Schools

Entrenched? L-W East Holds No. 1 Slot in Weekly Patch Football Poll

Blake Winkler's fast start helps Griffins roar out of the gate. H-F and Sandburg still have some questions to answer heading into play in Week 2 of the high school football season.

1. Lincoln-Way East: Blake Winkler earned Frankfort/Mokena Athlete of the Week honors after completing 12-of-23 for 214 yards and three touchdowns in Lincoln-Way East's 45-14 victory over Edwardsville. And he only played half the game. Last week: No. 1. Tonight: vs. Dunbar, 7:30 p.m.

2. Homewood-Flossmoor: Two plays, two touchdowns, too easy? Homewood-Flossmoor rolled to a 76-6 victory over Chicago Senn. But what did the Vikings find out about themselves? Well, maybe they have another good back in the making. Taje Smith rushed for 79 yards on six carries. He scored four touchdowns. Last week: No. 2. Tonight: vs. Deerfield, 7 p.m.

3. Sandburg: The Eagles turned two turnovers into 14 points and came up with a goal-line stand in a 17-10 victory over Andrew. Now, the challenge is to muster a little more offense. Last week: No. 3. Tonight: at Stagg, 7 p.m.

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4. Marist: Nic at Nite? Nic Weisher had five catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns in Marist's 35-21 victory over Notre Dame. Last week: No. 4. Tonight: vs. Brother Rice, 7:30 p.m.

5. Lincoln-Way North: Conor McDonald’s two fourth-quarter interceptions and the play of the Phoenix special teams were instrumental in a 26-18 victory over Lincoln-Way Central. Last week: No. 5. Tonight: vs. Hillcrest, 7 p.m.

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Next best (in alphabetical order): Lincoln-Way West, Marian Catholic, Oak Forest, Providence, Tinley Park.

(Covering the following Patch communities: Chicago Heights, Evergreen Park, Frankfort, Homewood-Flossmoor, Mokena, New Lenox, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Palos, Tinley Park and the neighboring private schools that draw students from those communities).

Kremer’s Five Hot Picks

1. Providence (1-0) at Minooka (0-1), 7:30 p.m. Quick Take: The sting of a 2-7 season already is beginning to wear off at Providence. Minooka bids to bounce back after losing to old rival Morris 27-21. Pick: Providence.

2. Oak Forest (1-0) at Rich Central (1-0), 7 p.m. Quick Take: Both sides have aspirations of reaching postseason play. View this one as a Week 2 litmus test. How do they stack up? Pick: Oak Forest.

3. Morris at Richards, 7 p.m. Quick Take: First meeting between these two since the 1989 Class 4A state championship game. Richards escaped with a narrow victory then, and this one has the makings of another instant classic. Pick: Richards.

4. Sandburg at Stagg, 7 p.m. Quick Take: Stagg's offense was stymied in a 20-7 loss to Thornton Fractional North. And Sandburg has the makings of a terrific defense. Uh, oh. Pick: Sandburg.

5. Brother Rice at Marist, 7:30 p.m. Quick Take: It’s a matchup of the Catholic League Blue vs. the East Suburban Catholic. And it’s also neighborhood rivals lining up across from each other in a battle for South Side bragging rights. Pick: Marist.

Last Week: 5-0, 1.000. Overall: 5-0, 1.000.


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