Oswego High School improved to 14-0 all-tme Friday against crosstown classic rival and host Oswego East wth a 32-0 victory. Oswego East entered the game with surrendering only six points.
Rivalries coming up: East Aurora will play at West Aurora, St. Charles North will play at Batavia, 7-0, in a growing rivalry for DuKane Conference leadership, and Elgin will play at Larkin, in Memorial Stadium, all Friday. Plano scored in the final minute to defeat rival and visiting Sandwich, 26-20, and keep its playoff hopes alive with a 4-3 overall record.
• Oswego improved to a 7-0 record and is one game ahead of both Oswego East and Plainfield South in the Southwest Prairie Conference. “Keys to the win,” Oswego head coach Brian Cooney said, “were to prep with an extra focus and intensity during the week and keep the blinders on to avoid distractions (during the game in front of a sold-out crowd).”
• East at West in Aurora Friday: “First, a few good words about the (48-7) victory over West Chicago,” East Aurora head coach Nick Kukuc said. East Aurora won its first game and improved to 1-6. “It was a great experience getting this win. Our student-athletes and coaches worked very hard for this victory. West (Aurora) will play fast, disciplined, and aggressive. We will have to take care of the football and focus on doing our one-eleventh every play if we want to compete.”
West Aurora, 6-1, defeated Elgin, 45-0, Friday to clinch a playoff berth. “We executed and were focused early in the game,” West Aurora head coach Nate Eimer said. “East Aurora continues to get better each week and more healthy.”
• Plano head coach Brad Kunz: “We played our game and were patient,” he said about the 26-20 victory over visiting Sandwich. In the final minute, Plano quarterback Bryson Schmidt scored on a one-yard sneak to break a tie at 20. “Our offensive line played extremely well and our defense did a great job of focusing on their responsibilities,” Kunz said. Sandwich leads the all-time series, 53-50-4.
• Yorkville rallied to defeat visiting Kaneland, 45-28, in the Northern Illinois Big 12 East to clinch a playoff berth at 6-1. Other teams to clinch playoff berths include: St. Charles North, Wheaton Warrenville South, St. Francis, South Elgin, Glenbard West.
Oswego High School football players and head coach Brian Cooney discuss options during a timeout of the crosstown classic Friday. Oswego defeated host Oswego East, 32-0, to run a series advantage to 14 games to zero. The game was stopped with just less than five minutes remaining by rain.
Jason Crane/The Voice