Saints turn their focus to Geneva rematch

Conference titles, playoff runs - you can have all that. St. Charles East senior linebacker Pat Friel has a new goal in mind.

"We are going to try to get the Tri-Cities sweep," Friel said.

The Saints have the opportunity to do that just that, because A) they have Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles North all on their schedule this year, and B) they got the first third of their triple crown, beating Batavia Friday.

It wasn't long after their 32-21 win, maybe 10 minutes, before talk turned to Geneva, not only a Tri-Cities rival but also the team that ended the Saints season in the second round of the Class 7A playoffs last year.

"It's not sitting well with me right now," Friel said. "I have some really good friends over there. It's going to be a great game like (Batavia)."

Like Friel, St. Charles East senior center Brennan Walls remembers the 35-14 loss in last year's playoffs.

"It's more than a game," Walls said. "We've been looking forward to that ever since we lost."

"We just have to make sure we play like we did (against Batavia), make some big holes, let the backs run."

The Saints ran for over 300 yards against Batavia. It won't be nearly as easy against Geneva, with its strong, experienced defensive line and linebackers.

Like St. Charles East, Geneva won its opener, 49-7 over Dundee-Crown. Michael Ratay found the end zone five times against D-C.

"Gang tackle, that's all I can say," Friel said about slowing Geneva's star back. "Everybody has to get to the football. You have to get 11 guys on the ball every time."

Saints coach Ted Monken, who took over a 1-8 team after the 2003 season, improved to 29-14 with Friday night's season-opening win.

His counterpart at Geneva Rob Wicinski knows all about those type of turnarounds, with the Vikings now 41-9 the last four years after going 5-31 in his first four.

"Last year meeting them in the playoffs was exciting for everybody," Monken said. "They got the best of us and we are hoping we can even the score this year. Rob does a great job, they have a good program, they have had a tremendous amount of success, so we are excited about the opportunity."

And excited to still have a shot at the Tri-Cities Sweep.