Some of the area’s most formidable fall sports teams might have been outsted prematurely, but at least they lost to worthy opponents.

The Batavia and Kaneland football teams entered the season linked by their nearly identical 2011 seasons, ending their years with matching 12-1 records and home losses in last year’s state semifinals.

The programs’ momentum snowballed into this season, when the Bulldogs and Knights once more ran the table during the regular season. Unfortunately for both, they also shared similar postseason fates in the form of early-round upsets – Batavia lost in the first round of the 7A playoffs to Downers Grove North, while Kaneland fell in Round 2 of the 5A playoffs Saturday at Lincoln-Way West.