Prep Sports Notebook

As play begins in most of the fall sports this week, here’s a look at what to watch:

Football Begins: The opening game of the 2011 season comes this Friday with hosting Crystal Lake Central, Jacobs hosting Joliet West and Dundee-Crown traveling to Elgin.

The are coming off a 4-5 season, which left one win away from a shot at the playoffs and starts the season against a Tigers team that advanced to the second round of the Class 6A playoffs last year. This will be a tough opening test for in Fox Valley Conference crossover play, as Central runs a triple option offense with most of their plays coming in the running game. If can stay strong against the run, a win could be in the cards.

The Golden Eagles behind second-year coach Bill Mitz host a Joliet West team that went 2-7 last year with former Johnsburg coach Jason Aubry at the helm. Jacobs had a very successful 6-4 record last season and their first playoff appearance in years with quarterback Jason Judson at the helm and Caz Zyks leading the running game with more than 1,100 yards and 17 touchdowns. Zyks and Judson both return this season and Jacobs should be able to get past the Tigers.

Dundee-Crown looks to new coach Vito Andriola to try to reverse the fortunes of the Chargers, whose record has been either zero wins or one win four times in the last five seasons. The Chargers have not made the playoffs since 1994. It is going to be a long road to recovery for D-C, as the season starts against a Maroons team that went 6-4 last year in making the playoffs. For the Chargers, progress will be made with a positive turn in the win column.

Volleyball Starts: The season gets under way with Dundee-Crown starting against Streamwood on Wednesday night. The Fox Valley Conference will be tough, once again led by Cary-Grove, which finished second in Class 4A last season and won the state title in 2009.

However, has the opportunity to knock down the Trojans with a talented group of players who have played together for several years and will give Cary a serious challenge in the Valley Division. The Chargers won a regional title last season, even with an 8-35 record. It may be tough to repeat that feat in 2011.

Jacobs begins its season Tuesday at Bartlett. The Golden Eagles were a .500 team last season and should be near that area again this season.

Games to Watch

Thursday

Girls Golf: Crystal Lake Central at , 5:20 p.m. at Pinecrest Country Club. The Red Raiders taken on the Tigers, who qualified for the state meet as a team last season.

Friday

Football: Crystal Lake Central at , 7:15 p.m.

Joliet West at Jacobs, 7:15 p.m.

Dundee-Crown at Elgin, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday

Cross country: McHenry County Meet at (girls race 9 a.m., boys race 9:45 a.m.). This is the traditional season opener for most teams in the county. Jacobs and the host will be there looking to start their seasons strong.