Four among 16 in State football finals

Patterns exist in high school playoffs, however, often there is no explanation. Batavia High School’s football team won 17 games in succession over two years, including a State championship last season. The streak was stopped Saturday when host Nazareth Academy defeated Batavia, 47-28, in LaGrange Park in a Class 7A semifinal game. Meanwhile, St. Charles North advanced to Saturday’s championship game in Class 7A. Click here for results. Click here for pairings.

Ironically, Batavia’s 17-game winning streak started following a stinging defeat against St. Charles North, 35-28. This year, Batavia defeated St. Charles North, 27-24, with a last-minute rally in the regular season. So much depends on match-ups, conditions, and execution. Nazareth was the better team Saturday, in spite of Batavia’s continual rallies. On a different day….

“(Nazareth) has about five guys who any time they touch the ball, they’re gone,” said Batavia head coach Dennis Piron. “We fell behind 28-7, pulled to within 28-21, and I would think we’ve got something going, then were had to score to make it 35-28. We just could not catch up.”

The Batavia coaches consoled and congratulated the players after the game on the field. Batavia has turned into a football powerhouse in the last decade. Falling short of a State championship has become less than desirable. Montini Catholic, Joliet Catholic Academy, and IC Catholic Prep (see page 10) are among 16 teams in eight classes who will play for State championships Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving Day.

• The same day Batavia ended its 2018 State bid, Neuqua Valley passed up Rosary of Aurora to win the girls State swimming and diving championships at Evanston High School. St. Charles North was in fourth place. Other teams included Metea Valley in seventh, Oswego East/Oswego coop in eighth place, Glenbard West in ninth and Naperville Central in 12th place.

• Montini Catholic head football coach Mike Bukovsky said, “Our offense has shown good balance throughout the year and defensively we have been stout against the run.”

• Oswego High School released its Hall of Fame Class which will be inducted February 16, 2019. Among the 11 members, eight are members of the 2010 Class, and Kevin Schnable will receive the Pickerill Lifetime Achievement Award.

• In high school boys basketball, West Aurora moved to the Hoops for Healing at Oswego/Naperville North through Saturday. In first round games, West Aurora defeated Neuqua Valley, 65-56, and Oswego, with most players returning from last year, beat DeKalb, 71-52.