NBC Sports Chicago will have cameras covering the biggest high school football games across Chicagoland on the Week 5 edition of High School Lites, Friday night at 11:00 p.m. In our #SendEDGY game, can Homewood-Flossmoor go on the road and beat top-ranked Lincoln-Way East? The DuKane Conference race is ramping up. Can Batavia hold off Wheaton South at Red Grange Field? Separation week is underway in the Southwest Prairie West. Can state-ranked Minooka stay undefeated and beat Oswego East in Oswego? The annual War of 204 is here: Neuqua Valley travels across town to take on Waubonsie Valley at the Warriors home field, loving called Death Valley. Who steps up and makes a statement this in the Upstate Eight? South Elgin takes on Glenbard East in a battle of undefeated teams.
**Times subject to change due to the predicted showers and thunderstorms in Chicagoland**
(4) Homewood-Flossmoor at (1) Lincoln-Way East, 7:00 p.m. #SendEDGY
EDGY's Take: Homewood-Flossmoor (4-0/1-0) features a big and physical and experienced offensive line led by Oregon commit senior Marcus Harper. Vikings head coach Craig Buzea also boasts a deep group in the offensive skills department, led by senior QB Dominic Jones. Junior RB Sean Allen is also having a terrific season. Lincoln-Way East grinded out a 20-10 win last Friday over Bolingbrook. The Griffins' (4-0/1-0) senior four-star ranked ATH A.J. Henning took several carries at running back for the first time since his sophomore season and had a standout performance. The biggest matchup to watch? The H-F offensive line versus the Lincoln-Way East defensive line. Strength against strength.
EDGY's Pick: Lincoln-Way East 21 H-F 14
(7) Batavia at Wheaton Warrenville South, 6:00 p.m. (new time)
EDGY's Take: Batavia (3-1/2-0) had a fight on its hands last Friday, surviving Glenbard North 27-24. Senior S Sam Barus (Bucknell) blocked a potential game-tying field goal to secure the win. Coach Dennis Piron and the Bulldogs will look to do-it-all senior RB/LB Quinn Urwiler and a big, physical offensive line to lead the way. The Batavia defense also has talent including junior ILB "Matt" Mojo" Weerts and junior DB/RB Trey Urwiler. Wheaton South (3-1/1-1) lost to St. Charles East last Friday. The Tigers will look to get back to the win column behind junior QB Parker Brown and senior RB Jacob Arthurs. Wheaton South senior WR/K Jack Olsen (Michigan State) possesses one of the Midwest's best legs. He is a threat any time the Tigers cross midfield. Can Batavia establish the power running game this week? Can Wheaton South move the football consistently against the Batavia defense?
EDGY's Pick: Batavia 28 Wheaton South 24
(16) Minooka at Oswego East, 7:00 p.m.
EDGY's Take: Minooka (4-0) is on a serious roll this season. The Indians' running attack, led by senior RB Noah Ellens and senior RB Connor Etzkorn, has been a key for coach John Belskis and company. Senior OL/DL Jake Shipla has been a mainstay on both sides of the football. Oswego East (4-0) and head coach Tyson LeBlanc feature junior QB Michael Ford along with a impressive group of receivers and backs led by senior WR Keion Battle. The Wolves also have a rarity this season: big size on the offensive line. The unit is led by senior OL Alex Wollschlaeger (Bowling Green). Will Minooka get starting QB Seth Lehr back this week from injury? If not, can backup QB Josh Davis continue to keep the Indians rolling? Can the Minooka defense slow down an East offense that's averaging 33 points per game?
EDGY's Pick: Minooka 31 Oswego East 24
(20) Neuqua Valley at Waubonsie Valley, 7:00 p.m.
EDGY's Take: The annual district battle between Neuqua Valley (3-1/1-0) and Waubonsie Valley (2-2/0-1) is always an intense, well played game. It's usually decided in the last few plays. Neuqua head coach Bill Ellinghaus has an explosive offense this season. Senior QB Mark Gronowski (South Dakota State) is a catalyst. Don't overlook his strong group of receivers led by senior WR Sean Larkin (SIU) and junior RB Armani Moreno. Coach Paul Murphy's Warriors are looking to rebound after last week's 31-24 upset loss to Naperville North. Waubonsie has a balanced offensive, paced by senior QB Ethan Nelson and WR Myles Pettaway. Junior WR Sean Clinton and senior RB Bryce Logan figure to also get their names called often. Can Waubonsie Valley avoid the turnover monster? Can Neuqua Valley's offense continue to put up points against the Waubonsie defense? Expect this game to, once again, come down to the wire. Will the potential of bad weather on Friday night favor one school over the other here on grass?
