Vikings remain atop football rankings
Geneva held serve against Sycamore to keep the No. 1 spot in the Week 5 edition of our football rankings, while Aurora Christian's Eagles took a nose dive.
Is Batavia among the top 1-4 teams in the state? Where do the Vikings rank among the big 5-0s?
As usual, let the debates begin:
10. Aurora Central Catholic (1-4): Chargers have been down before. Their return to the Chronicle football rankings dungeon follows a blowout loss to St. Edward.
9. Burlington Central (2-3): Rockets climb out of early hole to beat Big Northern East rival North Boone on a somber day for both schools.
8. Aurora Christian (3-2): Suburban Christian Gold-leading Eagles sing Blues at Montini as turnovers lead to a 41-8 defeat. Says coach Don Beebe: "We got out-classed."
7. Batavia (1-4): Bulldogs hang around 'til the end on a soggy night in Maple Park. Figure in Glenbard South and this could just as easily be a 3-2 club in the hunt for a Western Sun title.
6. St. Charles East (3-2): Saints' three-game winning streak includes healthy wins against struggling foes (Streamwood, East Aurora) as well as a "statement game" (South Elgin).
5. St. Francis (4-1): Running team, running clock. Spartans trigger the next best thing to the mercy rule in rout of Wheaton Academy, although quarterback Kevin O'Donnell did air it out.
4. Marmion (4-1): A week after Cadets coach Dan Thorpe lamented, "Our special teams stink," Matt Pircon (kickoff) and Nick Scoliere (punt) beg to differ with touchdown returns.
3. Kaneland (4-1): Someone cut the Peterson Field grass. Joe Camiliere and the Knights found their footing when it mattered, but the rivals from B-Town nearly pulled one out.
2. St. Charles North (4-1): Hold on. Bring the understudies back. Apparent disciplinary issue could again put the onus on North's emerging running backs.
1. Geneva (5-0): It's been years since Michael made the No. 23 relevant, but Geneva can now make that boast: safety Santacaterina stifles Sycamore for the Vikings' 23rd straight regular-season win.
