DuPage & Suburban Cook Week 2 IHSA Football Previews
Source: The Shaw Local News Sports. Casualplayhub News adds summary, context, and editorial framing while linking back to the original report.
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Week 2 of the IHSA football season is upon us, and the schedule across DuPage and suburban Cook County is loaded with compelling nonconference matchups, including several heated rivalries and cross-conference tests. Teams are looking to build on their Week 1 performances or bounce back from losses, and the action promises to shape the early playoff picture.
One of the most anticipated games is the crosstown clash between Downers Grove South and Downers Grove North. The Mustangs (1-0) enter this game with momentum after a 49-27 win over West Aurora, powered by James Sobkowiak's touchdown passes to Tony Evans and Nate Thurston, along with Vincent Junkas and Danny Klaren each adding long scoring runs. However, the schedule ahead is daunting: after this game, they face Addison Trail, Willowbrook, and Hinsdale Central – all 2025 playoff teams, all on the road. The Trojans (1-0) earned a gritty 17-12 victory over Morgan Park, with quarterbacks Kevin Jay and Joey Goodwin each throwing touchdown passes. Coach Joe Horeni praised his team's physicality. Downers Grove North has won the last 11 meetings, including a lopsided 55-13 win last year. The Friday Night Drive pick favors Downers Grove North.
At York, the Dukes (1-0) beat Glenbrook South 20-17 in a workmanlike effort, part of the West Suburban Silver's perfect 7-0 Week 1. Senior quarterback Zack Assaad completed 16 of 24 passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns. Colton Heilig and Anthony Massel each had five catches, while Chris Georgas and Kedon Robinson shared carries. Defensively, Tommy Hansen recorded nine tackles and a sack. Coach Don Gelsomino knows his team will face a motivated Nazareth squad. "They're really good. They're going to be hungry," he said. Nazareth (0-1) is smarting after a 35-21 loss to IC Catholic Prep, where they trailed 28-7 at halftime. The Roadrunners gave up 491 total yards and need to shore up their defense. Junior quarterback JJ Chapman threw for 255 yards and a touchdown in his debut, but also had two interceptions. Jackson Flickinger and Hank Sakalas each had five catches, while the rushing attack managed only 65 yards. Nazareth travels to Mount Carmel in Week 3. The pick is Nazareth.
Lyons (1-0) perhaps had the best win of the West Suburban Silver in Week 1, defeating defending Mid-Suburban Conference West Division champion Barrington 24-19. Workhorse running back EJ Kuhlman carried 32 times for 132 yards, while the defense, led by linebackers Cole Harris and Aidan Webster, held Barrington star Lamar Osterhues under 100 yards. Coach Jon Beutjer, a former star quarterback at Wheaton Warrenville South, has won the last three meetings against his alma mater, including 31-28 last season. The Tigers (1-0) dispatched Naperville Central 27-7, with junior quarterback AJ Rogers throwing for over 200 yards and two touchdowns while adding 42 rushing yards. Trent Simpson rushed for 136 yards, and Blake Ittersagen had seven catches. Specialist Drew Maletich hit two field goals, including a 44-yarder, and averaged 44 yards on punts. The pick is Lyons.
Saturday afternoon brings a marquee matchup at Duchon Field as Glenbard West (1-0) hosts St. Rita (0-1). The Hilltoppers won 21-14 at Lockport, with Northwestern commit Brady Johnson making an impact on both sides of the ball: six catches for 95 yards and a touchdown, plus a sack and fumble recovery. Quarterback AJ Rayford threw for 122 yards, while Bryce Ellens and Amari Harris combined for 170 rushing yards, Harris scoring two touchdowns. St. Rita, the Class 7A state runner-up last year, lost to Providence 28-21. First-year starting quarterback John Fennell threw for 129 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 96 yards. TJ Burgos had 100 receiving yards and a 37-yard touchdown catch. Senior running back Brandon Johnson Jr., committed to Lindenwood, rushed for 1,130 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior. Defensive lineman Ohimai Ozolua, a 6-foot-5, 245-pound transfer from Romeoville, is committed to Michigan State. The pick is Glenbard West.
