CN100 Sports Football Preview: Week 2 - Batavia vs. Libertyville

LIBERTYVILLE – Two teams that have reached the state title game in the recent years highlight the second week of CN100’s high school football coverage.

Batavia and Libertyville meet Friday in a game featured on CN100. It will be shown at Noon and 4 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3, and 7 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 5. You can also watch it anytime in HD with Xfinity On Demand by clicking Get Local and CN100. X1 users, look for Get Local under the Xfinity Services tab.

Libertyville rolled into the Class 7A state title game last year at 13-0 behind star quarterback Riley Lees. The Wildcats dropped the title game, however, and Lees is now a freshman at Northwestern, meaning they have to reload.

So far, so good, after the first week of the season – a 29-0 win over Elk Grove. Libertyville has a different look under center with the departure of Lees. Jack Ruskell, a 6-foot-3, 215 pound senior, triggers the offense this year. Senior running back Jason Tse should get more action without Lees to carry the rushing load. Senior Brandon Rule leads the receiving corps.

Libertyville is especially strong on the offensive line, which should help its transition. Tyler Jost (6-foot-6, 275 pounds) is an Iowa State recruit. He is flanked by Charles Schmidt (6-foot-4, 270 pounds). Defensively, massive defensive lineman Ryan O’Malley (6-foot-4, 260 pounds) is the anchor.

“We look to improve significantly from week one,” Libertyville coach Mike Jones said. “We make our share of errors, but what we liked about it is that they are all fixable.”

The Bulldogs followed up their first state championship, the 2013 Class 6A crown, with two more solid campaigns. They went 10-2 last year, the sixth straight playoff appearance for the program and 12th in the past 13 years.

Batavia made the long trek to Belleville West last week and survived a wild fourth quarter for a 34-24 win. The victory pushed Dennis Piron’s record to a sparkling 53-7 as he enters his sixth season as head coach.

Batavia led 7-3 going into the fourth quarter last week, and then outscored Belleville West 27-21 in the final quarter to secure the win and prepare for the long bus ride home.

“I thought we did what we hoped to do, mainly deal with travel and a tough environment and focus on a game plan,” Piron said. “Belleville was talented and fast. We contained them for 3 ½ quarters and used our strengths as best we could, offensive line play, and we did convert a number of fourth downs. I just have a lot of faith in our boys.”

Batavia lost many key players from last year, but as Piron said, the offensive line is a strength, just as it is for Libertyville. Ross Berggren and Evan Day both tip the scales at 295 pounds, and Day stands 6-foot-6. Junior Nolan Elke (6-foot-6, 260 pounds) joins that duo up front.

Junior Riley Cooper took the reins at quarterback last week, going 8-for-11 for 60 yards. Junior running back Reggie Phillips was the breakout star, rushing for 143 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Returning running back Dana Anderson added 96 yards and a score.

Defensively, junior Michael Niemiec had 14 tackles. Other defensive returnees include senior defensive end Conner Stejskal and senior defensive backs Jay Hunt and Connor Oroni.

“Batavia is a good team with very good size and a downhill run game and defense,” Jones said. “They are extremely well-coached and will not beat themselves. They are physical on both sides of the ball and will try to wear you out over the course of the game.”

- Paul Johnson, CN100 Correspondent

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