Taking aim ... again
By KEVIN DRULEY
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kdruley@kcchronicle.com
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| Geneva has hosted a first-round playoff game in each of senior quarterback Brandon Beitzel's two seasons under center. (Chronicle file photo) |
Familiarity bred a cross of contentment and contempt for St. Charles North football coach Mark Gould on Saturday night.
Gathered with his assistants for the unveiling of the IHSA playoff pairings, Gould learned the North Stars' first-round opponent and destination were the same as during Week 8 of the regular season. Given the North Stars' 10-7 overtime loss to South Elgin at Millenium Field in Streamwood then, Gould's even keel for an Upstate Eight Conference rematch was understandable.
"It's good because we know South Elgin real well," he said. "It's bad because they know us real well."
Colleagues at Kaneland and St. Francis could attest when the 5A brackets were released. The Knights will host Western Sun Conference foe Sycamore, while the Spartans entertain Montini, their brethren from the Suburban Christian Conference Blue.
Both Kaneland and St. Francis, the defending 5A state champions, defeated those first round opponents in Week 4, but the abundance of return matches eventually turned the pairings show into a coaches' referendum on shaking things up.
"I'll go 100 miles to play someone different," said Geneva's Rob Wicinski, whose Vikings actually will host unfamiliar Shepard in 7A, provided soggy Burgess Field is up to it.
"To me, that's kind of what the playoffs are all about."
In another 7A first-round game, UEC champion St. Charles East hosts Rockton Hononegah, a team that at least registers in coach Mike Fields' memory.
Fields was part of Wicinski's staff when the Vikings defeated the Indians, 46-28, in last year's second round en route to a runner-up finish against East St. Louis, which projects as a possible semifinal foe for the Vikings or a state finals opponent for East or North.
"I'll have to study up on Hononegah again," said Fields, who said his team was still trying to appreciate Saturday's double-overtime victory against North that clinched the league crown. "We'll be back on track for the second season once we take Sunday off and get back to work Monday."
Marmion, which earned the Chronicle area's highest seed at No. 2, hosts Huntley in 6A. Cadets coach Dan Thorpe still is wary of the Red Raiders' 2008 attack, which hung 70 points on Batavia – while allowing 63 – in a memorable shootout.
"We'll certainly get down to scouting Huntley soon, but we put all of our time and energy into beating Montini [to close the regular season Friday]," Thorpe said. "It's phenomenal to have Huntley come to our place, though, and we're feeling very good about things."
Defending 4A runner up Aurora Christian, winner of the inaugural SCC Gold title, moved down a Class to 3A and will travel to Winnebago.
Here's a glance at each of the area first-round matchups. Game dates and times are set for release at 3 p.m. Monday:
CLASS 7A
(6) Shepard (7-2) at (3) Geneva (8-1)
(9) Rockton Hononegah (7-2) at (8) St. Charles (East) (7-2)
(12) St. Charles North (6-3) at (5) South Elgin (7-2)
CLASS 6A
(15) Huntley (5-4) at (2) Marmion Academy (8-1)
CLASS 5A
(12) Montini (5-4) at (5) St. Francis (7-2)
(9) Sycamore (6-3) at (8) Kaneland (6-3)
CLASS 3A
(5) Aurora Christian (6-3) at (4) Winnebago (7-2)
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