The high school football season is halfway through its full season with three games remaining. Most teams have been forced to find ways to improvise, and have been hampered by the six-game schedule instead of the usual 10 games plus playoffs.
Batavia High School’s Bulldogs must settle for playing six football games and no playoff experiences, which could lead to a State championship, or, at least a run deep into the top tier.
Dennis Piron, head coach at Batavia, thinks this year’s team might be one of his best teams at Batavia in many recent successful teams.
Batavia won its first three games and is rated the State’s No. 1 in Class 7A in the eight-class system by a coaches’ association. In the remaining games, Batavia will play No 10 Wheaton South in this week’s poll, Glenbard North, in the 16-20 group, and No. 4 Wheaton North to close the season.
“We will play three top 10 7A teams this season (in the six games), Piron said earlier this week.
“We are a balanced and deep football team. There really is not a position on the team that I can think of where we don’t have a player who is a very high quality. The investment the kids made in the off-season has been phenomenal and the upper group of our coaches to keep the kids engaged in working has been fantastic.
“Overall team speed is at an all-time high and positions like running back, defensive back, and wide receiver are full of fast athletes.
“Our defense is playing at a level that is really special.”
Batavia defeated rival Geneva, 42-0, in the DuKane Conference Friday that was played at Northern Illinois University.
“I think the coolest thing about Spring ball season (for the first time this year because of the COVID-19), is that it’s getting warmer every week, instead of colder (which it does every November). The wind is another issue. I can never ever remember being this windy during the Fall season.”
The Class 7A poll returned Batavia to the top spot following the weekend football games.
The rest in order, in 7A from two through No. 15: Chicago Mt. Carmel, Nazareth Academy, Wheaton North, Willowbrook, Phillips, St. Charles North, DeKalb, Prospect, Wheaton South, Lincoln-Way West, Harlem, Hersey, Yorkville, and Benet Academy.
In Class 8A, the largest class: Lincoln-Way East is No. 1 and two through 15, in order: Loyola Academy, Warren Township, Glenbard West, Marist, Maine South, Naperville Central, Brother Rice, Hinsdale Central, Barrington, Oswego, Minooka, Huntley, Homewood-Flossmoor, and South Elgin.
Classes from 6A through 1A: East St. Louis is No. 1 in 6A, Providence Catholic is No. 13, and Kaneland is No. 15; in 5A, Sacred Heart-Griffin, in Springfield is No. 1, Joliet Catholic is No. 4, Montini Catholic No. 8 and Sycamore No. 9; Richmond-Burton is No. 1 in 4A, St. Francis No. 2, IC Catholic Prep No. 5; Williamsville is No. 1 in 3A; St. Theresa Decatur No. 1 in 2A; Freeport Aquin is No. 1 in 1A and Aurora Christian is No. 13.
There were rivalry games on the schedule for the weekend, including Aurora Christian at Aurora Central Catholic; Oswego at Oswego East. Last weekend, the Naperville Central at Naperville North game was postponed and Wheaton North defeated Wheaton Warrenville South, 17-14.
• The return of the March Madness NCAA Division I college basketball tournament, even under duress of COVID-19, made a wonderful comeback following last year’s cancellation because of the beginning of the pandemic.
There were exciting games, memorable plays, and memorable shots.
We saw again why it is referred to as March Madness with upsets, unexpected changes in fortunes, and special developments of players who were struggling earlier in the season.
The one-and-done sudden exit from tournament play creates the excitement. Wait until next year will be cry for many teams. Only one team survived through the championship. Baylor was strong on defense with quickness and tenacity.