Week 13’s top five games

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Lincoln-Way East’s Turner Pallissard (40) high steps into the end zone against Bolingbrook, October 21, 2017 Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

Class 8A: No. 3 Maine South (11-1) at No. 1 Lincoln-Way East (12-0), 6 p.m. Sat.

The rematch everyone has been waiting for since the Griffins won 28-26 in Week 2. That was the closest game for both teams this season. Lincoln-Way East’s defensive line has been a force all season and was the difference in that first game. Maine South had a teriffic comeback win last week against Naperville Central. Running back Fotis Kokosioulis was instrumental in that win, as he has been all year. The winner becomes the favorite to win Class 8A.

Class 8A: No. 4 Loyola (11-1) at Edwardsville (9-3), 2 p.m. Sat.

Loyola has come on strong at the end of the season. The Ramblers dominated Marist 30-10 last week. Several new names have produced lately for Loyola, including sophomore running back Trevor Cabanban who rushed for two touchdowns and nearly 200 yards in the quarterfinals. Quarterback Quinn Boyle had been instrumental to the Ramblers success this season. Edwardsville is coming off a 28-25 victory over Minooka thanks to a big defensive effort. The Tigers nabbed three interceptions.

Class 7A: No. 11 Batavia (11-1) vs. No. 16 Benet (9-3) at Benedictine, 1 p.m. Sat.

Benet has been a surprise this postseason and is in the semifinals for the second consecutive season.. The Redwings’ three losses were all to ranked teams, but it took the entire season for them to build momentum. Benet has depended on its defense through much of the season, but they saw big performances from quarterback Colin Gillespie and the rest of the offense. Batavia defensive back Tom Stuttle is a big-time player, he had three interceptions in a 20-10 win against Lincoln Way-Wes last week. Batavia’s only loss was in Week 9 against St. Charles North.

Class 7A: No. 12 Mount Carmel (9-3) at No. 6 Lake Zurich (12-0), 1 p.m. Sat.

Mount Carmel is on a five-game winning streak and is starting to show its dominance. The Caravan beat East St. Louis, the defending Class 7A champs, last week. Mount Carmel made the Flyers pay for multiple turnovers. Caravan quarterback Radomir Premovic was instrumental in the win. Lake Zurich running back Joey Stutzman scored three touchdowns against St. Rita in the quarterfinals. Quarterback Evan Lewandowski was impressive all season. The Bears have one of the state’s top defenses. If the offense continues to roll they will be hard to stop.

Class 6A: No. 2 Prairie Ridge (12-0) at No. 22 Hoffman Estates (10-2), 4 p.m. Sat.

Prairie Ridge has been unbeatable this season, thanks to quarterback and all-around versatile athlete Samson Evans. The Fox Valley conference champs are playing in their third consecutive semi-final this week. The Wolves’ triple-option offense has been terrific. Hoffman Estates’ program has made a major turnaround, this is just its second playoff appearance since 1994.

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