Batavia’s Ryan Whitwell paused momentarily as he pondered the question.
The junior safety is making a big difference on defense as the team’s third-leading tackler. But he also has seen spot duty for the Bulldogs at running back with three carries and a pass reception.
Does he have a preference?
He lowered his voice a bit, saying almost conspiratorially, “I probably shouldn’t tell anyone this, but I do like running back a lot. It had a big role in me falling in love with football. I remember my dad watching ‘A Football Life’ (on) Barry Sanders.”
The episode of the TV series developed by NFL Films for the NFL Network turned Sanders into one of Whitwell’s favorite players, even though the Detroit Lions great retired in 1999 at age 30, well before Whitwell was born.
“Some of my best times coming up in youth football involved playing running back,” Whitwell said.
His time could come next season, according to Batavia defensive coordinator Matt Holm.
Batavia’s coaches envision the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Whitwell taking on the role currently held by senior Jalen Buckley, who starts at the other safety spot but spends more of his time at running back.
Having talented senior Vincie Solano available to play either cornerback or safety — spelling Buckley — gives the Bulldogs’ coaches the luxury of using Buckley in both roles.
Whitwell’s capabilities were never more apparent in Friday’s 21-20 win over DuKane Conference rival Glenbard North.
The Panthers (4-1, 2-1) scored with about two minutes left to pull within a point of the Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0) and decided to go for the 2-point conversion, running a toss sweep to the outside.
Fortunately for Batavia, junior inside linebacker Tyler Jansey was running a stunt around that very edge.
“Jansey flushed it out wide and Whitwell stepped up and made a great play,” Holm said of the game-saving tackle.
Whitwell, who has 34 tackles and one interception this season, initially saw two lead blockers but thought one tripped.
“Tyler slowed them down,” Whitwell said. “And then it was just the running back in front of me.”
Earlier in the game, the duo teamed up as Whitwell scooped up a fumble and ran it 48 yards down the sideline for one of Batavia’s touchdowns.
“Tyler stripped the ball and it bounced toward me,” Whitwell said. “It was an awesome feeling. I just saw green grass and went with it.”
Three of Batavia’s wins have been tight, decided by one score.
“It is so much more fun than blowouts,” Whitwell said. “When you’re playing in a close game, the energy is higher. Everyone is up on their toes on each play, ready to go. Glenbard North was a great game that could have gone either way.”
Purple reign man: Plano’s Ray Jones Jr. ran wild in the rain against Johnsburg, He gained 210 yards on 21 carries and scored all four TDs for the Reapers in a 27-26 win.
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The 5-10 Jones had scoring runs of 3, 27, 46 and 20 yards, the last coming with 2:12 remaining and providing the seventh lead change of the game.
“Without him, we don’t win,” Plano coach Rick Ponx said. “He’s only 165 pounds, but he’s solid thanks to his time in the weight room. He’s a strong kid.”
Each team had four fumbles, but there were no turnovers in the game. Johnsburg had a nine-minute edge in time of possession and ran 68 plays to 41 for Plano (4-1, 2-1).
The Reapers, led by middle linebacker Sean Earwood’s 10 tackles, came up with key stops to complement the big plays from Jones.
Harvard, Plano’s scheduled homecoming opponent, announced Monday it would have to forfeit a second straight game due to COVID-19 protocols.
It’s the second forfeit win this season for the Reapers, who are playoff eligible with five wins.
Numbers game: Aurora Central Catholic had to forfeit its game against IC Catholic last week due to illness, but it wasn’t COVID-19.
For the Chargers, it’s all about numbers adding up.
“We’re on a thin margin,” said John Belskis, who’s in his second stint as ACC’s coach. “We started with 26 kids, but three were kickers from the soccer team. Five are freshmen, and we lost two for the season to injury in Weeks 1 and 2.”
Down to 16 players on the roster, ACC had seven out last week due to illness.
“I felt bad for IC because it was their homecoming,” Belskis said. “But there was nothing we could do.”