No. 8 Maine South hosts Niles West on Friday in a nonconference game, riding a four-game winning streak and averaging 41 points.

Maine East (0-5) hosts Vernon Hills (1-4) in CSL North play the same night. Both games kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25.

Hawks climb rankings, welcome struggling Wolves

Maine South (4-1) routed Deerfield 56-27 on Sept. 19 and jumped from No. 10 to No. 8 in the Chicago Sun-Times Super 25. The Hawks' only loss came 49-35 at Batavia in Week 1.

Quarterback Jameson Purcell, who threw for more than 3,000 yards and 41 touchdowns last season, had 862 passing yards and nine touchdowns through Week 4, according to the Daily Herald. The Hawks were averaging 41 points per game at that point, with Purcell spreading the ball to Matt Schlenhardt, Payton Donaldson, Keaton Vitel and Elliott Arteta. Toledo recruit Vuk Strbak anchors the offensive line.

Purcell showed his dual-threat ability in the Week 4 win over New Trier. He went 12-for-14 for 180 yards and two touchdowns while adding 14 carries for 88 yards and a rushing score, according to the Journal & Topics. Schlenhardt, a Syracuse recruit who starts at linebacker, hauled in a 53-yard touchdown pass. Vitel returned a kickoff 98 yards for another score.

Niles West (0-5) arrives in Park Ridge after a rough stretch. The Wolves lost 56-0 to No. 24 New Trier on Sept. 18 and fell 12-7 to Vernon Hills the week before. New Trier head coach Brian Doll told The Record North Shore after the Sept. 18 game that his team "scored quick … and we made a lot of plays on defense."

Maine South went 10-2 last season and was ranked No. 17 in the final 2025 Sun-Times Super 25.

Blue Demons seek first win against Vernon Hills

Maine East has been shut out in two of its last three games, including a 56-0 loss to Maine West on Sept. 19. The Blue Demons host Vernon Hills in a CSL North matchup between two teams searching for traction.

Sophomore quarterback Ryan Smith has provided a spark for Maine East. Smith threw for 64 yards and a touchdown pass to Peter Khamo in the Week 4 loss to Highland Park, per the Journal & Topics.

Vernon Hills edged Niles West 12-7 in Week 4 for its lone win but fell to Niles North 28-27 in Week 5, according to scores compiled by The Intelligencer.

Both teams kick off at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Maine East.