Maine South's six-time state championship football program returns to 1111 South Dee Road on Friday, Aug. 28, looking to rebound from a 49-35 loss at Batavia in the season opener.
The Hawks (0-1) will host Warren Township (0-1), which fell 31-0 to Loyola Academy on Friday, Aug. 21. Both teams entered the year with high expectations: Maine South was ranked No. 3 in the EdgyTim Class 8A preseason poll and No. 9 in the Chicagoland Top 30, while Warren checked in at No. 10 in 8A.
The matchup is the first home game of the season for a Hawks squad that went 10-2 last fall before losing in the Class 8A quarterfinals to Oswego, the eventual state runner-up.
Purcell leads the charge
Senior quarterback Jameson Purcell, a 6-foot-2 left-hander committed to Indiana, is the engine of the offense. Purcell threw for more than 3,000 yards as a junior and is ranked No. 34 nationally among 2027-class quarterbacks, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Head coach Dave Inserra told the Tribune on Aug. 20 that Purcell's preparation sets him apart: "His mechanics are almost flawless. He spends a lot of time, a lot of focus, a lot of coaching — not just from us but from other sources. So his mechanics, he can make any throw."
Purcell is not alone. Senior linebacker Matthew Schlenhardt (Syracuse) and senior linebacker/defensive back Vuk Strbac round out a group of Division I-bound players who give Maine South talent on both sides of the ball.
What to watch
The Week 1 loss at Batavia exposed questions about the Hawks' defense. Batavia hung 49 points on Maine South in a shootout that saw both offenses light up the scoreboard. Warren's offense, shut out by Loyola, will test whether the Hawks can tighten up at home.
Warren entered the season with a reputation for playing fast and physical, per the EdgyTim preview. But the Blue Devils will need to show they can move the ball after being blanked in Week 1.
For Maine South, a win Saturday would steady a season that still carries deep playoff aspirations. The program's six state titles (1995, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016) and Inserra's long track record mean expectations don't reset after one loss.
Game details
Who: Warren Township (0-1) at Maine South (0-1) When: Friday, Aug. 28 Where: Maine South High School, 1111 South Dee Road, Park Ridge
Look for a full game recap from the Park Ridge Wire after Saturday's kickoff.
