First there's No. 1 Lake Zurich (11-1) at No. 3 Glenbard West (11-1). While this game is essentially a push (as are most of the semifinals), I'm going to go with the home team.
The Bears beat Elk Grove Village, Hononegah and Wheaton North by a combined score of 71-12. The Hilltoppers, meanwhile, outgunned their playoff opponents, Machesney Park Harlem, Conant and Schaumburg, 125-42. I know what you're thinking: So, what?
All right, how about a look at their recent history?
2012: Glenbard West 19, Lake Zurich 13
2011: Lake Zurich 10, Glenbard West 3
2009: Glenbard West 21, LAKE ZURICH 17
Doesn't tell you much, does it? Except that the two teams have been pretty evenly matched over the last few years. (I don't know who the home team was in those first two games.)
I saw Lake Zurich beat Warren in Week Three but never got around to watching Glenbard West. After they lost the opener to Wheaton Warrenville South, 17-14, the Hitters just never played anyone very interesting.
Both schools lost their one game of the season on the road. So I'll go with the home team.
In the second contest, No. 2 Mount Carmel (11-1) at No. 1 Edwardsville (12-0), I'm going to pick the Caravan. Even though they struggled last week against a Downers Grove North team that finished only 7-5, I'll take that as a momentary letdown. They've had a heck of a year and outscored their foes in the postseason, Benet, St. Rita and DGN, 76-28. Edwardsville, for its part, beat Andrew, Bradley-Bourbonnais and Lincoln-Way East by a combined score of 122-42. What's more, everyone is saying that the Tigers are for real this year. But Carmel's Carmel, and as I said after the second Rita game, nobody in 7A is going to beat them this year -- nobody. The score will be closer than the last time they met, but the result will be the same:
2005: MOUNT CARMEL 27, Edwardsville 7
Tomorrow: 6A.
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