Tri-Cities Week 8 preview

Kaneland (4-3, 3-2) at Geneva (7-0, 5-0)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today

Last year: Geneva 61, Kaneland 21

Last week: Kaneland 49, DeKalb 21; Geneva 35, Rochelle 14

Players to watch: Unless something unforeseeable occurs, Kaneland sophomore quarterback Joe Camiliere (147-of-246, 1,970 yards, 13 TDs, 9 INTs) should surpass 2,000 yards passing on the season tonight. Ryley Bailey (34 catches, 444 yards) leads the Knights in receptions, while Pat Fleming (10 catches, 162 yards against DeKalb) had a standout performance last week. Blake Serpa (30 receptions, 322 yards) missed last week's win over DeKalb while the trio of Eric Tattoni, Brock Dyer and Tyler Suerth filled in nicely in his absence. "(Blake) might play this week. He was cleared by the doctor and we might see him Friday night," Kaneland coach Tom Fedderly said. "I was really pleased with our running back by committee. Both (Tattoni and Dyer) have been our return guys and have some skills and Suerth has done a nice job too." Like it has been throughout this season, and as it was last year, opposing teams have seen plenty of Geneva running back Michael Ratay. Last fall Ratay scored a career-best 6 touchdowns and finished with more than 300 yards of total offense against the Knights. He enters tonight's contest with 1,452 rushing yards on 165 carries (8.8 average) and has scored 25 touchdowns (24 rushing, 1 receiving).

Outlook: Clichés are overused in sports, but "strike while the iron is hot," says so much about these two teams this season, what's happening in the Kaneland school district, as well as this matchup. The Vikings have taken advantage of favorable circumstances - having a running back like Ratay and a stout defense - to produce a perfect record this season. Kaneland's student-athletes know a potential teacher's strike is looming, but they also know it won't affect tonight's game at Burgess Field. Their attention is on trying to upset a Geneva team that's averaging just under 40 points per game (38) and holding opponents to under 10 (9.7). "They're huge and a veteran team that knows when it's time to turn it on and start playing well," Fedderly said. "And they play even better at the end of the season so it's going to be a big challenge." After shutting down a Rochelle team that ran that ran the ball 45 times but only threw it on 8 occasions, the Vikings' secondary of Alex Olenek, Phil Birschbach, Sean Grady, Michael Santacaterina, Eric Kapfhamer and Jacob Landau has to be ready for Kaneland's spread attack. "We had to be strong last week on all phases and the schemes go hand-in-hand," Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. "The defensive line will have to help the DBs out and get some pressure on this kid (Camiliere) and stay with some of the wideouts." As for the Geneva offense, while Ratay has been unstoppable, the Vikings still would like to mix in additional passing and get more consistent play from its wide receivers. "It was nice (against Rochelle) to get some of the other running backs involved," Wicinski said. "We're still working for more of a 50/50 mix, but we're taking what they give us. Beitzel is coming along and we're still looking for a more complete offense."

Bottom line: Geneva is likely too big, too strong and too well conditioned for Kaneland to disturb its perfect record. Offensive linemen for the Vikings come in the mold of 6-foot-2 and 265-pound physiques compared to the 6-feet, 220-pound Knights defensive linemen, which could wear down the Knights.

Batavia (5-2, 4-1) at DeKalb (1-6, 1-4)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today at NIU

Last year: Batavia 43, DeKalb 0

Last week: Batavia 47, Sycamore 22; Kaneland 49, DeKalb 21

Players to watch: It would be hard for Batavia running back J.R. Kabba to perform an encore after last week's performance (20 rushes, 321 yards, 4 TDs) against Sycamore. Then again, he shouldn't need to against lowly DeKalb. Kabba (70 carries, 806 yards, 9 TDs), quarterback Jordan Coffey (96-of-182, 1,454 yards, 14 TDs, 7 INTs) and wide receivers Erich Zeddies (35 catches, 607 yards, 9 TDs) and Tyler Lindquist (27 receptions, 392 yards, 2 TDs) lead the Bulldogs while Kyle Duhig (38 rushes, 250 yards) and Ryan Webb (17 catches, 250 yards, 2 TDs), who hasn't had a reception in two weeks, also are likely to get involved tonight. "(Webb's) certainly in the mix," Batavia coach Mike Gaspari said. "He's one of those guys that if you forget about him he can do a lot of damage." Gaspari also mentioned that Webb could see some time in the backfield tonight, especially if Kabba doesn't play. "We're not sure if he'll play or not but he had a good practice on Monday," Gaspari said. DeKalb senior running back Damian Nelson has been solid the past two weeks (26 rushes, 126 yards against Kaneland, 16 carries, 109 yards against Geneva) while Dylan Donnelly is the Barbs' biggest deep threat for junior quarterback Frank Petras. Senior Kyle Wallin is likely to receive a few snaps at center in addition to punting and serving time at wideout. Wallin was the Barbs' starting quarterback last year.

