As good as it gets?
It seems I think that every week of this high school season, and every week the players come up with a new topper.
Batavia, which has made winning a habit in 13 seasons under coach Dennis Piron, did it again last week. The Bulldogs rolled 41-0 over Wheaton North, providing the weekend’s eye-opening score.
Definitely did not see it coming, at least not by that wide of margin.
Here are my three takeaways:
Putting it on the board
Wheaton North (3-2, 1-2) began the season with come-from-behind, one-point wins over two pretty good teams in Providence and Lockport before losing 31-14 to DuKane Conference rival St. Charles North.
Batavia’s defense, led by senior defensive end Xavier Blanquel with five tackles for loss, held Wheaton North’s offense to 21 yards.
Meanwhile, senior running back Nathan Whitwell topped 100 yards rushing for the fifth straight game and inched closer to 1,000 yards for the season with 923.
“They are physical,” Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen said of Batavia. “Their run game and offensive line really get after it. That running back is really special.”
Batavia (5-0, 3-0) has rushed for 1,248 yards compared to their opponents’ 121.
So, what comes next?
The stage is set for a third straight showdown this week for Batavia, which started the tough stretch with a 45-21 win over St. Charles North (4-1, 2-1).
Geneva (5-0, 3-0) got here with a 38-12 win over Glenbard North.
The archrivals meet Friday at Batavia for the 106th time in a series dating to 1913. Piron’s Bulldogs have won 13 straight, including 21-18 last year, to cut Geneva’s all-time lead to 51-49-5.
It should be another good one.
The Vikings are not slackers, leading the conference in points scored and points allowed with 253 and 66, respectively. Batavia is second in both at 219 and 69 but has played a tougher schedule.
Geneva’s passing game has produced 1,259 yards, led by senior quarterback Tony Chahino in his first year as a starter. He has thrown 17 touchdown passes and just one interception, connecting with a talented group of receivers led by seniors Talyn Taylor and Finnegan Weppner.
Taylor has 18 receptions for 573 yards. The Georgia recruit caught three TD passes last week, giving him 12 for the season and a school-record 26 for his career. He passed 2015 graduate Pace Temple, who had had TD receptions before a record-setting career at Butler.
Senior linebackers Gavin Burt and Sean Lane have 31 tackles apiece to lead the defense.
The teams have one common opponent so far in Lake Park. Batavia beat the Lancers 56-6, while Geneva won 63-13.
Good luck with your pick, I’ll give you mine Friday. Stay tuned.
Panthers the real deal
Came away impressed after my first look at Oswego last week when the Southwest Prairie West co-leaders faced a 7-0 halftime deficit but beat Plainfield North 21-13 in nasty windy conditions.
The senior linebacker trio of Iowa recruit Carson Cooney, Mikey Claycombe and Easton Ruby may be better than advertised. And we heard plenty about them heading into the season.
The defensive front of seniors Trent Wollwert-Angle and Jordan Sweiss on the ends and Joshua Flores and Christian Taylor at the tackles looked good, too.
The Panthers (5-0, 1-0) are tied for the conference lead with Minooka (5-0 1-0) and newcomer Bolingbrook (3-2, 1-0), this week’s opponent.
Plainfield North, as usual, has good speed and would be an even tougher out in better conditions, given its strong passing game.
“They’re quick, they’re physical and their passing game is strong,” Cooney said of the Tigers. “Best I’ve probably played against.”
Don’t sleep on what might be termed an unsung offense for the Panthers, who have some options.
North Stars are cardiac kids
St. Charles North completed a second improbable comeback with a 37-32 win over Wheaton Warrenville South, scoring two TDs in the final 37 seconds.
Senior quarterback Ethan Plumb ran for a 1-yard TD then completed two passes, the second an 18-yard TD toss to Braden Harms, who had recovered an onside kick.
In the season opener, Plumb directed a game-winning drive that covered 99 yards in the final 1:50 for a 28-27 victory over Palatine. The North Stars came back from a nine-point deficit.
“It was very improbable,” St. Charles North coach Rob Pomazak said. “We had less than a 1% chance of winning it, but the kids never gave up.”
The North Stars, who have a 12-11 lead in the series, play host Friday to crosstown rival St. Charles East.
