Pigskin Previews Week 3

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Quincy Notre Dame (2-0) at Hall (1-1)

Gametime: 7 p.m. Friday at Nesti Field.

BCR insider: The Red Devils return home for the first time this season with state-ranked Quincy Notre Dame (No. 3 in 4A) awaiting them at Nesti Field. Quincy Notre Dame won its first 11 games a year ago before falling to Bloomington Central Catholic in the 4A quarterfinals. The Raiders have picked right up this year, outscoring its first two foes 104-14, including a 49-14 win over Macomb in Week 1. However, 18th-year head coach Bill Connell said those two teams “are no Spring Valley. This time we line up and play a real good football team. We know we’ve got that in week 3. When you look at video and see the people they have, they’re going to much more competitive.” Connell sees Hall being such a dynamic opponent, he says “we go into this thing as a massive underdog, I feel. We’re just trying to compete. That’s a long trip to just go up there and get beat.” ... The Red Devils showed much improvement in last week 33-26 win at Rockridge over the first week’s shutout loss to Stillman Valley. Rookie Hall coach Jason Bland said it was nice to get his first win under his belt, but says “we’ve got a long way to go as a team.” Notre Dame has been a power running team for the past 17 years under Connell, but now are utilizing the pass game of junior QB Kramer Barnes, a returning starter. “They are just now mixing in a basic spread package, so we have to be ready for both aspects of their offense. Defensively, they are a multiple front. Contending with their size and athleticism will be the big challenge this week,” Bland said. Along with Barnes, Notre Dame is led by junior TB Daniel Weiman and junior QB Kramer Barnes and three-year starter Zach Reichert (6-2, 260), who is the latest in a long line of quality lineman in a program that has produced six current D-1 players. He’s hardly the biggest lineman upfront for the Raiders, as RT James Ashemann tips the scales at 6-8, 370 pounds. Bland notes, yes, that’s right, 6-8, 370. ... The Red Devils can certainly use more bursts from senior TB Nathan Tucker, who rushed for 266 yards last week vs. Rockridge. That old boy, No. 3, had 260 yards or something. We hope we can hold him to 200, that’d be a miracle,” Connell says. ... Hall gains five players back from a preseason athletic code violation — Cody Whightsil, Mike Crew, Matt Haun, Tyler Moore and Robbie Wenzel. They are eligible to play in the second quarter after sitting out nine quarters (one-fourth of the season). ... Notre Dame’s Mid-State title in 2008 was its first conference title since 1997,

Last week: QND beat Palmyra, Mo. 55-0; Hall beat Rockridge 33-26.

Last year: First meeting.

All-time series: 0-0.

Radio: WAJK 99.3 FM.

Peoria Notre Dame (1-1) at Princeton (1-1)

Gametime: 7:15 p.m. Friday at Bryant Field.

BCR insider: With an off night Friday, Irish scouts took the opportunity to get a close look at the Tigers at Peoria Stadium. What they saw was plenty of senior TB Drew Compton, who rushed for 173 yards and 3 TDs, and garnered a TD catch to spark the Tigers’ big win over Peoria Manual. Coach Tim Gullickson said the Irish staff are plenty leery of the weapons the Tigers possess on offense. “They sure are explosive, and that quarterback (Brik Wedekind) is the best we’ve seen in quite a while. We don’t have the speed they do. We’re really concerned because they can run the ball and they throw the ball. It makes us nervous. We just hope we can score a few TDs so we can keep up with their onslaught.” What the Irish boast is a strong line which Gullickson calls the strength of his team. Line play is what the Tigers are trying to shore up the most this season, so the PHS line will need to step up its game Friday. The Tigers ran the ball very well last week against Manual, but will have to prove it against a strong Notre Dame front line. ... Gullickson has brought a double wing, wing-T run offense from Joliet Catholic, where he played and was an assistant coach. Converted tight end Bob O’Brien takes over at QB for the Irish with last year’s QB Mike Habecker moving to receiver. Note Dame junior Pat Doyle was an all-conference LB last year and plays FB. ... Notre Dame, 2-7 a year ago, picked up a 25-18 win over Bartonville Limestone in Week 1. Gullickson said Saturday’s 15-8 loss to Chillicothe IVC was a tough one because it was one they let slip away. ... The Tigers and Irish last played in 1996 when the Irish beat Joe Ryan’s Tigers 41-16. PHS’ 1993 playoff squad beat Notre Dame 22-16, but the Tigers were outscored 97-45 over the next three seasons.

Last week: Notre Dame lost to IVC 15-8; PHS beat Manual 39-12.

Last year: Did not play.

All-time series: Notre Dame 3-1.

Radio: WZOE 1490 AM.

St. Bede (0-2) at Sterling Newman (1-1)

Gametime: 2 p.m. Saturday at Sterling High School.

BCR insider: Last year’s 6-0 win in week 3 was just the second in nine tries for the Bruins against the state-ranked Comets and it was a shocker. The Bruins are displaying that kind of defensive effort again this year and the Comets know they will have their hands full Saturday. The Bruins have nothing to show for it in their win column, however, and would like none better to get on the board. An 0-3 start may be a little too hard to overcome if the Bruins want to get into the playoff picture, though after next week’s game with Bureau Valley, their schedule takes a turn for the better. ... Newman is coming off a 20-6 loss to Morrison and likewise wants to avoid a 1-2 start with games remaining with Bureau Valley and Amboy. The Comets have reached the playoffs 19 times under 30-year head coach Mike Papoccia.

Last year: SBA 6-0.

Last week: SBA lost to Amboy 13-6; Newman lost to Morrison 20-6.

All-time series: Newman 7-2.

Radio: WSOG 88.9 FM.

Bureau Valley (2-0) at
Amboy/LaMoille (2-0)

Gametime: 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Harbor, Amboy High School.

BCR insider: The game has been a key battle each year in the Big Rivers Conference. Bureau Valley is the defending champ and winners of four of the past five league titles with two division crowns before that. The Clippers have not won a conference title since taking a division title in 2000. ... The Clippers will be out to avenge last year’s 20-0 loss, shut out by the stingy Storm defense of 2008. The Storm already has one shutout (22-0 over Riverdale) in 2009. BV will have to wrap up Clippers RB Cody Richardson, who is as an elusive runner there is in the conference.

Last week: BV beat River Valley 53-12; Amboy beat St. Bede 13-6

Last year: BV 20-0.

All-time series: BV 5-4.

Radio: WZOE 98.1 FM.

Other area games

Marquette at Morrison

Riverdale at Fulton

River Valley at Erie/Prophetstown

Annawan/Wethersfield at Princeville

IVC at Peoria Central

Orion at Kewanee

Rock Falls at Peoria Woodruff

East Moline at Ottawa

Morris at L-P

Geneseo at Sterling

Dixon at Streator

Mendota at Chicago Amundsen (Saturday)

— Kevin Hieronymus