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Scouting DuKane Conference football

Teams: Batavia, Geneva, Glenbard North, Lake Park, St. Charles East, St. Charles North, Wheaton North, Wheaton Warrenville South.

Key games: Batavia at WW South, Sept. 27; Batavia at Geneva, Oct. 4; St. Charles North at St. Charles East, Oct. 4; Wheaton North at WW South, Oct. 4; Batavia at St. Charles North, Oct. 18; St. Charles North at WW South, Oct. 25.

Top players: RB Jake Arthurs, WW South, sr.; OL Dylan Barrett, St. Charles East, sr.; DB Sam Barus, Batavia, sr.; LB Anthony Beacom, Lake Park, sr.; QB Kyler Brown, St. Charles North, sr.; RB Jordan Colon, Lake Park, sr.; LB-RB Jacob Costello, Geneva, sr.; QB B.J. Crossen, St. Charles East, sr.; RB Nick DeMarco, St. Charles North, sr.; LB-RB Ben Furtney, St. Charles North, sr.; WR-DB Kobie Jamison, Glenbard North, sr.; DB-WR Nathan Love, Wheaton North, sr.; RB-LB Jordan McQuarter, Glenbard North, sr.; LB Xander Mueller, Wheaton North, sr.; K Jack Olsen, WW South, sr.; OL Anthony Owen, Lake Park, sr.; OL-DL Jahquell Reese, Glenbard North, sr.; LB Michael Rogers, WW South, sr.; LB Nick Schumann, St. Charles East, sr.; RB Art Taylor, Batavia, sr.; LB-RB Quinn Urwiler, Batavia, sr.; DB Jackson Williams, Batavia, sr.

Outlook: It'll be tough to top the DKC's inaugural season. WW South reached the Class 7A quarterfinals, Batavia made it to the semis and St. Charles North advanced to the title game. St. Charles East was also a qualifier. Defending DKC champion Batavia returns linebacker-running back Quinn Urwiler, a North Dakota recruit who last season rushed for 947 yards and made 79 tackles. Art Taylor rushed for 1,155 yards. St. Charles North quarterback Kyler Brown, who threw for 1,715 yards, and running back Nick DeMarco, who rushed for 851, keyed last year's historic run. WW South, after three straight 2-7 seasons, finally broke through last year. Running backs Jake Arthurs and Prince Lankah combined for more than 1,000 rushing yards. Michigan State-bound kicker Jack Olsen, who had 22 field goals, is a difference-maker. Expect Glenbard North to bounce back after going winless in 2018. Seventeen starters return including unanimous all-DKC receiver Kobie Jamison. Wheaton North boasts perhaps the league's top defensive player in linebacker Xander Mueller, a Northwestern recruit. Look for a more potent offense from Lake Park with returning running back Jordan Colon. St. Charles East eyes a fourth straight playoff berth behind Wisconsin-bound lineman Dylan Barrett. Geneva aims to build upon its three-game winning streak from the end of the regular season.

Quotable: "I liked the idea of the DuKane from the beginning," said Wheaton North coach Joe Wardynski. "It's a league that makes sense."

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