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Batavia draws marquee matchup in opening round

Football coaches say to be the best you've got to beat the best.

Batavia gets its chance.

The Bulldogs are defending Class 6A state football champions but when the Illinois High School Association playoff pairings were announced Saturday night it was confirmed they'd play in 7A as anticipated. Batavia is 17-16 overall in the playoffs, 0-2 in 7A games.

No. 3 seed Batavia (8-1) not only moved up in class but to a whole new neighborhood. The Bulldogs' 18th playoff appearance begins by hosting No. 14 Mt. Carmel, which has won 12 state titles, second all-time to Joliet Catholic's 13.

Legendary coach Frank Lenti's Caravan, winners of two straight titles, could be having what's called an off-season at 5-4 were it not for losses to teams including St. Rita, Brother Rice and Providence, the No. 1 seed in the lower bracket of 7A.

Batavia coach Dennis Piron said the Bulldogs nearly "jumped through the ceiling" when they heard they'd host Mt. Carmel, in a game already tabbed for 1:30 p.m. Saturday. There was a brief meeting last season between the programs in DeKalb as Batavia left the field after claiming its 6A title and Mt. Carmel arrived before winning in 7A.

"Our kids were thrilled when they were coming off. I think our kids want the opportunity to play in Class 7A, which a lot of people are calling the real juggernaut, the top level," Piron said. "I've talked with Coach Lenti already, he's thrilled. We're looking forward to them coming out here and hosting them at our school. What a neat opportunity for our community."

St. Charles North (7-2) will make its first playoff appearance since 2009 when retired coach Mark Gould and the North Stars lost in the 7A quarterfinals to Glenbard West.

The North Stars are in the precarious game of Nos. 8-9 seeds against No. 9 Rolling Meadows. The last time these to programs met was a Class 7A playoff opener Rolling Meadows won 34-30. St. Charles North coach Rob Pomazak, the former Elk Grove defensive coordinator, undoubtedly has some notes on Rolling Meadows from his Mid-Suburban Conference days.

Geneva (8-1), a No. 4 seed, makes its 16th playoff appearance and plays its first game against Hersey. Geneva and St. Charles North could face each other in a 7A quarterfinal, though No. 1 Cary-Grove stands in the way of St. Charles North's path.

Marmion (6-3) is a very strong No. 15 seed in the upper bracket of Class 6A. The Cadets face Illinois recruit Dre Brown and No. 2 DeKalb, winner of the Northern Illinois Big XII.

Aurora Central Catholic (6-3), a No. 13 seed in 4A, faces No. 4 Johnsburg. The Chargers reached their third straight postseason but look for their first playoff win since 1996.

Aurora Christian, Class 3A state champion in 2011 and 2012, made its 13th straight appearance by the hair of its chin - getting in by a remote tiebreaker as coach David Beebe had predicted.

Feeling the Eagles might need to gain entrance by the playoff points, or combined wins, by the teams it had defeated, it was closer than that. Edging Wheaton Academy for the 256th and final playoff spot, Aurora Christian (5-4) earned a No. 8 seed in Class 3A by a fourth-level tiebreaker, playing more playoff teams than Wheaton Academy, four to three.

"I like being 256," said Beebe, who will face unbeaten top quadrant seed Sterling Newman Catholic, which Aurora Christian beat 41-7 in its 2012 semifinal. "The underdog, Mr. Irrelevant role, it's fun to have."

The 39 playoff points required to make the this year's field tied with the 2010 cutoff level as second highest since the system debuted in 2001. In 2011 40 combined opponents' wins were needed to advance. Last season it was 36.

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