Fenwick (1-0) takes on crosstown rival Oak Park-River Forest (1-0) in a game that has seen the Friars dominate recently. Fenwick beat Joliet Catholic 28-13, with Myles Hill throwing an 84-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Watts on the first play from scrimmage. Hill finished with 292 yards and three touchdowns, Watts had seven catches for 120 yards, and Jake Thies and Will Hosty also caught scores. Thies, an Iowa commit, is a key player. Fenwick has won the last three meetings, the last two by shutout, including 35-0 last year. OPRF, which has won just four games combined over the last three seasons, showed signs of a comeback with a 39-8 win over Rich Township. Liam Smith rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns, and Liam Brown threw for 151 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for a score. The pick is Fenwick.
Willowbrook (1-0) travels to Oswego East (1-0) after a dramatic overtime win over Glenbard East. Dionel Rocha's 3-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal in the first overtime sealed a 20-13 victory, the Warriors' first Week 1 win since 2018. Rocha ran for two touchdowns, and JJ Miulli had 97 receiving yards. Oswego East, which lost home-field advantage in Week 1 due to field conditions, still won 28-14 at Joliet West. Obadiah Carlson ran for three touchdowns, including a 77-yard burst, and quarterback Carter Meindel connected with Aaron McDonald for a 34-yard score. The game is back on Oswego East's home field. The pick is Oswego East.
Plainfield North (1-0) hosts Glenbard East (0-1) after the Tigers scaled back their nonconference schedule to get off to a better start, which paid off with a win over Lake Park. Glenbard East rallied late but fell 28-21 in overtime to Willowbrook. Montii Perry rushed for 134 yards and a touchdown, and Malachi Miller had eight catches for 61 yards. The Rams will look to reduce penalties after a sloppy game. The pick is Glenbard East.
Other notable games: Glenbard South (1-0) visits Lake Park (0-1) after a 55-6 win over Bremen. Elijah Donahue rushed for 127 yards, and Tommy Bauman threw for 196 yards. Coach Ryan Crissey said, "Friday night will be a great test for the program. Our players will never back down from a challenge. For us to have success, we have to be as close to mistake-free as possible." Lake Park lost to Plainfield North 22-15, and senior quarterback Tay'Sean Smith threw for 188 yards and a touchdown. The pick is Lake Park.
Benet (1-0) travels to Glenbard North (1-0) in a matchup of first-year coaches. Benet's James White debuted with a 34-28 win over defending Class 1A champion Lena-Winslow, with Alex Mitchell throwing a game-winning touchdown to Luca Diomede. Glenbard North's Justin Kerwin also won his debut, beating Brookfield East (Wisconsin) 27-12, powered by Angelo Gatses' 147 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The pick is Glenbard North.
West Aurora (0-1) faces Hinsdale Central (1-0) after a 49-27 loss to Downers Grove South. Bryce Riley rushed for 175 yards and a touchdown and caught two scores. Hinsdale Central beat Waubonsie Valley 27-10, with Mike Menza rushing for two touchdowns and Orestas Bockus kicking a 50-yard field goal. The pick is Hinsdale Central.
Riverside-Brookfield (0-1) meets Hinsdale South (0-1) after both lost their openers. R-B fell 28-6 to Sandburg, with Braeden Novak throwing for 193 yards. Hinsdale South lost to Wauconda 32-21. The pick is Riverside-Brookfield.
IC Catholic Prep (1-0) hosts St. Mary's Southside Catholic (0-0) from Missouri. The Knights' Jakobi Baldwin rushed for 202 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-21 win over Nazareth. The Dragons feature four-star running back Kingston Miles, a Missouri commit who rushed for 2,098 yards and 26 touchdowns as a junior. The pick is IC Catholic Prep.
Kaneland (1-0) hosts Lemont (0-1) after a dominant win over Rock Island. Brody Guthrie threw three touchdowns in his debut. Lemont struggled against a strong Morris team. The pick is Kaneland.
Montini (1-0) plays Sandburg (1-0) in a tough nonconference test. Montini extended its winning streak to 25 games with a 48-0 win over Hoopeston Area. Miami commit Israel Abrams threw for 192 yards and three touchdowns. Sandburg's backup quarterback Max Fahey threw for 214 yards and four touchdowns in a 28-6 win over Riverside-Brookfield. The pick is Montini.
