➡️It's game day for 7 #CCL teams, and we start our 5A preview with one of those teams...
🔵St. Francis (4-5) earned the #18 seed in 5A North and will play Friday at Grayslake North. Many thought it might take the reigning 5A champs a bit of time to put their new pieces together this year, and indeed, by the second half of the season, the Spartans looked dangerous. Their most complete game was a Week 6 win over Nazareth, but close losses to Fenwick and Montini gave notice that St. Francis can compete with anyone in the playoffs. Kaneland awaits if the Spartans win in Grayslake. In general, the south half of 5A looks far stronger than the north.
🏈Scoring averages: Offense 27.9 / Defense 22.3
👀One player to watch: Western Illinois commit James McGrath is an unusually versatile defender who can line up anywhere and make an impact
⚫️Behind Enemy Lines: Grayslake North
The Knights (5-4) are looking for their first playoff win since 2022. Brian Johnson’s crew had a three-game midseason stretch vs. Wauconda, Grant, and Antioch (combined record 23-4), so despite a middling schedule, they’ve got some experience against talented teams. Junior QB Jaylen Newkirk can be a threat with his legs as much as his arm.
🗓️Schedule: Weaker than average - 37 opponents’ wins, 1 ranked team, 1 RV
🏈Scoring averages: Offense 26.9 / Defense 27.3
🏆Best win: Week 8 vs. Grayslake Central, 34-29
👀One player to watch: Senior safety Beckett Dovel will have his hands full covering Greg Bess-Henning II and a deep group of WR
@SFHSFBWheaton@GBessHenningII@James_McGrath07@TiviasCaldwell@itsnoahwaz26@Jadonwilson02@N18_Turner@AlexTaylor_8@JWill2__@BlaykeLohmann1@huntereberle4@tajhev1@Alvin_Redmoniii@TorreonJeffries@BrenKolinski_20@kolinski_evan@donovan_humph2@realduncanm@FrankMcmillen44
And we send our very best wishes to @alijah_valeri for a speedy recovery
Teams Primed for a Major Turnaround Seasons in 26-27: Lameck Hassan | @donovan_humph2 | Jakobi Pierce | Zyler Mason | Tre Johnson | Amari Brown | Larry Ellis | @BrennanLep23478 | Tim Griffith | @gmartinson12 | @landonray24 | Jaquan Harris https://t.co/FBvnuTvOCI