The change of seasons in the whirl of sports is more than painted Autumn scenery. It blends Fall and Winter seasons and we are in the midst of that transition. High hopes in Fall sports either reach reality, or reach a crashing conclusion.
• In football playoffs Batavia High School and South Elgin, each undefeated in 10 games, suffered a bitter defeat to thrust a halt to advancement to the quarterfinal round. (See results, pairings, at thevoice.us/high-school-football-playoff-schedule-nov-12-13-playoff-results-nov-5-6.) Marmion Academy and Yorkville both found the end of their trails of success.
• York High School was busy celebrating in other Fall sports with State championships last weekend in both girls cross country and in boys soccer.
• Girls volleyball’s State tournaments in four classes will be Friday and Saturday at the Redbird Arena at Illinois State University in Normal. Aurora’s Metea Valley will play Barrington in one semifinal in the largest-school group, Class 4A. Joliet Catholic Academy and Nazareth Academy will play in Class 3A and Montini Catholic will be in Class 2A. Saturday will be championship games.
• The girls State swim and diving meet will be Friday and Saturday (Nov. 12-13) in a new venue, FMC Natatorium in Westmont. Sectional champions, four of 16, last weekend included Hinsdale Central, Lincoln-Way East, Oswego East, and St. Charles North.
• The Winter season official practice for boys basketball started Monday this week. One Christmas holiday tournament announced its 16-team field, the Hinsdale Central Holiday Classic, December 22-23 and 28-29. The field will include Glenbard East, Lincoln-Way Central, Oswego East, St. Charles East, and Willowbrook. Each team will play four games, which means eight games in one gym each day.
• Marmion head football coach Dan Thorpe said following a competitive second round football defeat at home against Nazareth Academy in Class 5A, 23-14, “We had way too many kids going both ways. We play them 10 times we win five, they win five.” He will remember this season, as, “a great senior class which stuck together through difficult times. Five three-year starters played a lot of football and many good seniors will go on to play college football. They put time in to do things to be successful.”
• Yorkville head coach Dan McGuire will remember: “The improvement; losing to Plainfield Central in week two and beating them in the playoffs after both teams improved….The (Brother Rice) no huddle gave our defense issues.”
• Batavia fell to host Mt. Carmel, 16-14, on an untimed nine-yard run because of a Batavia pass interference when time ran out and Batavia leading 14-10.