Takeaways, have we got takeaways, with two-thirds — six weeks — of the regular season complete.
It starts with three teams in Geneva, Oswego and West Aurora each recording a sixth straight win to lock up playoff spots at their earliest opportunity.
What’s left could easily be called The Playoff Watch as our other contenders scramble to lock down postseason berths. Count on having 10 or more.
Here are my takeaways from Week 6:
A win heard around the state
Coach Boone Thorgesen and his Vikings shook things up at the top of our rankings, moving into the top spot by finally knocking off Batavia 30-7 to also grab the top spot in the DuKane Conference standings.
Ending a 13-game losing streak to the rival Bulldogs in the tenure of coach Dennis Piron pushed Geneva’s overall lead in the 106 meetings of the series to 52-49-5.
Despite making the playoffs in each of Thorgesen’s first three seasons, including last year’s run to the Class 6A quarterfinals, the Vikings had doubters.
Not anymore.
“I don’t think anybody picked us, but I’ve always been the underdog,” Thorgesen said. “We knew we had a pretty good team. We just wanted to see how we’d play against a very physical team and how we’d match up against their run game.
“We felt we’ve gotta stop the run and be able to run. Even though we’ve received some notoriety for our passing game, to win this one, we thought those things would be key.”
They were, and it turns out they were very likely the difference.
Geneva’s receiving corps led by Georgia recruit Talyn Taylor and Finnegan Weppner, both seniors, have received plenty of attention and deservedly so, especially with the emergence of senior quarterback Tony Chahino, a first-year starter who has played more like a three-year veteran.
The trio didn’t disappoint for the Vikings, but the biggest takeaway from Friday night’s game should be the eye-opening performance of the defense.
Batavia came in averaging 249.6 yards rushing, led by Nathan Whitwell with five games of 100 or more yards, including two where he topped 230 yards.
Geneva held the Bulldogs to 74 on the ground, including Whitwell’s 34 on 16 carries.
Senior running back Michael Rumoro countered for the Vikings with 28 carries and 200 yards.
“Honestly, the game plan wasn’t to run for 200 yards, but Michael was unbelievable,” Thorgesen said. “And what the defense did was pretty impressive.
“(Whitwell) is as good a high school back as I’ve seen in a long time. He’s tough to take down, and you have to swarm to the ball.”
Geneva’s defense is led by five players with 33 to 36 tackles apiece in junior safeties Dane Turner (36) and Dylan Reyes (33) and senior linebackers Sean Lane (35), Troy Velez (34) and Gavin Burt (34), who forced a fumble and recovered it in the showdown.
His tackle leaders are usually lower than some, but Thorgesen believes some area programs are more generous when compiling those numbers than Tim Wolf, his defensive coordinator.
“I see some guys with 20 tackles a game,” Thorgesen said. “I don’t think if you touch someone who’s already falling down you get an assist. I think our numbers are pretty legit.”
He also credited the work on the defensive line of seniors Joseph Pettit and James Bucholz. Both are three-year starters at guard on offense and stepped up to play defensive tackle as well.
“We don’t do that a lot,” Thorgesen said. “But this game was one of those games for us.”
Geneva finishes with Wheaton North, St. Charles East and St. Charles North and a chance at taking the conference title outright.
“Now, the thing is not to have a letdown,” Thorgesen said. “It’s a tale as old as time, especially with high school kids, but I think we’re locked in.”
More than defense?
That’s the takeaway from Oswego’s 21-7 win over Bolingbrook as junior running back Dekker Zelensek stepped up to score two touchdowns and senior quarterback Brett Connolly connected with Teddy Manikas for a 33-yard TD pass.
The Panthers have a stout defense but can surprise with their offensive capabilities, too.
West Aurora stays on a roll
Nate Eimer, last week’s Chicago Bears High School Coach of the Week, and the Blackhawks cruised past Ridgewood 51-0 but were again without senior receiver Terrence Smith. The Iowa commit continues to be week to week with more news expected soon.
Senior quarterback Kamron Tolliver, a transfer from West Aurora, missed his third straight game for Marmion with an injury but may be back soon, according to coach Adam Guerra.
“He’s trending in that direction,” said Guerra, who has received a lift from freshman Roy Magana.
The Cadets (4-2) have won two of the three games Magana has started and only need one more win to become playoff eligible.
