Naperville Central vs. Dunbar
– Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday at Gately Stadium, Cottage Grove Avenue and 103rd Street, Chicago
– Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Naperville Central
– What to watch: Both teams possess great running backs. Dunbar (8-2) features Rausell Harvey, the state’s all-time rushing leader with more than 6,000 career yards. He had 238 yards and three TDs in last week’s 24-19 6A first-round defeat of Loyola. Naperville Central (9-1) has D.J. Johnson, who had 118 yards and two TDs last week in the Redhawks’ 27-6 defeat of Streamwood. WR Nick Tolbert and QB Christian Pearson give Naperville the edge offensively.
Naperville North at Downers Grove South
– Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Downers Grove South, 1436 Norfolk St., Downers Grove
Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Naperville North
– What to watch: Downers South (9-1, No. 4 seed in Class 6A) is dominating on both sides of the ball. The Mustangs built a 36-0 halftime lead in last week’s rout of Lane Tech behind a 73-yard interception return for a TD from Pat Marek. RB Marcus Moore had 116 yards rushing and two scores. No. 13 seed Naperville North (8-2) was even hotter, with QB Kevin Kobe throwing a school-record five touchdowns in beating up Hinsdale South. RB Chris Brown had 135 yards on 13 carries.
Sandburg at Palatine
– Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Palatine, 1111 N. Rohlwing Rd., Palatine
– Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Palatine
– What to watch: Palatine (10-0) showed last week why it deserved the No. 1 seed in Class 6A as the Pirates dominated Larkin on both sides of the ball in the first round. The passing combination of QB Sergio Lund to WR Yaacov Yisrael has been unstoppable, hooking up for 140 yards last week, including an 80-yard TD. No. 16 seed Sandburg (8-2) also dominated in last week’s 55-6 defeat of Belleville East, with RB Brian Corcoran running for 169 yards on 16 carries, all in the first half.
Addison Trail at Lockport
– Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Lockport, 1333 E. Seventh St., Lockport
– Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Lockport
– What to watch: Look for No. 13 Addison Trail to once again take advantage of its strong running game and keep a quick-strike Lockport offense off the field. Last week on a rain-swept field, the Blazers ran the ball 52 of 54 plays in their 15-7 victory over Fremd. This season, Taso Nikolaou, Brian Taylor and Travis Zipper have amassed more than 2,100 yards combined on the ground. No. 8 Lockport (9-1) won a thriller last Friday 31-27 over two-time defending 6A champ Wheaton-Warrenville South and boasts a solid runner of their own in Craig Duppong (33 carries, 214 yards against Wheaton).
York at Andrew
– Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Andrew, 9001 W. 171st St., Tinley Park.
– Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Andrew
– What to watch: Which defense will rise to the occasion in this 6A matchup? The Andrew defense is led by linebackers Nick Trzesniak (162 tackles) and Rhett Dwyer (140 tackles). It will try to stop the Dukes’ passing attack led by QB Vince Lucca, whose two favorite targets are Kirkland Flowers and Matt Hull. Fullback Chris Anderson (147 yards and two TDs last week against St. Charles) will keep things balanced for No. 12 York. Against Waubonsie Valley, the Thunderbolts rallied from a 13-7 halftime deficit behind the running of P.J. Miller. The Thunderbolts also bring balance. Quarterback Jerrod Howard can pass (72 of 133, 1441, 12 TDs) and run (665 yards). His favorite target is Jeremy Lofrano (37 catches, 765 yards).
Libertyville at Evanston
– Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday at Evanston, 1600 Dodge Ave., Evanston
– Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Evanston
– What to watch: With four starters taking the week off to convalesce, second-ranked Evanston’s usual swagger takes on the look of a limp entering the second round of the 6A playoffs. Running back Siaka Massaquoi (1,714 yards) saw limited action for the Wildkits (10-0) on a sprained ankle in a 34-7 rout of Zion-Benton last week but did manage to score three touchdowns. DE/OT Alex Thomas (shoulder separation), DE Algie Atkinson (mild concussion) and LB Andrew Westhouse (knee) are also questionable for Saturday, according to coach John Riehle. Libertyville coach Randy Kuceyeski just wants to “hang tough (with the Wildkits) into the fourth quarter.” The Wildcats (8-2) did just that a week ago in a 28-21 victory over Conant. Libertyville’s offense is led by RB Matt Treutelaar (154 yards, two TDs last week) and QB J.C. Harrington (86 for 168, 1,101 yards), who benefits from a sizable offensive line.
Stevenson at Homewood-Flossmoor
– Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, at Homewood-Flossmoor, 999 Kedzie Ave., Flossmoor
– Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Stevenson
– What to watch: This should be an exciting battle of contrasting offenses. Quarterback Trey Harrington spearheads Homewood-Flossmoor (9-1) and its “basketball on grass” offense, often employing the shotgun formation. Harrington scored the game-winning touchdown in last weekend’s 14-7 victory over Moline. Chris Oliver, Justin Frierson and Bret Bailey are Harrington’s main targets. Stevenson (9-1) rallied to down New Trier 34-28 last week. The Patriots’ offense looks to control the clock behind QB Curtis Zervic, who returned last week after missing a month with an injured shoulder, FB Joe Marth (201 yards last week) and RB John Dervishian.
