Inside Look at This Weekend's Prep Football Games

Glenbard South at Riverside-Brookfield

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Riverside-Brookfield High School, 160 Ridgewood Road, Riverside

Records: 2-3, 1-0; Riverside-Brookfield 1-4, 0-1

Last week: Glenbard South 35, Elmwood Park 21; Norridge 25, Riverside-Brookfield 20

Head coaches: Jeremy Cordell, Glenbard South (second year); Jason Rech, Riverside-Brookfield (fifth year)

Key players

Glenbard South: Kyle Avaloy, OL; Nick Boesso, LB; Zach Bava, LB; Matt Loos, RB; Tyler Padera, QB; Wes Sanders, RB

Riverside-Brookfield: Bryce Bartlett, D; Brad Bednar, D; Dylan Beketic, QB; Alex Huffhines, WR; Andy Suzuki, RB/LB; Louis Verdin, KR-PR

About the game

After enduring a tough non-conference schedule, the Raiders have seen their fortunes change in conference play. Glenbard South enjoyed a successful Metro Suburban Conference debut, beating Elmwood Park, and hopes to keep the momentum going with a victory over the Bulldogs, whom they defeated last season.

Sanders continues to shine. He had a 100-yard evening last week, plus an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. That gives Sanders nine touchdowns so far this season, three of which are on kickoff returns. However, it wasn’t the usual Wes Sanders Show offensively for the Raiders. Glenbard South exhibited some balance with Loos and Padera combining for 150 rushing yards, and Padera throwing a TD pass.

The Bulldogs suffered a tough loss to Ridgewood in their MSC opener. They led the contest 20-19 at one point after scoring three consecutive touchdowns, but Ridgewood running back P.J. O’Connor blitzed R-B for 210 yards and a game-deciding 54-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

Sanders could be in for another big evening in lieu of O’Connor’s performance. On the flip side, Beketic and the 6-foot-6 Huffhines may present some problems for the Raiders. Huffhines has grabbed five touchdown passes so far.

Proviso West at Glenbard West

When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: , 670 Crescent Blvd.

Records: Proviso West 3-2, 1-1; Glenbard West 5-0, 3-0

Last week: York 31, Proviso West 8; Glenbard West 41, Oak Park-River Forest 6

Head coaches: Famous Hulbert, Proviso West (sixth year); Chad Hetlet, Glenbard West (fourth year)

Key players

Proviso West: Quincy Cole, QB; Deonte Elland, DL; Craig Lottie, WR; Jamaal Payton, RB/LB; Demetrius Streeter, WR; Jameer Thurman, RB

Glenbard West: Avery Balogh, RB; Johnny Caspers, OL; Andrew Larkin, LB; Justice Odom, QB; Tommy Schutt, DL; Joey Zito, RB

About the game

Everyone knew Odom could run, but he’s proven the past two weeks he also can throw. Odom registered a three touchdown, nearly 230-yard performance in last week’s thumping of Oak Park-River Forest, and passed for close to 200 yards and two scores vs. Hinsdale Central in Week 4. Junior Nathan Marcus, at 6'5'', has become Odom’s biggest target, literally and figuratively, with three TD receptions in the past two games.

OPRF’s Jakari Cammon reached the century mark against the Hilltoppers—the first back to do so all season. But Cammon’s total didn’t affect the outcome as the Hilltoppers kept OPRF off the scoreboard until the fourth quarter.

Proviso West doesn’t possess a feature back of Cammon’s caliber, but the Panthers are athletic at the skill positions. Cole, like Odom, is mobile, and has two capable targets in Lottie and Streeter. The Panthers intercepted six passes last week despite losing to York. Caspers and the Hilltoppers’ O-line will have to keep tabs on Elland, who was able to put good pressure on York’s quarterback.

The Panthers are banged up with injuries, yet they can’t be overlooked. They’ve advanced to the postseason the past two years under Hulbert, and are in the hunt for a playoff berth once again.