Outlook: During its three-game losing streak, the Barbs have yielded 139 points for an average of more than 46 points a game. Therefore, the potent Bulldogs attacks shouldn't have much of a problem putting points on the board, which is something that has also plagued the Barbs all season, save for a 32-21 victory over Yorkville. "I still think the offensive line is playing really well and that makes everything go," Gaspari said. "I'm not sure they played their best game yet and we're taking care of the ball for the most part, which isn't real easy." Aiming for their fifth consecutive victory, the Bulldogs could at the very least play for a share of a conference championship next Friday by defeating the Barbs tonight. "When you lose 2 of your first 3 you don't have the luxury of looking ahead," Gaspari said. "As a credit to our kids and staff, we're focusing one game at a time. DeKalb always plays hard, has good athletes and if you're not at your best you can struggle." Batavia is plus-10 in takeaways this season, has punted just 4 times in the past 4 games and has made strides in its kicking game, especially on kickoffs, and with its kick return team. With both teams heading in opposite directions, things look awfully good for the Bulldogs tonight.

Bottom line: Batavia has too many weapons and DeKalb just doesn't have the arsenal again this season to be very competitive for a full four quarters. Unless the Bulldogs encounter a massive collapse, they should take care of business and ride a 5-game winning streak into Geneva next Friday.

Marmion (2-5, 0-5) at Aurora Central (0-7, 0-5)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today

Last year: Aurora Central 27, Marmion 21

Last week: Immaculate Conception 40, Marmion 38; Driscoll 42, Aurora Central 21

Outlook: What does Marmion have to do to get a win? The Cadets are snake-bit for sure after a pair of 2-point losses the past two weeks, and a 6-point setback three weeks ago. They are 10 points from being 5-2 and still in the conference chase instead of 2-5 and out of the playoff picture. At first glance it might leave a team that has had its spirit broken and not really looking forward to this game, but you can bet both teams will be plenty motivated: Aurora Central to snap its winless season and make it two straight over their rival, and Marmion to get bragging rights back that ACC snatched last year.

St. Francis (6-1, 4-1) at Immaculate C. (4-3, 3-2)

Game time: 1 p.m. Saturday, Plunkett Park, Elmhurst.

Last year: St. Francis 36, IC 26.

Last week: St. Francis 28, St. Edward 12; IC 40, Marmion 38.

Outlook: It's a good football team that wins when the opponent shuts down its top weapon. Astoundingly, St. Edward held 1,200-yard back Mark Kachmer to 16 yards on 9 carries. Adjusting, the Spartans scored on a Jeff Reckards-to-Brett Robinson touchdown pass, reverses by Tony Vargyas and Ryan O'Donnell - on handoffs by Kachmer - and David Sufranski's return of Jason Lombardi's blocked punt. "St. Edward controlled the ball," said Spartans coach Greg Purnell. IC is fully capable of the same. That is, if Matt Purdom, Marco Medina, Dan Delaney and their beefy offensive line mates can handle the quickness of St. Francis defensive linemen like Lombardi and Joe Pfeiffer. Linebacker Ryan Ferguson, a force similar to IC's Antonio Taylor, has 28 solo tackles the last two games. If IC quarterback Will Cronin passes - coach Bill Schmidt has worked it in more - St. Francis has great closing speed. IC's best bet is a steady diet of Paul Hornstra and Carlos Rodriguez, who ran for 390 total yards in the Knights' wild win over Marmion. Because chances are Kachmer won't be shut down again.

West Aurora (3-4, 1-4) at West Chicago (1-6, 0-5)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today

Last year: West Aurora 48, West Chicago 27

Last week: Naperville North 48, West Aurora 12; Naperville Central 41, West Chicago 20

Outlook: West Aurora is in the same position as last year, needing wins in its final two games to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1994. The Wildcats have lost six straight since a 13-0 season opening win over Evanston.