Week 5 Preview

Week 5 arrives with the Varsity Friday standings becoming increasingly competitive behind undefeated DeMatha Catholic. The Stags remain the league's only unbeaten team at 3–0, but Belvidere County and Indian Land both enter this week's matchup at 2–1. With both teams coming off their first losses of the season, Friday night presents an important opportunity to get back on track.

Belvidere County opened the season with victories over Addison Trail and Streamwood before running into Highland last week. The Seaters fell 29–19, suffering their first defeat of the season. Now they face another team near the top of the standings, with a chance to respond immediately and keep themselves within striking distance of DeMatha.

Indian Land also enters the game at 2–1. The Warriors started the season 2–0, including a narrow 26–24 victory over defending champion Addison Trail, but their unbeaten start came to an end last week when Streamwood handed them a 30–20 defeat. Indian Land will be looking to show that the loss was a setback rather than the beginning of a slide.

The other Week 5 matchups feature teams trying to change their position in the standings. Highland, now 2–2 after winning two straight, takes on an Addison Trail team that is still searching for its first victory. DeMatha returns from its bye to face Winthrop, which earned a 19–19 tie with Addison last week and is still looking for its first win.

With Streamwood on a bye, the spotlight belongs to Belvidere County and Indian Land. Both teams have already demonstrated that they can compete near the top of the league. Now, after suffering their first losses, one of them will have an opportunity to get back into the win column and keep pace with DeMatha.