A smattering of preseason football thoughts as we move within two days of opening kickoff:

How sweet is it that Batavia, Geneva, Kaneland, St. Charles East and St. Charles North all open the season at home on Friday? Rather than try and calculate the mathematical improbability of the cross-the-board home openers, we might as well just relish the chance to jump right into the season at a local stadium of our choosing.

Not only are the Week 1 games local, but there are some excellent matchups to choose from. Batavia and Geneva are both dealing with opponents that defeated them in last year’s season openers – Marmion topped the Bulldogs in 2010, while Rock Island knocked off Geneva – while St. Charles East brings in Cary-Grove, the Geneva of McHenry County in terms of consistent success during the past decade.