Hard to get a read on how final five weeks will play out

Football's regular season passes the halfway point this weekend with plenty of intriguing storylines around the Tri-Cities.

The first year with Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles East and St. Charles North in the same conference didn't fall when all four programs are at their peak. They are a combined 6-10 and each has shown varying degrees of promise and trouble signs.

It's Marmion and Kaneland both riding high at 4-0 that look like they will play deep into November. The Cadets own a victory over Batavia - plus SCC rivals St. Francis and Marian - while it's not hard to wonder where Kaneland would be sitting in the Western Sun standings if that conference didn't break up.

I remember Knights three-year starter Tyler Callaghan talking before the season how much the Knights were going to miss playing Geneva and Batavia and how much they enjoyed that competition. I don't think it's a stretch to say if Kaneland also joined the UEC River that the Knights would be the team to beat.

Of course, that's a moot point now. Here's a look at how these teams got where they are and what lies ahead.

St. Charles EastRecord: 0-4Story so far: Take a killer nonconference schedule, combine it with awful luck and throw in mistakes at critical times and you have a must-win playoff game in Week 5 for the Saints. I'm not sure how many teams could have fared any better with their third-string quarterback, yet coach Mike Fields isn't one to make excuses. He'd point to the miscues the Saints made in failing to protect a 10-point lead against Geneva as the type of game you can't afford to lose.Final five games: Batavia (2-2), Streamwood (1-3), Lake Park (0-4), Elgin (2-2), at St. Charles North (2-2).What to expect: As unlikely as it seems now, it's possible the Saints could run the table and finish 5-4. The toughest game in that stretch could come tonight. How fun would it be to get to Week 9 and have both the Saints and North Stars at 4-4 needing to beat their rival to get to the playoffs?St. Charles NorthRecord: 2-2Story so far: Coming into the season coach Mark Gould had a couple problems: Returning quarterback Jake Bergren's summer baseball injury that would sideline him three weeks and replacing his entire defense. Gould was much more worried about the defensive side of the ball. For good reason - Gould knew he had another talented QB in Matt Shiltz. All he has done is throw 12 touchdowns through four weeks. Unfortunately, until the North Stars can stop somebody they can't keep asking the offense to score 50 points to win games.Final five games: at Geneva (2-2), at Elgin (2-2), Larkin (2-2), at Batavia (2-2), St. Charles East (0-4).What to expect: Before a group of reporters could ask a question after last week's 56-42 win, Gould said, "We have to get better on defense." The North Stars will be tested tonight by Geneva QB Matt Williams and the Vikings' ground game. How the North Stars fare will go a long way toward determining if the team will be fighting for a River Division title these final five weeks or fighting for their playoff lives.BataviaRecord: 2-2Story so far: The Bulldogs were hoping to take several steps forward from 2009. They have. Their 98 points in 4 games isn't too far from the 138 they scored all last year. One more defensive stop late in the fourth quarter against Marmion in Week 1 would have yielded what would look like an even more impressive win considering how well the Cadets are playing. Last week's loss to Bartlett showed the Bulldogs there's still improvements that have to be made, but Batavia controls its fate in these final five games. Final five games: at St. Charles East (0-4), Geneva (2-2), at Elgin (2-2), St. Charles North (2-2), at Streamwood (1-3).What to expect: Be assured the Bulldogs won't be fooled by the Saints' winless record tonight - they remember a pair of recent season-opening losses to St. Charles East in 2007 and 2008. While it's too bad Batavia-Geneva doesn't fall in Week 9, it still could be the swing game for the UEC River title if both teams win against their St. Charles foes tonight. A case could be made the Bulldogs will finish 7-2 or 4-5 or somewhere in-between - it's really hard to say at this point. It will be fun to watch.GenevaRecord: 2-2Story so far: While state-ranked programs like Rock Island and Morgan Park might have shown that this year's Vikings aren't quite ready for lengthy postseason runs that have become the norm, Geneva just as quickly bounced back to show it has what it takes for a seventh straight conference title. The Vikings displayed heart coming from behind to beat an inspired St. Charles East team in Week 3. If they go on to win the UEC River title you can look back to the final 12 minutes and the play of Williams, wide receiver Russ Acton, the offensive line's blocking and some hard hits from their defense in that comeback against the Saints as the turning point.Final five games: St. Charles North (2-2), at Batavia (2-2), at Streamwood (1-3), South Elgin (4-0), Larkin (2-2).What to expect: The only team with a 2-0 conference record, Geneva can go a long way toward sealing another title with wins the next two weeks. The Vikings also get a chance to prove they still belong with the best teams around with their UEC crossover matchup against South Elgin.KanelandRecord: 4-0Story so far: Nobody can touch the Knights, at least not the ones on the schedule. I imagine everyone at Kaneland would like to see a tougher opponent on the schedule - and that starts tonight with Kevin Crandall's always quality Rochelle squad - than the four Kaneland has beat so far with a combined 3-13 record. But the Knights can only control what they do on the field and they have been special so far averaging 47 points a game. Joe Camiliere, Blake Serpa, Taylor Andrews and company look as good as advertised.Final five games: at Rochelle (3-1), DeKalb (2-2), at Yorkville (2-2), Sycamore (4-0), Morris (3-1).What to expect: The Knights always speak proudly of their longest-standing rival Sycamore, and when the Spartans come to Maple Park Oct. 15 the game could decide the first Northern Illinois Big 12 East title. And how far this team can go in the playoffs? An 8-1 or 9-0 regular season - while there's a long way to go to get there - would help set them up for a playoff run like their last conference championship team in 2006 that reached the state semis.MarmionRecord: 4-0Story so far: Defense. The Cadets are head and shoulders ahead of the area allowing a total of 20 points in four games. The offense hasn't put more than 24 points on the board but that could change as soon as Saturday when the Cadets travel to Guerin.Final five games: at Guerin (2-2), at Aurora Christian (3-1), Walther Lutheran (1-3), Chicago Christian (1-3), at Montini (2-2).What to expect: The Cadets' game at Aurora Christian certainly promises to be interesting for local bragging rights even though the Cadets are three classes bigger. A second straight SCC Blue title could come down to the final week at Montini whose 2-2 record includes a grueling nonconference schedule against Joliet Catholic and Loyola.jlemon@dailyherald.com