Batavia looking forward to facing Lemont
Not once in a phone conversation with Batavia coach Mike Gaspari did he say the Bulldogs were just happy to make the Class 6A playoffs.
This is a man who definitely respects powerful No. 1 seed Lemont yet has confidence in his eighth-seeded club. He also knows anything can happen in high school playoff football.
“On paper some people assume that because they're 9-0 and we're 5-4 that we don't have much of a chance,” Gaspari said. “But we don't feel that way after watching the films.”
That's because the Indians whose coach, Eric Michaelsen, sits with Gaspari on the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association All-State Committee offer facets that Batavia's seen before.
Gaspari noted the South Suburban Blue champion, which has averaged 39 points while allowing 13, runs an I-formation similar to Geneva. The three-man defensive front Batavia has blocked against Geneva and St. Charles North. Batavia quarterback Noel Gaspari has thrown the ball 187 times, so he's faced plenty of the Cover-2 and Cover-3 schemes Lemont runs.
“These are things we've seen all year and we feel good about throwing the ball against those coverages, as long as we protect the quarterback...” said Mike Gaspari, retiring as Batavia athletic director and possibly varsity football coach after this school year.
Individually, Lemont brings sophomore left tackle Ethan Pocic (6-6, 265) in front of junior quarterback Mike Hall. Yet one of Batavia's strengths is its defensive line, and the Bulldogs were neck and neck with a beastly-strong Marmion team that averages 250 pounds across its offensive front.
Lemont strong safety and return man Clayton Fejedelem and speedy receiver Lee Taylor? Batavia's faced similar quality athletes in Elgin's Jordan Dean and Earl Holloway and won 28-7.
Elgin, however, is no Lemont. Edgy Tim/Rivals.com ranks the Indians No. 19 in the state and Lemont beat five different playoff teams. The Indians have made the playoffs seven straight seasons and were the 6A runner-up both in 2007 and 2008.
What Gaspari is implying is that Batavia should at least be prepared, X's and O's wise, to face this club.
The key is for the Sean Tews-led offensive line to block Lemont, give Noel Gaspari a chance to add to his 1,738 yards passing and 15 touchdowns to only 2 interceptions and open holes for Emund Kabba and Alec Lyons so they can keep Lemont's offense off the field.
The Bulldogs' themes, Coach Gaspari said, are “play our best game and, secondly, to get back home. We want to play another home game. The two kind of go hand in hand we'll have to play our best and that'll give us a chance to play at home.”