Mount Carmel, Sandburg, Lincoln-Way West, Evergreen Park and Brother Rice are picks to click for Week 4.
Marist (2-1, 0-0) at Mount Carmel (2-1, 0-0)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Mount Carmel comes into this Catholic League Blue opener fresh off a dominant 35-7 win over Nazareth.
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Senior running back Nathan Samuels, a Lindenwood recruit, ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. Senior linebacker Roman Igwebuike, a Notre Dame commit, had a sack and eight tackles.
Marist, meanwhile, nearly rallied from an early 21-0 deficit but fell short in a 35-28 loss to Montini. The RedHawks will look to lean on senior running back Conor Hunt to try to keep Mount Carmel’s offense off the field.
Both teams have new starting quarterbacks who are playing well in Mount Carmel senior Brady Cloherty and Marist junior Jake Fleming.
X-factor: Marshaun Thornton, Mount Carmel, junior, receiver/kick returner.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Mount Carmel.
Sandburg (3-0, 0-0) at Homewood-Flossmoor (2-1, 0-1)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: This SouthWest Suburban Conference showdown pits Homewood-Flossmoor coach Troy McAllister against his former team at Sandburg.
McAllister faced the Eagles for the first time last season, with Sandburg winning 31-7 at home.
Sandburg coach Sheamus Murphy, who was an assistant under McAllister in his final season in Orland Park, has the Eagles flying high behind senior quarterback Sean Ruisz and senior receiver/running back Quinn Durkin, an Army recruit.
The Vikings are looking to bounce back from a 38-7 loss to Lincoln-Way East — and cast aside distractions from an incident that occurred with students from East.
Senior David Hill, a Wisconsin recruit, anchors a tough defensive line.
X-factor: Vinny Annel, Sandburg, junior, running back/defensive back/kick returner.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Sandburg.
Lincoln-Way West (3-0, 1-0) at Lockport (0-3, 0-1)
Kickoff: 6:15 p.m. Friday
Matchup breakdown: These SouthWest Suburban Conference foes have been going in opposite directions so far this season, but the games between the two have historically been close.
Lincoln-Way West, which edged Lockport 21-17 on a TD in the final minute last season, has allowed just 13 points through three games this fall, with junior defensive back Nick Elstner leading the way. Sophomore Davey Koszulinski has made a smooth transition from receiver to quarterback.
Lockport, which made it all the way to the Class 8A semifinals last season, is desperate to get on track but should not be counted out. Junior receiver Jaxson Little and senior receiver Khairi Sias are playmakers for the Porters.
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X-factor: Braydon McNulty, Lincoln-Way West, junior, receiver.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Lincoln-Way West.
Shepard (2-1, 1-0) at Evergreen Park (2-1, 0-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: This South Suburban Red battle figures to be a good litmus test for both teams.
Shepard opened conference play with a 28-0 win over Eisenhower following a slow start to the season with a 28-21 loss to Lane Tech and a 7-6 win over Bulls Prep.
The Astros are relying on a veteran defense led by senior defensive backs Joey Massey and Xavier Exum.
After wins over Ag Science and CICS Longwood, Evergreen Park suffered its first loss in Week 3, but tested Richards in the 20-13 defeat.
Junior quarterback Brady Bruen has been solid for the Mustangs, while senior Garrett Kazmierowicz anchors the defensive line.
X-factor: Tyler Phelps, Evergreen Park, senior, receiver.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Evergreen Park.
Brother Rice (2-1, 0-0) at Loyola (3-0, 0-0)
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Brother Rice faces a tough challenge in its Catholic League Blue opener as Loyola put together quite an impressive three-week stretch to start the season.
The Ramblers shut out Warren and St. Rita by identical 31-0 scores, with a 33-19 win over Cathedral from Indiana sandwiched in between.
Junior quarterback Matthew Lee is a Division I recruit for Loyola, but he will have to deal with Brother Rice’s star-studded defense, led up front by Notre Dame recruit Brayden Parks and the top junior recruit in the country, Kameron McGee.
X-factor: Carmelo Maldonado, Loyola, junior, running back/kick returner.
Steve Millar’s prediction: Brother Rice.