West Aurora, Metea Valley, Kaneland, Marmion and East Aurora are picks to click for Week 7.
West Aurora (4-2, 4-0) at South Elgin (5-1, 4-0)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: First place and very likely the conference championship will be decided in this matchup of Upstate Eight West co-leaders. Both will be heavy favorites with one final division game remaining — South Elgin at home against Elgin on Oct. 9 and West Aurora at East Aurora on Oct. 16.
Both will be tested, looking to improve their standing in the hunt for a first-round bye in the upcoming expanded playoffs, after cruising the past four weeks with division wins where the Blackhawks averaged a winning margin of 45 points and the Storm 41.5 points.
Talented multi-position players — senior running back/kick returner/defensive back Bryce Riley for West Aurora and junior wide receiver/defensive back/returner Semaj Collier for South Elgin – lead the way.
Riley continues to climb the rushing and scoring charts for the Blackhawks. He has gained 821 yards and scored 14 TDs on the ground this season to go along with three other TDs while piling up 1,071 all-purpose yards.
Collier, who leads the Storm in receiving, plays big roles on defense at cornerback and safety. He also contributes on kick and punt returns.
X-factor: Braden Fraus, West Aurora, senior, linebacker.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: West Aurora.
Waubonsie Valley (2-4, 1-2) at Metea Valley (2-4, 1-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The expanded playoff format adds intrigue to this rivalry game since both teams can clinch a playoff berth with a win.
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This is the 17th year of the rivalry since the host Mustangs started playing in 2010 and almost pulled off an upset, dropping a 21-20 decision to the Warriors in that first meeting.
The teams didn’t meet last year in the combined DuPage Valley and SouthWest Suburban Conference schedule for football.
Waubonsie holds a 13-3 lead in the series that includes one playoff meeting in 2014. It was the lone playoff appearance for the Mustangs and came under coach Ben Kleinhans, now the offensive coordinator at Oswego. Metea had its lone winning regular season that year with a 5-5 record, dropping a 38-37 regular-season meeting to Waubonsie a 21-14 setback in the playoffs.
Metea finishes the regular season with games against DeKalb (1-5) and Kaneland (5-1), while Waubonsie closes against Naperville Central (3-3) and Lockport (3-3).
X-factor: Tito Ajibola, Metea Valley, senior, linebacker.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Metea Valley.
LaSalle-Peru (4-2, 2-1) at Kaneland (5-1, 2-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The teams are tied for second place in the Interstate Eight, one game behind undefeated Morris (6-0, 3-0). The Cavaliers are coming off a 16-7 win over Sycamore. Kaneland beat Sycamore 41-13.
Junior quarterback Brody Guthrie rallied Kaneland to a 28-20 win over Rochelle after a slow start last week, passing for 202 yards. Senior receiver Colton VanDyke ran 21 yards for one score and added a 72-yard TD reception.
X-factor: Isaac Taylor, Kaneland, senior, safety.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Kaneland.
St. Laurence (1-5) at Marmion (3-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The Cadets will be looking to improve their playoff seeding after last week’s thrilling 26-20 win over Benet on the final play of the game, a 65-yard interception return for a TD by senior cornerback Ryan Loria, who also forced a fumble in setting up another score.
St. Laurence (1-5) won’t be a walkover in this Catholic League crossover. The Vikings have struggled but their lone win came against a common opponent in De La Salle. St. Laurence won 56-6 over the Meteors, who lost 25-6 to Marmion.
“It’s the Catholic League,” Marmion coach Adam Guerra said. “Every game, every week, is its own battle. I don’t think you can overlook anyone, regardless of their record, especially when it’s a school that’s so much bigger than us like St. Laurence.”
X-factor: Aidan Miller, Marmion, junior, wide receiver.
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Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Marmion.
East Aurora (4-2, 2-1) at Elgin (3-3, 2-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Senior quarterback Joseph Becker led the Tomcats to a come-from-behind 25-21 win over Bartlett on a 17-yard TD pass to senior running back Jeremiah Jackson. East Aurora trailed three times, but Becker had two short TD runs and another TD pass of 4 yards to senior receiver Alexander Carter.
Senior defensive backs Ulices Barrera and Anthony Gonzalez had forced fumbles for turnovers for the Tomcats.
X-factor: Manny Martinez, East Aurora, senior, defensive lineman.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: East Aurora.