Homewood-Flossmoor Vs LW East: Comparing These Football Unbeatens

FRANKFORT, IL — While it won't decide a state football championship, this week's matchup between Lincoln-Way East and Homewood-Floosmoor is probably the first big regular season test for these unbeaten teams. In fact, the game Friday might be as hard-fought and thrilling as any postseason affair, with the winner becoming the sole leader of the Southwest Suburban Conference.

Both teams might be jockeying for a spot at the top of the standings, but that's not what makes this game so compelling. These two squads have been putting together dominating performances on the field this season, making this conference contest a must-watch game. The defending state champ Griffins have shut out opponents in three consecutive games, and the Vikings have two games in which they didn't allow any points scored.

RELATED: Chicago Southland High School Football Scoreboard: Week 6

Five words probably best sum up Friday's game: Immovable object, meet irresistible force. Good luck, though, deciding which team fits which description before kickoff.

Homewood-Flossmoor at Lincoln-Way East: The Basics

Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28. The sophomore game kicks off at 4:30 p.m.

Where: L-W East High School, 201 Colorado Ave., Frankfort

Tickets: $5, $2 for students with ID. L-W E students can purchase tickets during lunch at the main office or from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the athletic office. H-F students can buy tickets at the high school's campus store.

Weather: Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

H-F vs. L-W East: How They Stack Up

Records

L-W East: 5-0; 3-0 in conference

H-F: 5-0; 3-0 in conference

State Ranking

L-W East: 1st

H-F: 5th

National Ranking

L-W East: 80th

H-F: 176th

Points Scored

L-W East: 216

H-F: 170

Points Against

L-W East: 32

H-F: 58

Average Points per Game

L-W East: 43.2

H-F: 34.0

Biggest 2018 Win

L-W East: 57-0 over Sandburg

H-F: 46-0 over Stagg

Players to Watch, Offense

L-W East: Running back A.J. Henning. This will be the junior standout's second game this season, having been sidelined with a hip injury. He made his season debut in the Sept. 21 win against Lincoln-Way Central, rushing for 77 yards on five carries and scoring on a 54-yard touchdown pass.

H-F: Running Back Leon Tanna. He scored three touchdowns in the Vikings' 29-0 win over Bollingbrook and rushed for 161 yards in a victory over Lincoln-Way West.

Players to Watch, Defense

L-W East: Defensive end Dylan Shelton. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound senior is considered one of the best at his position, and he has led a stifling Griffins defense that is looking to keep an opponent scoreless in a fourth consecutive game.

H-F: Defensive end Isaiah Coe and defensive back Wynston Russell. They're part of a suffocating defense that has already shut out two teams this season. Russell scored the go-ahead touchdown off a fumble recovery in the win against L-W West.

Quarter to Watch

L-W East: Fourth. The Griffins finish strong, averaging 21 points in this quarter.

H-F: First. The Vikings average 9.6 points in this quarter.

Images via Lincoln-Way East and Homewood-Flossmoor high schools