Barrington at Lincoln-Way
– Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Lincoln-Way, 1801 E. Lincoln Highway, New Lenox
– Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Lincoln-Way
– What to watch: Top-ranked Lincoln-Way (10-0) survived its 6A first-round test with a 28-18 victory over Lake Park. Quarterback Cory Paus, RB Rich Schutt (143 yards, 2 TDs last weekend) and versatile RB Matt Joseph (2 TDs) continue to lead the offense. All-Conference LB Rob Fredrickson should return to limited action after a shoulder injury. Barrington (8-2) is coming off its first playoff victory since 1984 with a 24-21 decision over Downers Grove South. Junior QB Scott Sagehorn threw for 153 yards and 2 TDs and ran for another. RB Dan Pohlman has rushed for more than 1,100 yards and 15 TDs for the Broncos.
Simeon at Mt. Carmel
– Kickoff: 1 p.m. Saturday at Eckersall Stadium, 2423 E. 82nd St., Chicago
– Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Mt. Carmel
– What to watch: Mt. Carmel (9-1) is showing it has the stuff to defend last year’s Class 5A state championship. The Caravan’s running game bowled over McHenry in a 35-7 victory last week, with QB Andrew Potocki running for 161 yards and three touchdowns and Jim Smith rushing for 132 yards. Simeon QB Dante Culbreath scored on a 31-yard run and threw a 49-yard TD pass in last week’s defeat of Rich East and creates havoc as a defensive end for the Wolverines (8-2).
Hubbard at Bishop McNamara
– Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium, 550 W. Brookmont, Kankakee.
– Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Bishop McNamara
– What to watch: No. 4 Bishop McNamara (9-1) continues to roll, showing no letdown in last week’s 51-20 victory over Rockford Boylan. Quarterback Ryan Magruder threw four TD passes for the Fightin’ Irish. Running backs Tyjuan Hagler and Vince Singleton (306 combined yards) filled in well for the injured Johnny Short, who should return this week. Hubbard (9-1) surprised Marian Catholic 14-6 in its first-rounder. Junior RB Charles Frazier, who scored both Hubbard touchdowns, leads the Greyhounds. Hubbard has several talented running backs and a quick and aggressive defense. Running back-LB Ben Henderson (6-2, 205) and DE Darren Rutherford (6-5, 290) are Hubbard’s other top talents.
Machesney Park Harlem at Woodstock
– Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Woodstock, 501 W. South St., Woodstock
– Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Woodstock
– What to watch: All season No. 9 Woodstock (10-0) has been quietly collecting victories en route to the Fox Valley title. After their 29-7 victory over Fenwick in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs, the Blue Streaks finally cracked the top ten. In that victory QB Adam Vetere threw for 168 yards including TD passes to three different receivers. But the Blue Streaks can also move the ball on the ground with Craig Kastning and Roy Fritz carrying the ball. Harlem (9-1) thrives on the ground game behind 1,000-yard rusher Dusty Mitchell, who has carried the ball 124 times. The Woodstock defense, led by LBs Brian Sundburg and Fritz, will also have to deal with QB Nick Shields who has thrown for 757 yards and rushed for 311.
Cary-Grove at Oswego
– Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Oswego, Route 71, Oswego
– Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Cary-Grove
– What to watch: Oswego (7-3) has won five of its last six, including last week’s 15-6 victory over Harper. Leading the way has been senior FB Aaron Gale (755 yards, 11 TDs) and senior TB Joe Engle (500 yards), who complement QBs Scott Keyster (600 passing yards) and Chris Salagi (480 yards) in Oswego’s I-formation set. Cary (9-1), coming off its 21-14 victory over Bolingbrook, lost lineman Dave Dunmeyer to a knee injury, but has everyone else healthy and ready to go. The Trojans’ late-season adjustment to a two tight-end set has opened things up for FB Pandocchi (181 carries, 1,073 yards, 9 TDs) and HBs Rashad McDade and Kevin Kaplan (93 carries, 1,188 yards, 12 TDs) along with the solid play of QB Tony Parillo.
Marmion Academy at Providence
– Kickoff: 1 p.m., Saturday, 1800 W. Lincoln Highway, New Lenox
– Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Providence
– What to watch: Defending three-time state champion Providence’s streak is at one and counting following its convincing 49-6 victory over Riverside-Brookfield in the first round of the state 4A playoffs. Offensively, the lethal Celtics are capable of scoring anywhere on the field with QB Adam O’Reel (1,700 yards, 24 TDs), WR/RB David Popp and TB Justin Ruggio (1,300 yards rushing). Suburban Catholic champion Marmion Academy counters with the bruising running of TB Todd Koutsos (1,357 yards rushing, 20 TDs) and skilled throwing of QB Kyle Saltijerel (955 yards passing, nine TDs).
Morris at Bremen
– Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Bremen, 15203 S. Pulaski Rd., Midlothian
– Bob Sakamoto’s pick: Morris
– What to watch: With starting QB Jesse Isom out of the lineup with a fractured collarbone, Tim Daggy steps up. The junior came off the bench to help Bremen (10-0) to a 20-13 come-from-behind victory over Champaign Central last weekend. Standing in the Braves way in the Class 4A playoffs is a Morris (8-2) team featuring an offensive line that opens huge holes for Matt Currans. It was Currans who ran for 260 yards and a pair of TDs in the Redskins’ 21-14 victory over Batavia.
