Watch List: 3 Scouts and Vikings to Watch Saturday
Who do both teams have to keep their eyes on most Saturday afternoon? Three players that can change the game for the Scouts and Vikings
We move on to the postseason Round of 8 Saturday as the Scouts host Geneva. It’s the second year in a row the Scouts and Vikings have met in the postseason. In 2023, Geneva beat Lake Forest 42-7 in the second round.
No. 3-seeded Geneva is 10-1 after a Round 2 playoff win over Burlington Central. The Scouts are 9-2 having won a thriller over Libertyville.
What players could change the game for both teams?
Here are three players for the Scouts and Vikings to keep an eye on Saturday.
VIKINGS WATCH LIST
Tony Chahino, #12, Senior Quarterback
A year ago in the playoffs, the Scouts were confounded by a run-first quarterback from Geneva named Nate Stempkowski. He ran all over the field and over Lake Forest. The 2024 signal caller for the Vikings is a different type of player than Stempkowski. A big body at 6-1, 205, Chahino likes to chuck it deep and has the arm to make vertical throws. Chahino’s 11-week stat line — 2,680 passing yards, 137 rushing, 43 TD’s, 64% completion percentage — reveals an offense will test the Lake Forest secondary with explosive play designs, likely multiple times each quarter. Watching tape on Chahino, one impressive aspect to his game is his ability to make second plays — when he escapes from the pocket, he keeps his eyes downfield and throws accurately. When the pocket breaks down, he prefers to throw off-schedule, using his feet to buy more time, not run for first downs. He’s in complete command of the offense and that shows up on film. Another challenging assignment for the Scouts rush and coverage units but they’ve been here before.