Scouting Batavia at Streamwood

Batavia (4-4, 3-2) at Streamwood (2-6, 0-5)

Game time: 11:30 p.m. Saturday

Last year: Did not play.

Last week: St. Charles North 38, Batavia 28; Larkin 51, Streamwood 28.

Outlook: Obviously this Upstate Eight Conference River Division game is a must-win for Batavia to make the playoffs, much less vie for at least a share of second place in conference. (They have 37 playoff points, so that will not be a factor.) From Batavia's 2-7 record last season this would be a nice turnaround, so long as the Bulldogs can focus on a Streamwood team whose offensive workhorse has played hardly since a Week 6 ankle injury. Sabres tailback Alex Morrow got in a few plays last week against Larkin before returning to the sidelines, but Batavia was preparing as if Morrow will play. Batavia coach Mike Gaspari who may well be in his last regular-season game of a 26-year career as head coach likens Streamwood receiver Blake Holder to St. Charles North's Josh Mikes, a speedster who must be accounted for on deep balls thrown by quarterback Dalton Lundine. While the Bulldogs continue to work on their ground game headed by tailback Emund Kabba (491 yards, 8 touchdowns) with a good push from fullback-defensive lineman Alec Lyons (259 yards, 2 touchdowns), a key part of their offense will be missing this week. Senior punter-linebacker Ben Allison, who is averaging 34.7 yards a punt, is out with a concussion, leaving that important task to either junior Evan Zeddies or senior Nick Beltrano. Though safety-receiver David Peskind (32 catches, 397 yards, 3 touchdowns) and linebacker Jake Benner each recorded interceptions last week the Bulldogs lost 3 fumbles, which significantly affected the outcome against St. Charles North. So, consistency is sought in all three phases, offense, defense, special teams. Or not. “We have to win or the season's over,” Gaspari said.