Scouting Batavia at Marmion

Batavia at Marmion

Game time: 7:30 p.m. today

Last year: Did not play.

Outlook: An outstanding new nonconference matchup or, as Marmion coach Dan Thorpe calls it, "A playoff atmosphere in Week 1." This contest sees the confluence of one program at the top of its game and another anxious to return there. Batavia coach Mike Gaspari doesn't recall his school ever playing Marmion in varsity football, and he's been there a long time - nearly as long a stretch as last season's 2-7 record was from the Bulldogs' prior two-win season (1988). But tonight against defending Suburban Christian Conference Blue champ Marmion, whose 9-2 mark in 2009 was the Cadets' best record since 1998, all is fresh and positive for both squads. With good reason. Batavia returns five starters on offense and six on defense, Marmion seven on offense and five on defense. "We're very excited," Thorpe said, "but very nervous. It's a great program." He's certainly got his rolling in the right direction as well, with returning skill guys like T.J. Lally, the 2009 SCC Blue player of the year, Mike Carbonara and Nick Scoliere, while Batavia counters with defensive back Ben Fornek and returning quarterback Noel Gaspari, Mike's son, plus new speedback Emund Kabba. But let's talk about collisions. This will be a knockdown-dragout in the trenches between the likes of Marmion's Lally, Graham Glasgow (6-7, 295), kid brother Ryan Glasgow (6-3, 245) and Jake Winkel (6-3, 275) and Batavia's returning defensive front four of Jeff Hartzel (6-4, 235), Alec Lyons (6-3, 235), Brian Wilson (6-2, 275) and junior Cole Gardner (6-5, 235), who turns around to play tight end. "With our front four I think we're going to match up size-wise, and with our skill guys we're going to match up pretty well with anyone we play," Gaspari said. "It'll be interesting to see how the matchup plays out." Not just see. You'll hear it, too.

Next week: West Chicago at Batavia, Sept. 3; Marmion at Mundelein, Sept. 3.