Expect fireworks for Western Sun's finale

When the Western Sun Conference blew up last spring - DeKalb, Kaneland, Rochelle Sycamore and Yorkville collectively bolting - there certainly were a fair share of hard feelings between some of those schools and the three remaining: Batavia, Geneva and Glenbard South.

While time might heal all wounds, those sentiments haven't completely vanished over summer vacation.

The final year of the Western Sun's short four-year existence could produce a few fireworks between some schools who weren't happy with how the breakup went down.

But if you are looking for a 56-0 final week and 70-7 the next, you probably aren't going to find those - at least any worse than some of the recent scores between the haves and have-nots in the Western Sun.

"I hope they don't do that to us," joked Geneva coach Rob Wicinski, whose team hasn't been on the short end of a blowout like that in years and years.

"It's going to be tough avoiding that (hard feelings) maybe. Not for me but maybe some of my coaches. I might feel a little differently if we didn't get in the Upstate Eight."

That's where Batavia and Geneva landed. Glenbard South still hasn't found a conference next year.

The five schools departing are joining the Northern Illinois Big 12. It makes a strong showing in the final year of the Western Sun that much more important to them, especially a proud program like Kaneland.

"We really want to contend for the conference championship," third-year Knights coach Tom Fedderly said. "It means a lot in the last year for us if we could do that. We've got a lot of respect for everybody. Everybody has a class program."

If you've enjoyed the Batavia-Kaneland games through the years, especially a couple classics in 2005 and 2006 when Boone Thorgesen and Casey Crosby led the Knights' high-octane attack, you've got one left - Sept. 25.

There's always the non-conference possibility, but that's a longshot according to Batavia coach Dennis Piron.

"Quite frankly it's unlikely we'd play them other than playoffs," said Piron, and that possibility is a slight one unless Kaneland's enrollment increases to match Batavia's bigger size.

"It's a long-standing history, great games and they've been very competitive as a football program," Piron said.

Wicinski understands where the departing programs are coming from.

"Disappointed, but I'm very thankful the Upstate Eight extended their hand because we were out in a boat without any oars. Maybe without water," Wicinski said. "We were in a world of hurt. I don't begrude anyone, I'm disappointed, but they have to look out for their program."

Geneva has won at least a share of all three Western Sun titles, and the Vikings hope to end their WSC days with a conference championship all four years.

"It's unfortunate but we all want to win it this last year," Geneva senior linebacker Bret Shannon said. "We want to go out with a bang."

jlemon@dailyherald.com