EDGY's Pick: Neuqua Valley 28 Waubonsie Valley 27
(11) Phillips vs. Morgan Park (at Gately), 7:15 p.m.
EDGY's Take: Phillips (4-0/1-0) and head coach Troy McAllister made news earlier this week when they decided to move up and play in Class 7A for the next two seasons. None of that will matter Friday, though, as the Wildcats will look to stay undefeated. Phillips will rely on its run game and a tough-as-nails press defense. They shut out Raby last week 54-0. Keep an eye on senior ATH Ronald Pledger (Western Michigan) and senior WR/DB Javon Ellis (Army). Morgan Park (2-2/1-0) is coached Chris James. They're looking for their third straight win after an 0-2 start. The Mustangs have talent. WR Deshun Britten and LB Noah Malone have been solid. Senior OL/DL Shontrail Key has also been drawing lots of recruiting traffic this season.
EDGY's Pick: Phillips 32 Morgan Park 14
Stevenson at Lake Zurich, 7:30 p.m.
EDGY's Take: Year in and year out, this matchup between Stevenson (2-2/2-0) and Lake Zurich (2-2/2-0) is always one of the top in the northern suburbs. Coach Brent Becker has guided the Patriots to two straight victories despite losing starting QB Justin Hiller to a Week 3 injury. Can they win on the road here? Keep an eye on Stevenson senior RB J.M. Etienne, senior OL Ean Norenberg (Harvard) and senior DB Jordan Vincent (EIU). As for Lake Zurich, they was finally able to get it's offense in gear in last week's win over Lake Forest as senior QB Jack Moses led the attack. Lake Zurich also features plenty of play makers this season including junior RB Jack Dwyer and senior WR James Piggott. Junior LB Bryan Sanborn leads the always-tough Bears defense. Can the Stevenson offense produce this week against the Lake Zurich defense? Is the Lake Zurich offense here to stay?
EDGY's Pick: Lake Zurich 21 Stevenson 17
South Elgin at Glenbard East, 7:30 p.m.
EDGY's Take: South Elgin (4-0/4-0), coached by Dragan Teonic, has put up an amazing numbers: 232 points on offense and a goose egg on defense. Their four consecutive shutouts have only been matched by Fairfield so far in 2019. The Storm will look towards sophomore QB Ben Karpowicz and senior WR Marquis Gillespie II on offense. Glenbard East (4-0/4-0) and head coach John Walters have gotten the Rams program in state playoff contention again after a school record setting season in 2018. The Rams will rely on a deep group of backs including RB Christopher Whitehead and RB Benny Miller. Can the Glenbabrd East defense slow down the explosive South Elgin offense? Has South Elgin really been tested yet this season?
EDGY's Pick: South Elgin 36 Glenbard East 35
Viewers' Choice Game of the Week (x2):
EDGY's Take: This long-time rivalry game in the southwest suburbs is back. And the fact that it is homecoming in Orland Park should make it all the more interesting. It will feature Lockport (1-3/0-1), with first year head coach George Czart, looking to bounce back after 40-0 loss last Friday to H-F. They made headlines earlier this season after a dramatic overime win over Lincoln-Way Central. Sandburg head coach Scott Peters has the Eagles off to a 2-2/1-0 start. They're looking for-back-to-back wins after beating district rival Stagg 30-6 last Friday. Can the Lockport offense generate more production against a Sandburg defense that has been pretty strong so far this season?
EDGY's Pick: Sandburg 21 Lockport 17
(21) Barrington at Palatine, 7:30 p.m.
EDGY's Take: Barrington (3-1) has looked strong since an opening week loss to state-ranked Warren Township. Head coach Joe Sanchez features the duo of QB Tommy Fitzpatrick and do-it-all WR EJ Darlington on the offensive side of the football. DE Lukas Van Ness (Iowa) has been a standout on both sides of the ball this season. Palatine is struggling with a 1-3 start but the Pirates have also played everyone tough so far this season. Don't let the record fool you. The Pirates have a playmaker in QB Joe Alaya. The Palatine homecoming game on Friday is being played to raise funds and awareness for five year old Madden Manz who is suffering from Rett's syndrome. Manz, the 5 year old son of Palatine teacher (and former assistant coach) Jeff Manz and his wife Jenna Manz (a Barrington teacher) will be taking part in the festivities on Friday night.
EDGY's Pick: Barrington 34 Palatine 27