Championship drives and rivalry games constitute a strong essence of sports. They always have been both barometers and goals.
• Championship drive today includes the Chicago White Sox who will begin their best-of-five series drive Thursday, Oct. 7 against Houston. It has been a nice season under Hall of Fame manager Tony LaRussa who turned 77 years old last week. He has said it best, that all eight teams in the playoffs are capable of playing well and winning the World Series. Baseball likely is the major sport with the greatest degree of uncertainty.
• The Chicago Sky requires a shout-out. The Women’s National Basketball Association team was seeded sixth in the playoffs and was playing No. 1 seeded Connecticut. Prior to game four Wednesday of this week, the Sky led the series, two games to one. Focus, dedication, and cohesiveness can do it.
• Rivalries? We can find it in high school football. Naperville North defeated Naperville Central, 3-27, Friday, Oct. 1 and Batavia, 6-0, will play at Geneva, 4-2, Friday, Oct. 8. Storied past and great football. Neighborhood rivalries. Other games Friday will include Neuqua Valley at Waubonsie Valley in the District 204 rivalry, Wheaton North at Wheaton Warrenville South, St. Charles North at St. Charles East, and Lake Park at Glenbard North. The DuKane Conference, with last three games and Batavia-Geneva, has many rivalries and excellent football. See the standings on page 13.
• Elgin will play at South Elgin, the latter with a 6-0 record. “We have played well in all three phases of the game (offense, defense, special teams),” said South Elgin head coach Dragan Teonic. “Most of our success needs to be credited to our players and their work ethic. (Against Elgin) We will need to play well in the trenches.” South Elgn is on a 12-game winning at home and overall.
• Yorkville defeated visiting West Aurora Friday, 14-13. “Our defense played well enough to keep us in the game throughout,” said Yorkville head coach Dan McGuire. Yorkville took a 14-0 lead.
• West Aurora head coach Nate Eimer on opponent Oswego Friday: “Maybe the best team in the Conference. We need to play a more complete game than last week (against Yorkville).”
• Aurora Central lost by forfeit last week: “We had no tailback, free safety, and only four healthy linemen,” head coach John Belskis said.