Monday, September 9, 2013

How do the twelve teams...

...that I've seen so far this year compare with the top twelve from the three news services I follow?

Tribune:

1. Mount Carmel (2-0)
2. Loyola (2-0)
3. Montini (2-0)
4. Lake Zurich (2-0) Hosts Warren (2-0) this Thursday.
5. Lincoln-Way East (2-0)
6. Downers Grove North (2-0) Hosts Glenbard West Friday.
7. St. Rita (2-0)
8. Wheaton Warrenville South (2-0) Hosts Wheaton North Friday.
9. Wheaton North (2-0) @ Wheaton South Friday.
10. Crete-Monee (2-0)
11. Glenbard West (1-1) @ Downers Grove North Friday.
12. Joliet Catholic (2-0) Opens their ESCC schedule at home against St. Viator (2-0).

Sun-Times:

1. Mount Carmel (2-0)
2. Lake Zurich (2-0)
3. Loyola (2-0)
4. Wheaton North (2-0)
5. Montini (2-0)
6. Downers Grove North (2-0)
7. Lincoln-Way East (2-0)
8. Bolingbrook (2-0)
9. Wheaton Warrenville South (2-0)
10. Richards (2-0) @ Lemont (1-1) Friday.
11. St. Rita (2-0)
12. Batavia (1-1)

MaxPreps:

1. Mount Carmel (2-0)
2. Montini (2-0)
3. Lake Zurich (2-0)
4. Crete-Monee (2-0)
5. Lincoln-Way East (2-0)
6. Wheaton North (2-0)
7. Joliet Catholic (2-0)
8. East St. Louis (1-1) @ Edwardsville (2-0) on Friday.
9. Naperville Central (2-0)
10. Loyola (2-0)
11. St. Rita (2-0)
12. Rochester (2-0)

BOWG:

1. Naperville Central (2-0)
The team I watched on Friday night could have played with anyone I've seen so far, including Mount Carmel. The Redhawks could be undefeated by the time they travel to Wheaton Warrenville South in Week Six.

2. Mount Carmel (2-0)
The defending 8A champs will remain No. 1 in the other three polls until someone beats them. The first chance of that happening could be in Week Five when the Caravan travels to St. Rita.

3. St. Rita (2-0)
Pat Disabato's high opinion of St. Laurence notwithstanding, the Mustangs next big test will be against Mount Carmel.

4. Notre Dame (2-0)
These guys did everything well on Saturday night against Bartlett. The Dons are not a one-trick pony; quarterback Ryan Greene can pass as well as hand off to Chris James. The Niles squad is way underrated by the news services, ranked only No. 36 in MaxPreps and nowhere at all in the Trib or Sun-Times. Notre Dame travels down to Normal (2-0) this Friday.

5. Marist (1-1)
The RedHawks defeated Brother Rice (1-1) convincingly Friday night after losing narrowly to St. Rita in Week One. Marist begins its conference schedule this week at home against undefeated Nazareth.

6. De La Salle (2-0)
The Meteors get no love from MaxPreps, where they are ranked No. 122. The South Siders face their biggest test so far this week at Providence (1-1).

7. Neuqua Valley (1-1)
The Wildcats played Naperville Central to a 28-28 halftime tie on Friday night. But Neuqua relies too heavily on Illinois-bound wide receiver Mikey Dudek. The 'Cats need to develop a better ground game to take the pressure off Dudek and quarterback Broc Rutter. Also, the defense has to improve on an average of 46 points allowed per game. Neuqua should get back on track this week against South Elgin (0-2).

8. Niles West (2-0)
The Wolves' have scored 56 and 41 points but have surrendered 35 in their first two outings. If the defense can get it together the Skokie squad could conceivably be undefeated by Week Seven when they host Maine South.

9. Phillips (0-2)
The winless Wildcats are in good company: Maine South, Stevenson and Cary-Grove are also 0-2. Things should turn up for Phillips now that they enter their conference schedule. (Remember the name of their quarterback, Dewayne Collins; you'll be hearing about him.)

10. St. Patrick (1-1)
The Shamrocks got into the win column this weekend against Lane but begin conference play at undefeated Benet this Friday. The big question is, how will the Redwings fare without injured running back Porter Ontko?

11. Niles North (1-1)
The Vikings lost the "Skokie Skirmish" this weekend but are averaging 44.5 points a game so far. Can North hand New Trier its third loss of the season this Thursday night? (Yes, Thursday.) 

12. Bartlett (0-2)
The Hawks have to be -- they just have to be -- better than they showed against Notre Dame on Saturday night. They couldn't do anything right. If they can't beat East Aurora (0-2) this weekend it could be a long season for Bartlett.

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