CSN Chicago will have cameras covering the biggest high school football games across Chicagoland on the Week 2 edition of High School Lites, Friday at 11:00 p.m. Can IC Catholic take care of St. Laurence in Burbank? Can Waubonsie Valley bring home a road win against Glenbard North in a huge early DVC showdown? Can Crete-Monee go into Brother Rice and shock the Crusaders? And who comes away with a win when Batavia travels to Libertyville in this terrific non-conference match-up?
IC Catholic (1-0) at St. Laurence (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
EDGY's Take: Huge win last week for Immaculate Conception as the Knights shutout defending 3A state champion Bishop McNamara 34-0. Keep an eye on NIU bound senior RB/DB Jordan Rowell along with senior QB Luke Ricobene for IC. St. Laurence rallied from a 17-6 deficit against Benet Academy last week to win 31-21. The Vikings have speed all over the field including senior RB Fayezon Smart and senior QB Romello Washington. Can the IC defense contain the Vikings big play ability?
EDGY's Pick: St. Laurence 34, Immaculate Conception 20
(5) Lincoln-Way East vs Belleville West @ Illinois Wesleyan, 7:00 p.m.
EDGY's Take: Lincoln-Way East rolled to a big Week 1 49-12 win over South Bend Adams last week. This week? The Griffins will need to slow down the Belleville West Maroons running game led by junior RB Kristopher Davis and senior QB/RB Ben Weerts. Lincoln-Way East might look towards it's own running game this week led by senior Nigel Muhammed. The Belleville West defense allowed 410 total yards of offense, 360 yards on the ground in its Week 1 34-24 loss to Batavia.
EDGY's Pick: Lincoln-Way East 34, Belleville West 17
(9) Waubonsie Valley (1-0) at (4) Glenbard North (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
EDGY's Take: Waubonsie Valley was able to get a big performance in last week's 16-8 win over Lake Park from senior QB Tanner Westwood and senior RB Tyler Ashford and the Warriors offense will need to again bring its A game to Glenbard North. The Panthers took care of Naperville Central 35-7 last week as the Glenbard North defense held the Naperville Central offense to one first down thru three quarters. Can the Waubonsie Valley offense dent the Glenbard North defense?
EDGY's Pick: Glenbard North 27, Waubonsie Valley 21
(25) Crete-Monee (1-0) at (8) Brother Rice (1-0) 7:30 p.m.
EDGY's Take: Crete-Monee and head coach John Konecki just seem to reload year in and year out. The Warriors once again have talent on both sides of the ball including senior WR Marcus Kidd, junior QB Isaiah Rucker plus OL/DL John Mitchell. Brother Rice was able to put away Marist 31-7 last Sunday at Soldier Filed behind a strong defensive performance plus big play ability with senior WR Ricky Smalling (2 TD catches). Can Crete-Monee go toe-to-toe and win on the road against CCL Blue power Brother Rice on 99th and Pulaski?
EDGY's Pick: Brother Rice 28, Crete-Monee 17
DeKalb (1-0) at Carmel (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
EDGY's Take: Someone better contact the FAA when the pass happy DeKalb Barbs come to Mundelein on Friday night to take on the Corsairs. DeKalb will look to throw the ball early and often behind senior QB Derek Kyler. Kyler's top target is NIU verbal commit senior WR Cole Tucker. Carmel got off to a slow start but finished strong in last week's 24-17 win over Waukesha West (WI) as senior RB Romel Jamison leads the Corsairs run option attack. Can the Carmel defense defend the Barbs passing game?
EDGY's Pick: DeKalb 34 Carmel 21
(21) Batavia (1-0) at (22) Libertyville (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
EDGY's Take: Libertyville was able to pitch a 27-0 shutout against Elk Grove last week as the Wildcats got a strong performance from its defense along with a steady and productive running game. Batavia also ran the ball well in its 34-24 road win at Belleville West. The Bulldogs will also rely on a run-first offense and a big and physical offensive line led by Illinois State verbal commit senior Evan Day (6-foot-6, 280 pounds). Expect power versus power in this one.
EDGY's Pick: Batavia 24, Libertyville 16
Fremd (0-1) at Hersey (1-0), 7:30 p.m.
EDGY's Take: Fremd lost a heart breaker last week as Lake Zurich scored with five seconds to play to beat the Vikings 19-15. Fremd will look towards senior QB Tom Josten who leads the offense for the Vikings. Fremd also features a big and very athletic defense. Hersey is also looking to rebound after a Week 1 40-18 loss to Highland Park. The Huskies will look towards junior QB Owen Goldsberry who's a huge dual threat in the Huskies' offensive attack. Can the Hersey defense slow down the Vikings power run game? Can the Vikings defense corral Owen Goldsberry?
EDGY's Pick: Fremd 28, Hersey 12
VIEWERS' CHOICE GAME: Lake Central at Portage, 7:00 p.m.
It'll be the Duneland Athletic Conference opener for both teams Friday night in NW Indiana. L-C (1-1) comes in looking to make last week's 24-21 heartbreaking loss to Lincoln-Way Central a distant memory. Portage (1-1) has already equaled the win total of last year's campaign thanks to a thrilling 28-27 win over Lowell last week. This conference matchup also doubles as a revenge game, as Portage shocked Lake Central in sectional playoff action last season.