Reavis (1-0) travels to Morton (0-1) after a 53-34 win over De La Salle. Senior quarterback Dardan Nreci rushed for three touchdowns. Morton lost its sixth straight. The pick is Reavis.
Clemente (0-1) takes on St. Francis (0-1) after a forfeit loss. St. Francis lost to Indiana champion New Palestine 28-17, with starting quarterback Jadon Wilson injured. Tivias Caldwell Jr. rushed for 148 yards and an 80-yard touchdown. The pick is St. Francis.
Gage Park (0-0) faces Westmont (1-0) after a no contest in Week 1. Westmont beat Chicago Academy 16-12. The pick is Westmont.
La Salle-Peru (1-0) hosts Wheaton Academy (1-0) in a matchup of high-scoring teams. L-P rushed for 318 yards in a 59-14 win over Lanphier, their most points since 2004. Wheaton Academy won 28-14 at East Moline United in coach Justin Swider's debut. Colton Miller threw two touchdown passes, and Logan Oros accounted for four scores. The pick is Wheaton Academy.
Stevenson (0-1) visits Wheaton North (1-0) after a 31-10 loss to Prospect. Wheaton North shut out Washington 21-0 in a rebound effort after a 3-6 season. The pick is Wheaton North.
Article commentary
Week 2 of the IHSA football season in DuPage and suburban Cook County offers a fascinating mix of tradition, rivalry, and early-season statement games. The slate is dominated by nonconference matchups, many of which pit teams from different conferences against one another, providing a valuable gauge of relative strength before league play begins. One of the most compelling storylines is the Downers Grove North vs. South rivalry. The Trojans' 11-game winning streak over the Mustangs is remarkable, but this year's game may be tighter than recent blowouts. Downers Grove South showed offensive explosiveness in Week 1, but their defense will face a disciplined North team that thrives on physicality. The outcome could set the tone for both teams' seasons. York's matchup with Nazareth is another intriguing test. The Dukes' workmanlike win over Glenbrook South suggests they are solid, but Nazareth's loss to IC Catholic Prep exposed defensive vulnerabilities. The Roadrunners' offense, led by JJ Chapman, has the potential to break out, but they need to protect the ball and establish a running game. York's experienced quarterback Zack Assaad could exploit Nazareth's defensive lapses, making this a game where the team that makes fewer mistakes will prevail. The Lyons-Wheaton Warrenville South clash is a classic West Suburban Silver battle. Lyons' rushing attack, anchored by EJ Kuhlman, is a proven weapon, while WW South's balanced offense with AJ Rogers and Trent Simpson poses a different challenge. The Tigers' special teams, highlighted by Drew Maletich's leg, could be a difference-maker in a close game. Lyons' defense, which contained Barrington's star runner, will need to replicate that performance against a multifaceted Tigers offense. Glenbard West hosting St. Rita is a showdown of two programs with championship aspirations. The Hilltoppers have a dynamic playmaker in Brady Johnson, who can change the game on both sides of the ball. St. Rita, despite a loss, has potent weapons in John Fennell and Brandon Johnson Jr. The Mustangs' defensive line, featuring Michigan State commit Ohimai Ozolua, will test Glenbard West's offensive line. This game could be a preview of a potential playoff matchup in Class 7A. Other notable trends include the rise of players like Jakobi Baldwin, who exploded for 202 yards as a sophomore, and the continued dominance of Montini, winners of 25 straight games. The Broncos' schedule stiffens, but their depth is undeniable. Meanwhile, programs like Oak Park-River Forest and Glenbard East are showing signs of improvement after tough seasons, but need consistency to turn the corner. The commentary from coaches like Ryan Crissey, emphasizing the need to be mistake-free against a larger opponent, highlights the importance of discipline in nonconference games. These early matchups often reveal which teams can execute under pressure and which have the resilience to bounce back from adversity. Overall, Week 2 provides a critical juncture for teams to build momentum or correct course. The picks by Friday Night Drive offer a baseline, but the actual outcomes will depend on execution, health, and the ability to handle the intensity of rivalry games. As the season progresses, these games will serve as bellwethers for conference races and playoff seeding, making this weekend a crucial one for teams across the region.