Batavia, St. Charles North, Barrington, Aurora Christian and Oswego are picks to click in the season openers.
Batavia (11-2) at Glenbard West (8-3)
Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
Matchup breakdown: Week’s best game in the area features two powerhouses making everyone’s rankings. Only thing that has kept Hilltoppers out of Class 8A playoffs in coach Chad Hetlet’s 17 seasons was the pandemic. The same is true for Batavia in coach Dennis Piron’s 13 seasons. Both coaches have won two state titles and took second once.
Batavia has to replace Ryan Boe (Northwestern), a three-year starter at quarterback, and his offensive line. Piron believes this offense may be his fastest in recent years. Senior running back Nathan Whitwell and senior receiver Isaiah Brown could headline in early going.
Keep an eye on the Hilltoppers’ 6-foot-7 senior tackle Michael O’Connell (Northwestern) and senior defensive back/wideout Mason Ellens (Iowa State), who has 10.7 speed in the 100.
Glenbard West lost 48-14 to Edwardsville last season in the second round of the playoffs. Bulldogs lost 64-26 to Mount Carmel in a Class 7A semifinal.
X-factor: Bodi Anderson, Batavia, junior, quarterback.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Batavia.
St. Charles North (6-4) at Palatine (6-4)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Four-year quarterback Ethan Plumb leads what coach Rob Pomazak feels will be an explosive offense highlighted by a top target in senior wide receiver Keaton Reinke and senior running back Joell Holloman. Three starters return on offensive line.
Senior Aidan McClure, a 6-3 safety/outside linebacker, leads a defense with great length, especially at linebacker and in secondary. North Stars lost 38-21 to Bradley-Bourbonnais last year in the first round of Class 7A playoffs.
Palatine graduated just four starters, with senior defensive end Jaylen Williams (Michigan) leading returnees from team that lost 31-17 to Neuqua Valley in a Class 8A first-round game.
X-factor: Declan Smith, St. Charles North, junior, offensive lineman/defensive lineman.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: St. Charles North.
South Elgin’s Ishmael George (83), makes a catch as Lane Tech’s TJ Harper defends during a Class 8A first-round playoff game in South Elgin on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023. (Mark Kodiak Ukena / The Beacon-News)
Barrington (12-1) at South Elgin (11-2)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: This one could feature quite an air show, with returning Storm coach Pat Pistorio planning to open up the offense against a formidable foe in Barrington, which reached the Class 8A semifinals last season before losing 49-6 to Lincoln-Way East.
South Elgin bowed out in the second round with a 51-21 setback to Warren.
Senior quarterback Jack Ginnan started seven games last season and has four senior receivers led by Ishmael George, who totaled 908 yards receiving a year ago. Senior quarterback Nick Peipert (St. Thomas) threw for nearly 3,000 yards last season for Barrington.
X-factor: Jack Burzynski, Barrington, senior, defensive end.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Barrington.
Aurora Christian (8-3) at Ottawa Marquette (7-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Eagles’ bid for seventh straight playoff appearance took offseason hit with transfer of four returning junior starters in quarterback Jalen Carter (Wheaton St. Francis), defensive end Lamari Hall (Oswego East), offensive lineman David Avitia (Wheaton St. Francis) and running back Drew Kegebein (Wheaton St. Francis), a nationally ranked long snapper.
Aurora Christian coach David Beebe, however, is encouraged by a strong summer from 6-3 junior quarterback Asa Johnson. Senior JT Anderson and junior Dominic Klimpke, a pair of returning linebackers, lead the defense.
Payton Gutierrez, a three-year starter at running back, leads Ottawa Marquette’s wing-T offense that included 500 yards passing from quarterback Anthony Couch, now a junior. The Crusaders are aiming for a 12th straight playoff appearance under coach Tom Jobst.
X-factor: Jonan Miceli, Aurora Christian, senior, wideout/defensive back.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Aurora Christian.
Neuqua Valley (7-4) at Oswego (6-4)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Here we go again, with the fourth straight year for these teams to meet in the season opener. Neuqua won the first two, 37-27 and 28-3. Last year, Oswego prevailed 13-0.
Senior Nick Pape and junior Andrew Hoffmann, a pair of all-conference defensive backs, are among five returning defensive starters for Wildcats. Four returnees on offense are led by senior running back Will Beaman.
Defense should be a strong suit for Oswego, with three returning senior linebackers in Carson Cooney (Iowa), Mikey Claycombe and Easton Riley. Senior Brett Connolly is back at quarterback.
X-factor: Jeremiah Cain, Oswego, senior, wide receiver/cornerback.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Oswego.
