Game Day Preview: Lake Forest (1-1) vs. Mundelein (0-2)

Mundelein (0-2) at Lake Forest (1-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 9.

Where: , 300 S. Waukegan Road.

Last year: Did not play each other.

Last week: , 41-8; Mundlein lost to Prairie Ridge, 47-2.

Last year's records:  finished 7-4, lost in second round of Class 6A state playoffs to Crystal Lake South; Mundelein finished 1-8, winning the last game of the regular season over Zion-Benton.

Key Players: — , quarterback; receiver; , running back; John Marwede, lineman; , linebacker;  linebacker; Matt Wagener, linebacker; Luke Berardi, receiver. Mundelein — Spencer Henley, lineman; LD Frison, running back; Jeremiah Tramill, running back; Jack Craven, center; Gabe Leppert, quarterback; Dave Tramill, receiver; Matt Heppert, linebacker.

Will Win: If they continue to play opportunistic football, pouncing on opposing team's mistakes and turning them into points. That happened three times last week in beating Highland Park, allowing the Scouts to build an early lead. If Lake Forest continues to play team defense. A much-improved showing last week because the Scouts focused on gang-tackling rather than allowing the opposing offense to isolate tacklers and create one-on-one situations. They stopped Highland Park on fourth down deep in their own territory because three to four players were pursuing the ball. They still need to develop more receivers for quarterback Jordan Beck so the attack doesn't become predictable.

Mundelein Will Win: If quarterback Gabe Leppert has his way. He showed in the Mustangs' season-opening loss to Wheeling that he can throw (10 of 14, 112 yards), and he split duties last year at both quarterback and running back. Mundelein's defense is spearheaded by Spencer Henley, who may be short (5-foot-8 for a down lineman on defense, but has the size (210 pounds) to make trouble. The Mustangs' running game is led by LD Frison. who scored all three TDs in the opening loss and gained 144 yards on 8 carries. One scoring run was for 85 yards.

Intangibles: Lake Forest has a chance to get on a roll with a win. Their next two opponents, Zion-Benton and North Chicago, are winnable games before facing the big four in a row: Stevenson, Warren, Lake Zurich and Libertyville. Mundelein has struggled in football, but is never short on effort.