Maine South hosts Evanston for Senior Night on Friday, Oct. 9, with the Hawks 5-1 and ranked No. 8 in the Sun-Times Super 25 heading into a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

The Chicago Sun-Times Super 25, published Sept. 27, slotted the Hawks at No. 8. The Chicago Tribune's statewide rankings placed them at No. 15. Maine South's only loss came in Week 1, a 49-35 shootout against Batavia.

Since then, five straight wins. The Hawks beat New Trier 35-28 on Sept. 10, then handled Deerfield 56-27 and Niles West 56-0 in Weeks 5 and 6.

Indiana-commit Jameson Purcell leads the offense. Through 14 quarters of play, the senior quarterback has completed 65% of his passes for 1,060 yards, 12 touchdowns and two interceptions, according to the Daily Herald's Week 7 preview.

He has finished only three halves of football this season. The Sun-Times noted in its preseason rankings that Purcell threw for more than 3,000 yards and 41 touchdowns as a junior.

"His mechanics are almost flawless," coach Dave Inserra told the Chicago Tribune in August. "He spends a lot of time, a lot of focus, a lot of coaching … So his mechanics, he can make any throw."

Purcell has plenty of help. Running backs Payton Donaldson and Matthew Schlenhardt average a combined 8.7 yards per carry with 12 rushing touchdowns. Schlenhardt, a Syracuse commit who also plays linebacker, was the Hawks' lone returning defensive starter entering the season.

The offensive line, anchored by Toledo recruit Vuk Strbac, has allowed just one sack through six games.

Wide receiver Elliott Arteta, a varsity newcomer, averages 21.7 yards per catch with five touchdowns. Wideout and cornerback Keaton Vitel has six total touchdowns, including two on kick returns. His 98-yard kickoff return against New Trier on Sept. 10 proved decisive in that 35-28 win, according to The Record North Shore.

On defense, lineman Aidan Connolly has stood out. Inserra said in the Daily Herald's Oct. 1 preview that Connolly has wreaked havoc in the backfield.

Evanston brings a 4-2 record into its own Week 7 game. The Wildkits, coached by Miles Osei, opened with three wins, including a 56-0 rout of Maine East on Sept. 4, per MaxPreps. They dropped back-to-back games to Glenbrook South and Highland Park before beating Glenbrook North 31-14 on Sept. 25.

Both teams play Week 7 games before the Oct. 9 matchup. Maine South travels to Vernon Hills and Evanston visits Niles North, both on Friday, Oct. 2. Updated records will shape the Senior Night stakes.

The game is at Maine South High School, 1111 South Dee Road.