup, but the young Raiders came back and won the conference title.
Bolingbrook, with 18 starters returning, has the talent to repeat but stumbled out of the gate in a 31-0 nonconference loss to Homewood-Flossmoor.
Senior quarterback Drew Kleinhans has completed 61% of his passes for 535 yards and six TDs to lead a balanced Oswego offense buoyed by the running Ammar Banire, a junior who averages 9.5 yards a carry for 506 yards and eight TDs.
Notre Dame commit Darieon Prescott, a 6-foot-4, 255-pound junior defensive end ranked as a five-star recruit by 247Sports.com, headlines Bolingbrook’s defense.
“Whoever gave him five stars knows exactly what they’re talking about,” Oswego coach Brian Cooney said of Prescott. “He deserves all of them. He’s legit.”
X-factor: TJ Lewis, Bolingbrook, senior, running back.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Bolingbrook.
Hope (2-1, 1-0) at Aurora Christian (3-0, 1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
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Matchup breakdown: After outsourcing their last two opponents a combined 102-0, the Eagles should find tougher sledding at home against Hope.
“They’re tough, year in and year out,” Aurora Christian coach David Beebe said. “They have a big offensive line and a run game that’s solid along with some athletes on the outside as well.”
Junior running back Jalen Callaway averages 12 yards a carry for Aurora Christian and has scored 12 TDs, eight by run, three receiving and another on an interception return.
Sophomore quarterback Jesus “Juju” Vasquez has been steady, completing 20 of 29 passes for 460 yards and seven TDs.
Tougher tests like this one and Bishop McNamara next week await.
X-factor: Brayden Miller, Aurora Christian, junior, linebacker.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Aurora Christian..
Kaneland (3-0, 0-0) at Morris (3-0, 0-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The Knights dealt with adversity last week, trailing DeKalb 20-14 in the first half but bouncing back to win 42-20 with sophomore Timmy Boryc running for 159 yards and a TD and senior Colton Ludwig running for 99 yards and a TD.
This starts a three-game stretch that usually decides Kaneland’s fate in the conference race, with dates at home against Sycamore and at Rochelle to follow. The Knights then close Interstate Eight play against LaSalle-Peru and Ottawa. All four of those teams are 2-1.
Junior transfer Marion Persich is a strong dual-threat quarterback for Morris.
X-factor: Jackson Little, Kaneland, senior, linebacker.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Kaneland.
Bartlett (0-3, 0-1) at West Aurora (1-2, 1-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The Blackhawks finally get a home game after three straight on the road to start their season. Weather conditions made it a late night last week at Streamwood, but West Aurora prevailed 49-21.
A strong ground game should continue to be the Blackhawks’ bread and butter, especially against winless Bartlett. Senior Bryce Riley and junior Michael Williams both topped the 100-yard rushing mark last week.
Riley keeps moving up the program’s career lists and now ranks ninth all-time in yards rushing with 1,373 and ninth all-time in all-purpose yards at 2,068.
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X-factor: Braden Fraus, West Aurora, senior, linebacker.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: West Aurora.