Batavia eager for test with Naperville Central
With nothing to lose in Friday's 7:30 p.m. nonconference showcase against Naperville Central, Batavia football coach Dennis Piron considers it an opportunity for his players to line up against another West suburban power and find out where they stand.
Naperville Central (4-1) is No. 6 in this week's Class 8A Associated Press poll. Batavia (5-0) is ranked fifth in Class 7A.
“We're really excited,” Piron said. “The most fun thing about it? It's just a game. It's not a conference matchup so it doesn't have any bearing in our conference, and we're never going to play them in the state playoffs because they're too big. It's just an opportunity to play football against a good team. We just want to see where we're at.”
Stepping out of the rugged DuPage Valley Conference gives Naperville Central — a school of approximately 2,900 students — a flavor of Friday night football it doesn't taste often. Batavia, with a classification enrollment of 1,990, is the only school on the Redhawks' schedule with fewer than 2,000 students.
“It'll be a unique experience for us because it's different than most of the schools we go to,” Naperville Central coach Mike Stine said. “Batavia is a one-high school town so the entire community rallies around it. I'm sure they'll be ready for us. It's a different kind of atmosphere, so we're looking forward to it.”
A key matchup pits Naperville Central wide receiver Emmanuel Rugamba, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior committed to Iowa, against Batavia's lockdown cornerback of two seasons, Brett Bowman (5-11, 175).
Rugamba has 26 of the Redhawks' 50 receptions for 361 yards and 2 touchdowns in an offense that averages 288 yards and 17.6 points per game.
Naperville Central senior quarterback Conor Joyce (6-1, 205) has completed 50 of 90 attempts for 672 yards and 4 touchdowns, while the running back tandem of seniors Luke Brady and Aurora Christian transfer Jeremiah Wiggins has accounted for 571 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Bowman has 2 interceptions, 4 passes defended and 25 solo tackles (4 for loss) for a Batavia defense limiting opponents to 292 yards and 20.8 points per game.
The Bulldogs like to pressure the quarterback. In addition to 53 quarterback hurries, they have registered 27 sacks, led by senior linebacker Derek Nutley (8.5) and senior lineman Miles Williams (6.5).
Offensively, the Bulldogs are a powerhouse, averaging 420 yards and 39.2 yards per game. The attack is led by senior quarterback Kyle Niemiec. The 6-2, 190-pound senior has completed 89 of 138 attempts (64.5 percent) for 1,191 yards and 8 touchdowns with one interception. Tailback Zach Garrett rushed for 826 yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior and in 4 games this season has 524 yards and 9 touchdowns.
A Naperville Central defense led by defensive backs Rugamba (2 interceptions), Garrett Purdy (1 int.) and Jon Barker limits opponents to 265 yards and 9.8 points per game.
“They are experienced on defense and all 11 are solid,” Piron said. “I don't see a lot of room or opportunity for explosive plays, which they give up rarely if at all. Our offense is really going to have to work.”
Kevin Schmit contributed to this report.