​ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — The third leg of the NIC-10 championship big-game trilogy plays out this Friday night. Two weeks ago, the big game was Hononegah-Harlem. Last week it was Guilford-Hononegah. This week it’s Harlem-Guilford. That one is our ‘Overtime’ game of the week.At the moment it’s Harlem in control of its own destiny, alone in first place at 5-0 with Guilford and Hononegah each one notch behind at 4-1.“It feels good, but we’ve got to stay focused on our goal,” said Harlem quarterback Braxton  Fausett. “We can’t get ahead of ourselves. We can’t let that happen this week. We have a really good opponent.”“We still know that we can’t take any team lightly, added Harlem running back Cristian Serrano. “It all comes down to whatever team plays the better football and executes that night.”Harlem had that amazing fourth-quarter comeback two weeks ago against Hononegah. Last Friday, Hononegah tripped up Guilford. Hononegah played very well. Guilford wasn’t sharp.“I’m really happy and proud of my guys defensively. They played a great game,” said Guilford quarterback Greyson Weber. “Unfortunately, the offense didn’t. We need to step that up for sure.  We had a lot of bad offensive penalties, a lot off missed assignments and just overall lack of execution.”Guilford head coach Anthony Capriotti heaped praise on Hononegah, but he also admitted his guys were sloppy at times last week. “We made some mistakes we don’t usually make, and part of that was the moment. Most definitely there were plays that we wish we had back.”“I’m really disappointed in that game,” said Guilford tight end/defensive end Keysan Taylor. “A lot of us, we didn’t step up the way we needed to. Me especially not being the leader that I’m supposed to be. I take that “L” on me.”Now Guilford will try to do what Hononegah did last week, shake off a tough loss, hit the reset button and bounce back.“Harlem is an awesome opponent,” said Capriotti. “We’re going to need to play a better game this week if we want a chance to win the title and for playoff seeding. What we’ve learned also is that what you can’t have against good teams, you can’t beat yourself too. Guilford and Harlem can’t both beat Guilford.”Harlem is coming off a 29-0 win against Jefferson last week. Harlem’s second defensive shutout in the last three weeks.“They’ve got a lot of good things going on on defense,” said Capriotti. “They’re very disciplined. Very well coached.”Weber is also impressed with Harlem’s defense. “They’ve got a great secondary. Two superstars in Jackson Cook and Lebron Mcclelland. They’ve got good size.”Harlem’s offense is the highest scoring offense in the NIC-10, and its defense has allowed the second fewest points in the NIC-10. Guilford’s defense has allowed the fewest points in the NIC-10.“This is going to be a real challenge this week,” said Harlem head coach Jim Morrow.