Bishop Dwenger (3-0) at Homestead (2-1)
Prediction: Dwenger wins 21-17
The Spartans are ready to shed off their rocky start and get a win to erase the memory of their week 1 loss. QB Evan Ormsby (320 yds, 44% comp, 3 TD) has begun to look more comfortable under center, but he still needs help. RB Braeden Hardwick will be the x-factor for Homestead’s offense, already with 449 yards and 5 touchdowns. The senior will need to take the pressure off Ormsby by breaking off huge runs and keeping the chains moving. This won’t be easy going up against a Dwenger defense that has only allowed 235 yards on the ground over their first three games. However, Homestead’s defense has been great too. When they’ve had all their players, they’ve only given up 13 points. This will be a low scoring defensive battle, which plays right into the Dwenger’s hands. Expect Brenden Lytle (407 yds, 67% comp, 5 TD) to lead the Saints on a long drive to win it in the fourth quarter.
Carroll (3-0) at Northrop (2-1)
Prediction: Carroll wins 49-12
Even after suffering a loss last week, Northrop still comes in with the SAC’s leading rusher in Damarius Cowen, who has 584 yards and 8 TD, averaging 7 yards per run. The bruising Bruin halfback has been the majority of the reason for Northrop’s 2-1 record and has single-handedly made their offense one to fear. The problem is that this week they go up against the best passer in the state. Carroll’s Jeff Becker has thrown for 1,006 yards, 14 touchdowns, and completed 60% of his passes. He and his receiver Mason Englert have been tearing it up lately, with the duo being good for 537 yards and 8 TD. With those kinds of numbers, Carroll has basically been able to name their score this year.
Wayne (1-2) at North Side (1-2)
Prediction: North Side wins 20-13
This one has the makings of being a possible letdown game. North Side has been battered by having to face Snider, Dwenger, and Carroll in consecutive weeks. Even though that stretch is over, the Legends will still need to focus on what’s ahead. They face a team that’s feeling good after beating an undefeated Northrop for their first win in over a year on Friday. Can Wayne do it again and rush for over 400 yards as a team? It might take that kind of effort to win this one. However, the Legends have done well at stopping the run, only allowing around 200 yards this year, and it’s hard not to see QB Duce Taylor (1,104 yards, 59% comp, 12 TD) play well enough to give his team the win.
Bishop Luers (1-2) at Concordia (1-2)
Prediction: Concordia wins 34-6
This is an exciting week for Concordia football with senior Brandon Davis expected to return. Their dynamic quarterback has been out the last two weeks and since then, the offense hasn’t been the same. The Cadets have only been able to muster 264 yards and haven’t scored in their last two games. Davis will make an immediate impact in this game and should lead the Cadets to a similar performance to what they had in week one. A blowout victory in this game would reinstill some life into this team and give them some confidence heading into games with Northrop and Dwenger.
Snider (1-2) at South Side (0-3)
Prediction: Snider wins 42-0
The Panthers would like to build on their win from a week ago. After starting the season 0-2, the Panthers avoided 3 straight losses to open the year. The running game, led by Tyrese Brown and Langston Leavell, accounted for 146 of Snider’s rushing yards and 2 touchdowns in a 27-0 win over Concordia. If they can get that kind of production this week, they should have no problem winning and moving to 2-2. It helps that they’re facing a team they haven’t lost to since 2009, Tippmann’s first year as head coach.
