The Game of the Week...

...will feature No. 8 Loyola at No. 3 St. Rita for the Catholic League Blue title. (If Loyola and Mount Carmel both win it will result in a three-way tie. Who cares? All three will go deep in the playoffs.)

The Ramblers won last year's meeting in Wilmette, 17-7, but the Mustangs played without their star running back, Jahwon Akui (above), who was injured. (St. Rita went on to lose in the quarterfinals to eventual 7A champ Wheaton Warrenville South. Ever heard of 'em?)

Last year Akui finished with an eye-popping 1,829 yards and 31 touchdowns, despite being injured for much of the season. This year he's carried the ball 207 times for only 1,105 yards and 14 touchdowns, including five against Mount Carmel. Why the lower production? Simple. As coach Todd Kuska says, "Teams have geared up to stop him."

So the Mustangs have had to rely on quarterback Brandon Johnson and running back Travis Starks to pick up the slack. Starks, in particular, has responded, gaining 586 yards on 52 carries for 6 touchdowns. And that's been behind what Loyola Coach John Holecek has called a "college offensive line."

St. Rita isn't all offense, though; the defense has allowed only 81 points this year and its special teams returned two punts for scores against Mt. Carmel. This is a very well-balanced team.

If anyone can beat St. Rita, however, it will be Loyola. Quarterback Malcolm Weaver (above) has had an outstanding year, throwing for 1,570 yards and 23 touchdowns. E. J. Webb has caught 33 passes for 622 yards and 8 touchdowns, while Charlie Dowdle has 27 receptions for 352 yards and 6 touchdowns. And running back Spencer Perry, who sat out last week's game against Gordon Tech with a sore hamstring, should be ready. The Ramblers, who are known for their stingy defense, have scored 268 points in 8 games.

But St. Rita is just too tough this year. Combined with the home-field advantage, the Mustangs should enter the post-season undefeated.