The view from game three can shed light on a high school football season. In a pivotal DuKane Conference football game, Batavia High School defeated visiting Wheaton North, 23-20, in overtime. Batavia head coach Dennis Piron purposely provided an unasked commentary: “Wheaton North is a really good football team.”
Batavia kept winning and following the first round of the playoffs in Class 7A was 10-0. Wheaton North was 9-1. The two could have met along the way to the 7A championship, and both teams provided significant excellence each week.
Batavia fell to host Mt. Carmel in week two of the playoffs, 16-14, on an untimed play, a nine-yard run, because of a Batavia penalty when time ran out. Playoffs generate uneven results in an atmosphere of strong competition. It is a part of the process. Nonetheless, Wheaton North proved its worth with a championship run. There is only one champion in each of eight football classes.
• Another form of high school football excellence includes the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association all-State team of 18 players in each of all eight classes: Here are some of the players in schools of interest to The Voice, starting with largest 8A Class:
8A: Sean Allison, LB/RB, Hinsdale Central; Axel Bernal, LB, South Elgin; Andrew Blackburn-Forst, DL, Lockport; Jeff Coglinese, Jr./LB, York; Palmer Domschke, K/RB, Neuqua Valley; Jaquan Howard, RB, Bolingbrook; Trey Johnson, RB/TE, Lincoln-Way East; Mark Melton, RB, Oswego; Paulie Robertson, OL, Glenbard North; Chris Terek, OL/DL, Glenbard West; Hayden Timosciek, Lockport;
7A: Jalen Buckley, RB/P, Batavia; Jake Davies, DL/TE, Yorkville; mark Forcucci, QB, Wheaton North; Paolo Gennarelli, OL/DL, St. Charles North; Justin Harris, RB/DB, Lincoln-Way West; Aaron Larkins, Jr., RB, Plainfield Central; Nick Mabutas, DB/WR, Willowbrook; Dominic McDonough, LB, Plainfield East;
6A: Terry Elias, LB/RB, Crete-Monee; Jameson Sheehan, QB, Cary-Grove;
5A: Jacob Bottarini, LB/RB, Marmion Academy; Trevor Burnett, RB, Glenbard South; Lincoln Cooley, OL/DL, Sycamore; Sam Gagne, WR/DB, Kaneland; Quentrell Harris, WR/LB, Nazareth Academy; Gavin Sarvis, LB/RB, Burlington Central;
4A: Josh Holst, QB/ Marengo; Vinny Iannantone, RB, Joliet Catholic Academy; Peter Johanik, LB/OL, Wheaton Academy; Colin Nesler, LB, Genoa-Kingston; Aidan Voss, QB, Joliet Catholic Academy;
3A: Michael Carver, LB/RB, Montini Catholic; KJ Parker, DB/WR, IC Catholic Prep; Antoni Richardson;
2A: Allan Richards, LB/K, Wilmington; Nick Sanford, OL/DL, Wilmington.
• The follow-up is always important. What do we do when high school and college football and other Fall sports end? Winter sports, led by the Thanksgiving tournaments, which will be followed by the Aurora Christian tournament through December 4 and Christmas tournaments. This year those tournaments and games should be appreciated even more. There were no tournaments in 2020 because of the COVID-19 crisis.
• With the college football response to a demand for a 12-team or a 16-team playoff, the best format will be eight teams, given the time constraints and that the top football teams are less prone to upsets than the college basketball teams which has an inspiring March Madness of 68 teams with upset always looming as possible, even if it is less than 50% successful. It is the true upset possibility in basketball. Twelve teams is not tidy. Eight teams in football will include all possible championship teams.