Any game that pits two running backs...

...named Kapri Bibbs and Kalvin Hill (where have I heard that name before?) against each other has the potential to be the Game of the Week.

This one didn't disappoint.

On an otherwise ho-hum night of good teams beating up on not-so-good teams, Minooka defeated Plainfield North, 35-34, in overtime.

Kapri Bibbs (above) is arguably the best running back in the state of Illinois. Just last week, in a game against Oswego, the Plainfield North senior gained 520 yards on 39 carries for seven touchdowns. (In sixth grade, Bibbs scored 23 touchdowns on 23 carries. Yes, you read that correctly.)

Bibbs's 520 yards were thought to be a new state record until officials were reminded of Austin's DeAndre Hooper and his 593-yard game in 1996 against Near North. Hooper's is the sixth-best rushing performance in high school football history, according to the National Federation of High Schools. (Whatever happened to Hooper? He dropped out of Division II Upper Iowa University during his sophomore year after being convicted of drug manufacturing. Oh well.)

Bibbs, who missed Plainfield North's first game due to disciplinary reasons, had rushed for 1,689 yards and 26 touchdowns in five games. He's gained more than 300 yards in three previous games and has scored four touchdowns or more in every game. The 5'10", 195-pound senior is headed to Colorado State next year.

So how did Minooka plan to stop this guy? According to Indian linebacker Daylon Bacot, "We're going to punch him in the mouth." Yikes!

On the first play from scrimmage, Bibbs ran 79 yards for a touchdown. (Time for that punch in the mouth, huh?) And on an 80-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter, Bibbs carried the ball on all 12 plays. Bibbs finished the night with 198 yards and three touchdowns. This guy is clearly someone to keep your eye on next year.

But Minooka also has a running back, Kalvin Hill (above). He ran for 130 yards on the night and also scored three touchdowns, including the winner in overtime. Minooka is now 6-1 and a team to watch in the playoffs.
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In other games:

No. 1 Wheaton Warrenville South shut out West Chicago, 56-0;
No. 3 St. Rita survived a half-time scare from Providence, 31-19;
No. 5 Carmel blanked Marian Catholic, 24-0;
No. 7 Joliet Catholic ran up the score against St. Patrick, 73-27;
No. 8 Stevenson crushed  Zion-Benton, 45-7;
No. 16 Mt. Carmel beat Brother Rice, 42-7;
Glenbrook South defeated Niles West, 56-7;
Maine South beat Waukegan, 48-12;
Evanston downed New Trier (who must really be bad this year), 18-15;
Benet over Nazareth, 48-21;
Schaumburg scored twice as many points as Conant, 42-21;
Homewood Flossmoor defeated Lockport, 28-21;
Montini shut out Aurora Christian, 42-0; and
Notre Dame beat Glenbard South, 42-15.