CN100 Game of the Week preview: Football Week 8 - Batavia vs. Geneva

IHSA Football Week 8 – Batavia vs. Geneva

GENEVA – The annual battle between Batavia and Geneva, a rivalry that dates back to 1913, is always a big deal in the Western suburbs, but in recent years, it’s also meant a great deal in the state landscape.
Friday’s 97th meeting between the two rivals will be no different. The 7:30 p.m. game will be broadcast by CN100 at Noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, and 7 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19. You can also see it anytime in HD with Xfinity On Demand.
Both teams have already qualified for the playoffs and enter the game tied atop the Upstate Eight River at 4-0.
Geneva (7-0, 4-0 UEC River) stayed unbeaten last week with a 39-21 win over upstart Glenbard East. Senior running back Justin Taormina leads a balanced, explosive offensive attack for the Vikings. Taormina has rushed for 917 yards and 10 touchdowns and 10 catches for 176 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Sean Chambers is 89-for-163 for 1,215 yards, 17 touchdowns and two interceptions, while contributing 185 yards rushing. Senior wide receiver Ryan Skibinski is Chambers’ top target in the pass game, with 41 receptions for 523 yards and eight touchdowns, also adding a rushing score. Senior wide receiver Jack Wassel has 25 catches for 387 yards.
Senior linebacker Steve Kemp leads the way defensively with 56 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. Senior linebacker Collin Lee is right there with Kemp with 32 tackles and 3.5 sacks, while fellow senior linebacker Tim Green has 58 tackles. In the secondary, senior Zack Thompson has 35 tackles and three sacks, while junior Lance Arni contributed 43 tackles.
“We probably just came off our best all-around total team performance against Glenbard East,” Geneva coach Rob Wicinski said. “This could be a good time to peak.”
Batavia (6-1, 4-0) has been the gold standard in the UEC River in recent years. The Bulldogs have won four straight against Geneva, haven’t lost a conference game the past four years and haven’t lost a road game since 2010. The 2013 Class 6A state champions went 8-2 last year. Since Dennis Piron is 48-6 since he took over as head coach five years ago.
Batavia recovered from a loss to Naperville Central with a 49-0 win over Elgin last week. Like Geneva, Batavia is explosive and diverse offensively. Senior quarterback Kyle Niemiec leads the way throwing for 1,502 yards, 11 touchdowns and two interceptions while also rushing for 181 yards and six scores. His top target is senior Canaan Coffey. Coffey’s grabbed 48 balls for 582 yards and five touchdowns. He is flanked by senior Cole Stokke (22 catches, 346 yards, one touchdown), senior Nick Stuttle (13 catches, 208 yards, three touchdowns) and junior tight end Glenn Albanese (14 catches, 156 yards, two touchdowns). The 6-foot-5 Albanese is committed to Louisville for baseball. Senior running back Zach Garrett has 696 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The Bulldogs’ defensive line has tormented defenses all season with senior Derek Nutley recording 27 solo tackles and 10.5 sacks. Senior Miles Williams has 30 solo tackles and 7.5 sacks, while senior linebackers Colin Thurston (69 tackles) and Zack Majka (46 solo tackles, two sacks) lead the team in tackles.
“Batavia is big, fast, well-coached and confident,” Wicinski said. “No different than just about all of the last several years, just different kids with the same talent. I can see why Batavia is doing as well as they are and why they have not lost a conference game in 300 million years.”
- Paul Johnson, CN100 Correspondent

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