It is too easy to recount negative. Let’s just say disappointing. The Chicago Bears give up a 28-7 lead to winless Denver, and, fell, 31-28. Good, however, for Sean Payton, head coach of Denver and former Naperville Central High School (21-14 victor over rival Naperville North Friday, Sept. 29) and has been a long-time National Football League head coach. The Chicago White Sox lost 101 games in the dismal year. Nonetheless, the Texas Rangers in two years went from last place to this season’s playoffs. This week, in fifth place of the eight playoff positions, Texas has been thrust to play No. 4 Tampa Bay in the best of three-game series in the American League. The Chicago Cubs? Their record in the final 10 games was 4-6 and in the final five games their record was 1-4 to finish with a record of 83-78, one game behind Arizona, 84-79. Cubs are out of the playoffs. In the American League the postseason is No. 3 Minnesota versus No. 6 Toronto and No. 4 Tampa Bay versus No. 5 Texas. The other two AL teams are No. 2 seeded Houston, defending World Series champion, and No. 1, Baltimore, 101-61, in the East Division. In the National League it is No. 3 Milwaukee versus No. 6 Arizona, and No. 5 Miami versus No. 4 Philadelphia. The top two seeded NL teams are No. 2 L.A. Dodgers and No. 1 Atlanta, 104-58, in the East Division. Playing at this point in the season means just about anything can happen, although the top-seeded teams still have the better opportunity to survive and qualify for the World Series, which would start Friday, Oct. 27.
The Winter sports scene arrives in time to understand hope springs eternal for the Chicago teams just now starting, the Bulls, Blackhawks, Wolves, and Steel, if you automatically follow the Chicago area professional teams.
Among the undefeated high school football teams with 6-0 records are Lincoln-Way East, York, Glenbard South, Prairie Ridge in Crystal Lake, Barrington, Sycamore, and Morris. Many good teams have 5-1 records with plans for the playoffs which will begin October 27-28 in eight classes ranked by school sizes and won-loss records.
Batavia High School’s Battln’ Bulldogs captured the rivalry showdown with host Geneva, 21-18, to improve to 5-1 overall and drop the Geneva Vikings to 5-1 overall. See page 1 photo. Batavia leads the eight-team DuKane Conference with a 4-0 record and Geneva is 3-1. Three weeks remain in the regular season. The victory for Batavia in the series was the 13th in succession between the two neighbors. “A great game, awesome crowd and atmosphere,” said Batavia head coach Dennis Piron following the game. “‘Dogs are now playoff-eligible for the 13th consecutive year.” Batavia quarterback, Ryan Boe was pivotal with 113-yards rushing and 137-yard passing with two touchdowns, one by each avenue. Defensively, Batavia‘s Bob Fiegel collected 12 tackles, two tackles for loss, Chase Osborne with seven tackles.
Down the road: Batavia will be host to St. Charles East (which fell to rival St. Charles North, 40-14, Friday, Sept. 29, and is 1-3 in DuKane Conference and 1-5 overall). Geneva will play at Wheaton North, 3-3 overall and 2-2- in DuKane Conference.
Other top teams, each with a 5-1 overall record, include Aurora Christian, Naperville Central, South Elgin, Glenbard East, Downers Grove North, Immaculate Conception, Wheaton Academy, Montini.