Bloom Twp. (2-1) at Crete-Monee (0-3)

When: 6 p.m. today.

Breaking it down: Is there a better 0-3 team in the state than the Warriors? Crete-Monee's defense did a superb job slowing down the Thornton juggernaut for most of last Friday's matchup. When the Wildcats finally prevailed in the fourth overtime period, the sense of heartbreak was all too familiar to the Warriors -- they'd lost their first two contests to Crystal Lake South and Class 6A No. 1 Rock Island by a total of eight points. Crete's attack will now be operated by QB A.J. Pierre, the third signal-caller pressed into service already this year. Perhaps Pierre will provide the fuel the Warriors need to finally bust out of their offensive doldrums. The Jason Braschler-less Crete defense will get another stern test, too, with Bloom Twp.'s DeAngelo Blatcher. How will the senior QB and his mates respond to their first defeat, which was administered by Rich South in OT? If the Blazing Trojans want to be taken seriously as an upper-echelon club, they must understand this is the

kind of bounce-back contest contenders typically win. Bloom has the physical tools to get the job done; that much has been proven. But the mental part of their game must also be sharp.

-- Ken Karrson

Rich South (2-1) at T.F. South (3-0)

When: 7 p.m. today.

Breaking it down: All those questions hovering around the Times No. 3 Rebels' program prior to their Week 3 meeting with arch-rival T.F. North? Consider them answered correctly, at least for now. On a rainy field last Friday, T.F. South did very little wrong and an awful lot right. Considering the lousy conditions, QB Josh Titus was maddeningly -- if you're a Meteors fan, that is -- effective, completing 10-of-14 passes for 191 yards and three TDs, including a 56-yarder to Mike Ustanik that began the scoring and triggered the start of North's decline. RB Robert Gafford complemented Titus' aerial work by contributing 100 rushing yards. Obviously, the defense was solid as well, seeing as how the Rebels posted a shutout and held North under 100 total yards. However, South can't revel too long in that accomplishment, and it certainly wouldn't be prudent for the Rebels to underestimate the threat posed by the Stars, who are coming off an overtime victory against previously unbeaten

Bloom Twp. Former Crete-Monee coach Rich Tarka is the man in charge at Rich South, and as Warriors fans will remember, he knows how to get the most out of his players. Maybe it's his pedigree -- Tarka prepped for Illinois' all-time wins leader, Gary Korhonen, at Richards.

-- Ken Karrson

T.F. North (1-2) at St. Charles North (2-1)

When: 7:30 p.m. today.

Breaking it down: The Meteors were shut out 36-0 by District 215 rival T.F. South and St. Charles North won 54-0 against Upstate Eight opponent Streamwood. T.F. North QB Jeremiah Barnes has big-play ability and WRs Brandal Miles and Katrell Sykes to help him make those plays. The North Stars' defense is led by Spencer Swartz and Kasey Ro. Expect them and their teammates to put a lot of pressure on the Meteors, who scored 64 points in their first two games. Defensively, can Prince Wright, Jamarcus Higgenbottom, Chris Williams & Co. stop the North Stars? RB Jordan Huxtable ran for 162 yards and three TDs last week, He will be tough to stop, but the Meteors' defense is up to the task. North does not want to go 1-3 before starting its SICA South schedule. It is a long bus trip out to Kane County in Friday afternoon rush-hour traffic.

-- Mike Nieto

Mt. Carmel (2-1, 0-1 Catholic Blue) at St. Rita (3-0, 0-0)

When: 7:30 p.m. today.

TV: WWME (Ch. 23, Comcast digital Ch. 223), live.

Breaking it down: This is the 86th meeting between the South Side rivals, and this one will rock the 14th Ward and Western Avenue tonight. Mt. Carmel won 35-19 last year and has been victorious in 18 of the last 21 meetings. It holds a 57-25-2 series advantage and has not lost two in a row since 2003. Until Providence beat the Caravan 6-3 last Friday, Mt. Carmel's last regular-season loss was to the Mustangs -- 7-6 in 2006. Just think of all the big names who have played or coached in this game. You will see a few tonight who will make their mark on this series. Times No. 2 and Class 8A No. 5 Caravan QB Jordan Lynch and St. 8A No. 2 Rita QB Lawrence Garrett are both good leaders and can throw the long ball. Lynch has two good receivers -- K.J. Picard and Brent Butler. Look for Brett Capjak to see some double duty at DE and TE. Milton Greer, Denzel Thompson and Byron Stanford give Mt. Carmel a strong running game. The line, which coach Frank Lenti said may be shuffled a bit

this week, will battle a tough Mustangs defensive line. St. Rita RB/DB Dave Marciano has given defenses fits this season, while Marciano and LB Marty Hopkins are the heart of the Mustangs' defense. Defensively, the Caravan's Anthony Walker, Capjak, Nathaniel Ollie, Jeremy Johnson, Chris Barcelona and Dimitrius Carr have stopped opponents, and DB Dan Coci has been tough in the secondary. Both teams have good kickers -- the Caravan's Nikko Rodriguez and the Mustangs' Shane Conolon.

-- Mike Nieto

Rich Central (1-2) at Thornton (3-0)

When: 1 p.m., Saturday.

Breaking it down: The Times No. 1 Wildcats had their hands full with better-than-its-record Crete-Monee last Friday, but a big play again gave Thornton a lift. This time, it was a blocked field goal returned for a tying touchdown that did the trick. Dante Talbert scored in the fourth overtime to keep the 'Cats unbeaten. Obviously, Thornton wasn't as dominant as it had been in previous clashes with Hillcrest and Lockport, and it's possible the Wildcats may have put too much emphasis on Crete's record. However, any shortcoming on Thornton's part may have been due more to the Warriors' doggedness than anything the Wildcats did or didn't do themselves. Rich Central would seem to be another easy-to-overlook foe, so that alone makes the Olympians dangerous. But in a pure matchup sense, Thornton holds a decided edge. And since their 2008 nonconference schedule is a carbon copy of 2007's, the Wildcats undoubtedly want to dole out one more payback -- a year ago, Rich Central handed

Thornton a fourth consecutive defeat to open the campaign. Rest assured, coach Bill Mosel will make sure the unfinished-business theme gets drilled into his guys' heads.

-- Ken Karrson

Marian Catholic (0-3, 0-1 ESCC) at St. Joseph (2-1, 0-1)

When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

Breaking it down: The Spartans need a win after playing hard the first three weeks and coming away with three losses. Junior QB Tommy Doane threw for 137 yards last week in a 13-10 loss to Notre Dame and he scored the first touchdown on the Spartans' new FieldTurf. The Spartans backfield has taken its share of licks this season, as RB Joe Hess was the latest to get hurt, leaving last week's game with an injury. Defensively, Bryan Golubski, Mac Stevenson, Josh Mayers and Josh Forney have been strong on the line. LB Joe Swanson had an interception last week as Marian has held each of its three opponents under 100 yards rushing per game. St. Joseph has proved it is not a pushover this season -- the Chargers, coached by former St. Rita and Notre Dame star Mark Zavagnin, won their first two games to snap a 45-game losing streak that stretched over five years. St. Joseph was shut out 35-0 by Benet Academy last Friday. QB Cameron Meredith is a threat, as is WR Ron Moore.

-- Mike Nieto