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Upstate Eight Week 5: St. Charles North looking to end Batavia's winning streak

Batavia (4-0, 2-0) at St. Charles North (3-1, 0-1)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday

Last week: Batavia 28, St. Charles East 0; Geneva 42, St. Charles North 41

Last year: Batavia 21, St. Charles North 7

Outlook: The breakthrough win the North Stars seek slipped through their fingers in the final seconds last week at Geneva, but that bad memory would be all but forgotten if North can knock off four-time defending Upstate Eight River champion Batavia, which enters with a 28-game division winning streak. The Bulldogs' Zach Garrett returned last week from injury. The senior running back carried 71 times for 342 yards and 7 touchdowns, while quarterback Kyle Niemiec has completed 76 of 115 passes for 1,027 yards and 6 touchdowns (1 INT). The North Stars counter with junior quarterback Zach Mettetal (58 of 84, 930 yards, 11 TDs, 2 INTs), junior running back Eric Lins (351 yards, 8 TDs) and one of the biggest offensive lines in the suburbs, anchored by left tackle Nicholas Koenig (6-8, 310). "St. Charles North is a very good football team and more than capable of beating anybody in our league and around Illinois, just like Geneva is and we are," Batavia coach Dennis Piron said. "When it's all said and done we have to limit their explosive plays, hold on to the football and we have to finish drives. We've been racking up first downs but our biggest failure is red zone scoring."

Next week: Naperville Central (3-1) at Batavia; St. Charles North at Larkin (0-4)

Neuqua Valley (3-1) at Bartlett (1-3)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Last week: Neuqua Valley 28, Wheaton Warrenville South 14; South Elgin 27, Bartlett 19

Last year: Neuqua Valley 54, Bartlett 29

Outlook: Different conferences, same rivalry. Bartlett and Neuqua Valley continue an annual series that began in 1998, though the Wildcats departed this season for the DuPage Valley Conference. The schools draw each other in nonconference play by chance due to an agreement between the DVC and the Upstate Eight. Neuqua Valley's explosive offense is directed by senior Jack Stankoven (43 of 71, 641 yards, 4 TDs) and includes standouts like junior wide receiver Isaiah Robertson (18 rec., 264 yards, 2 TDs), 6-foot-6, 235-pound tight end Brett Borske (6 rec., 128 yards) and 6-3 senior wideout Owen Piche (11 rec., 178, 2 TDs). Nick Osikowicz, a 205-pound running back, is the third-leading scorer in DuPage County, having scored 48 points to go with 232 yards. A Neuqua Valley offense that gains 305 yards and scores 25.3 points per game faces a Bartlett defense that allows 307 yards and 23.5 points per game. The Wildcats fell just shy of cracking the AP Top Ten in Class 8A this week with 15 points. "We've played a lot of highly ranked teams and they're the highest," Bartlett coach Tom Meaney said. "They have some gifted athletes. Hopefully, we can stay with them and make something happen in the fourth quarter."

Next week: Naperville North (0-4) at Neuqua Valley Bartlett at East Aurora (1-3)

East Aurora (1-3, 0-2) at West Aurora (2-2, 0-1)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Last week: West Chicago 16, East Aurora 13; West Aurora 30, Elgin 0

Last year: West Aurora 62, East Aurora 14

Outlook: Settle in, Aurora fans, the East-West game - now in its 122nd year - might not be decided as early as it was last season, if Blackhawks coach Nate Eimer is any kind of prognosticator. "This is the best East team I've seen in my five years here," he said. "I expect this to be one of the better East-West games in a long time. That's what we want. We want this to get back to being a competitive game." The Blackhawks made sure it wasn't competitive last season. DaQuan Cross returned the opening kick for a touchdown and racked up 225 all-purpose yards in only 11 touches (144 rushing) as West won its 14th straight in the series in blowout style. This season Cross has rushed for 368 yards and 5 touchdowns in 42 attempts in West's wing-T offense. The Tomcats won their opener against Chicago Noble/DRW Trading, but they dropped close games to Rochelle (16-8) and West Chicago (16-13). The Tomcats are led by junior quarterback Andre Pearson (6-0, 195), running back Nasir Phillips and "the best defensive line they've had in at least five years," Eimer said. "East Aurora could easily be 3-1 right now." West will play without defensive lineman/tight end Spencer Locke, whose foot was broken this week when it was stepped on in practice.

Next week: Bartlett (1-3) at East Aurora; West Chicago (1-3) at West Aurora

Glenbard East (3-1, 1-0) at West Chicago (1-3, 1-0)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The quick hit: Mitch Luttrell became Glenbard East's fourth top receiver in as many games - yet he and the Rams bristle to have squandered a fourth-quarter lead. WeGo altered some things, like Dante Cozzens in at running back, Lucas Seeman at quarterback.

Larkin (0-4) at South Elgin (3-1)

Game time: 1:30 p.m. Saturday

The quick hit: This is only the second meeting between these District U-46 programs since South Elgin began playing football in 2006-07. Larkin was not able to practice Wednesday and was limited to a walk-through at Elgin's Abbott Park on Thursday due to the discovery of Legionella bacteria that closed the school.

Geneva (4-0, 2-0) at Elgin (0-4, 0-1)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The quick hit: It could be a big night for Geneva senior running back Justin Taormina, who already has rushed for 504 yards and 4 touchdowns on 97 carries. The Maroons gave up 248 rushing yards in a half last week against West Aurora.

Streamwood (2-2, 1-1) at St. Charles East (1-3, 1-1)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. Friday

The quick hit: Streamwood running back Malcolm Davis Wilder rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown last week before leaving a win over Larkin in the fourth quarter after a good hit. He has been cleared to play against the Saints, who allow 368 yards and 24.5 points per game.

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