Scouting St. Charles North at Batavia

St. Charles North (3-4, 2-2) at Batavia (4-3, 3-1)

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today

Last year: St. Charles North 43, Batavia 13.

Last week: St. Charles North 42, Larkin 14; Batavia 28, Elgin 7.

Outlook: It's obviously must-win time for St. Charles North, though Batavia with Mike Gaspari taking the home field on senior night possibly for the last time as Bulldogs head coach still needs the crucial fifth win for playoff consideration. The North Stars, getting good kick coverage by Dirk Schmitt, Corbin Burke, Vince Fricke and Mike Schroeder, solidified that phase last week against Larkin. Ben Hodges and quarterback Matt Shiltz did the rest offensively, Hodges opening the game with an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Limiting Batavia's ground game which should return both Emund Kabba and Austin Lindquist from injuries that shelved them last week is key for St. Charles North. The North Stars' defense has been shored up with Hodges also playing on that side of the ball, along with safeties Jake Bergren and Pat McGushin impacting since returning from injury. The North Stars will take what Batavia's defense allows, perhaps testing the perimeter against Batavia's big defensive front four. On the other side it's a little trickier. In addition to kicker Brandon Clabough 13 different Batavia players have scored. Against Elgin Dom Guzaldo and Alex Moore stepped up in the offensive backfield. "A lot of guys get touches and there's nobody you can key on, that's important," Gaspari said. In Week 3 Batavia contained Larkin receiver Trevor Whitehead with Cover-2 tendencies and this week the defense has a major chore against North Stars receiver Josh Mikes, who Shiltz hit for 2 long touchdowns late against Larkin. "If we go three-and-out a lot, that's not going to be good," said St. Charles North coach Mark Gould.

Next week: St. Charles East (2-5, 1-3) at St. Charles North, Oct. 22; Batavia at Streamwood (2-5, 0-4), Oct. 22.