Emotions go a little overboard

This kind of animosity is supposed to be saved for weeks 8 and 9.

You know, when St. Charles East plays St. Charles North, then Batavia battles Geneva.

Maybe the Saints and Bulldogs were just practicing for later this year.

Maybe it had something to do with last year's result.

Maybe it was the fact this is the last time the two teams are opening the season against each other, at least for awhile, with Batavia playing St. Charles North and St. Charles East taking on Naperville North next fall.

Maybe all these Tri-City kids who grew up playing together on the Tri-City Chargers really want to get bragging rights.

Whatever the reason, things got a little chippy during the Saints' 32-21 win over Batavia, giving St. Charles East two in a row over the Bulldogs after last year's 30-7 win.

"I'm sure they came in looking to win, take back what they lost at their house," St. Charles East center Brennan Walls said. "A few of their players, a few of our players, after the play there was a little bit of stuff, but we try to keep it classy here, and we try to keep it so we are playing our game and we don't let anything affect it."

Batavia coach Mike Gaspari also keeps things classy, but the veteran Bulldog coach said he was not pleased with his team's actions, including several unsportsmanlike penalties.

"Very disappointed in that," Gaspari said. "That is not characteristic of teams I coach. Not only that, what's most disappointing is we can't afford to do that. We're not a good enough team to put ourselves in those positions yet to make those type of mistakes. Not only the unsportsmanlike, where we give them field position, but we spike the ball after a touchdown.

"I think we showed our immaturity a little bit."

St. Charles East, meanwhile, played the second half without star running back Wes Allen, after Allen was flagged during an exchange after his short touchdown run late in the first half and didn't return.

"I know Wes said he did nothing, the other guy said he did nothing, just two teenage boys," is how Saints linebacker Pat Friel, Allen's best friend, explained it.

Saints coach Ted Monken said the problems started before the game.

"Starting with sticking a flag in the middle of the field before the game, they've done such a tremendous job, they don't need that stuff," Monken said. "They are a good program, they don't need that stuff. I think things like that can carry over to the kids' attitudes and cause some problems."

Even with all that, it's still a great way to open the season. The stands were packed on both sides Friday, and emotions obviously were running high.

Monken said he's sad to see the matchup end.

"They had decided they did not want to play us anymore," Monken said. "We were hoping to get a great rivalry going with St. Charles East and Batavia and Geneva and North and every year we would play each other and have a great opening two weeks of the year. Batavia said they didn't want to play North and East in the same year. We're always ready to play them whenever they like."

Maybe that could come in the 7A playoffs. And who knows what fireworks we'll see.