Surprising Saxons and other MSL bits

Fifth. Fifth. Sixth.
That was the general consensus for Schaumburg this year in the Mid-Suburban West.
But as division play in the MSL begins this weekend, the Saxons are 3-1 going into Saturday's 1:30 p.m. game at Conant against three-time defending outright West champion Fremd. Schaumburg coach Mark Stilling isn't doing any gloating yet but is clearly enjoying a start that includes wins few probably expected over Wheeling and Prospect. Especially since the latter was by a whopping 54-33 score.
Some would question Stilling's sanity over scheduling a season opener with perennial state power Maine South. Why not get an easy win or at least a more middle of the road opponent?
But Stilling was also an assistant basketball coach for Bob Williams when Schaumburg won the Class AA state title by beating Eddy Curry and Thornwood in 2001. Williams has always believed in playing tough nonconference opponents to make you better.
It's not as easy to do in football where 5 wins are needed to make the postseason. But that didn't stop Stilling for taking a major leap to play Maine South.
So far it appears the Saxons have learned the hard lessons they received in this year's opening loss. Sophomore RB Shepard Little ran wild for 241 yards and 4 TDs against Prospect and QB Anthony Iannotti has been playing well all year.
The Saxons will be in for a tough test Saturday against a Fremd defense that was bolstered by the return from injury of Ben Perna to turn back Rolling Meadows 14-7 on Friday. But as Stilling alluded to in the Prospect postgame huddle, it's another chance to prove people wrong.

Here are some numbers to ponder from last week...
The 54 points scored by Schaumburg and allowed by Prospect were the most in both cases since ... Schaumburg beat Prospect 54-0 in 1995. The Saxons that year also scored 62 against Elk Grove.
Prospect has allowed 85 points in its last two games - the most since it gave up 92 in consecutive losses to Hoffman Estates and Conant in 1996. When it hosts BG on Friday it will try to avoid its first 3-game losing streak since 1999.
Palatine's 56 points against Hersey last Frdaiy were its most since it beat Prospect 63-15 in 1992. The Pirates have scored 40-plus points in three straight games - they had 40 or more in their first five by the 1996 6A semifinalist.
The West went 14-4 in MSL crossovers - the biggest disparity since the first year of MSL realignment in 1998. It's the third straight year the West has had the crossover advantage and it also had it the first three years. The East won the crossover battle four of five times between 2001-05.