West Aurora coach Nate Eimer has heard the criticism of his team’s conference and believes the Upstate Eight gets a bad rap.
Preparing for the 15th season of leading his alma mater, Eimer and the Blackhawks look to keep their modest roll going Monday as they join teams from across the state by opening practice.
It’s one of 10 things to watch in 2025, which figures to be another exciting season in the area.
1. Better than you think?
“I wish people would do their homework,” Eimer said after West Aurora went 9-0 last fall to win the Upstate Eight West title in its return to the conference after five years in the Southwest Prairie West.
With a 31-21 win over Huntley and a 41-6 loss to Maine South in their second straight playoff appearance, the Blackhawks joined Upstate Eight East rival Glenbard East in going 1-1 in the Class 8A playoffs. South Elgin lost in the first round.
“Getting two teams to the Sweet 16 in 8A is not easy and is never a disappointment,” Eimer said. “Class 8A, it’s a monster, man. But the minute it ended, I was thinking we’ve got to keep moving forward.”
He tried to do that by adding nonconference dates with Hinsdale Central and Glenbard East to kick off the season after scheduling only playoff or 8A schools for summer practices and 7-on-7s.
The Blackhawks lost a lot to graduation, but Ball State-bound quarterback Mason Atkins is one of six seniors who are three-year starters.
2. Catching a break
Batavia has dominated the local landscape, making 14 straight playoff appearances and winning two state championships, but lately, the Bulldogs have been snakebit.
In each of the past four playoffs, the Bulldogs have been eliminated by Mount Carmel, which has won three straight Class 7A state titles.
Batavia lost twice in the championship game, once in a semifinal and once in the second round. However, the Illinois High School Association’s success formula bumps the Caravan up to 8A.
3. They’re gonna be contenders
Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles North tied for the DuKane Conference title last season with 6-1 records. Look for all three to be in the hunt again and likely will make long playoff runs.
Junior quarterback Michael Vander Luitgaren, who came on strong in the playoffs for Batavia, is back for a full season.
Six defensive starters lead the way for Geneva, while Northwestern-bound senior receiver Keaton Reinke returns for St. Charles North.
More Top Picks Best Anti Snoring Devices For Couples
4. Eye-catching specimen
South Elgin tight end Gavin Mueller has drawn as much acclaim this summer as any area college prospect.
The 6-foot-6, 255-pound Mueller transferred in from Wheaton St. Francis after an injury-shortened season in 2024. The four-star prospect is ranked No. 11 in Illinois by 247Sports.com.
He received even more attention after committing to coach Deion Sanders and Colorado from a pile of offers that included LSU and Notre Dame.
5. The quarterback whisperer?
Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen set passing records at Kaneland and mentored first-year starter Tony Chahino in a run to the 2024 state final. Chahino, a Roosevelt recruit, threw for 3,600 yards and 49 touchdowns.
Can Thorgesen pull off a repeat?
Stay tuned. He has 6-4, 200-pound junior Ben Peterson, who accounted for more than 2,000 total yards on the sophomore level and already has Division I offers from Toledo and Miami of Ohio.
6. Quenching their thirst
Burlington Central ended a 10-year playoff drought last season, won its first postseason game since 2006 and gave Geneva all it could handle in a tight second-round game.
Senior Zach Hultgren, a 6-5, 280-pound offensive lineman who is committed to Miami of Ohio, leads a group of 13 players who started last fall.
“This team is determined to show that last season wasn’t a one-time success,” said Burlington Central coach Brian Iossi, who expects his team to contend for a Fox Valley Conference title.
7. Someone familiar
Jason VanPelt takes over at Sandwich, where Kris Cassie stepped down.
While he’s one of two new area coaches, players won’t see a ton of change. VanPelt, Sandwich’s baseball coach for 14 years, has been on the football staff the past 20.
“It was kind of the right time for me to be taking the lead since we’re keeping the staff together,” Van Pelt said.
The team has only eight seniors, led by senior third-year quarterback Braden Behringer. In the spring, Behringer was the conference’s player of the year in baseball.
There’s a strong junior class and even better news?
“We’ll have a freshman team for the first time in 10 years,” VanPelt said.
8. Someone new
Metea Valley coach Patrick Sheehan comes from the college ranks, having served as an assistant for the past eight years at his alma mater, Wisconsin-Platteville.
Sheehan, a Homewood-Flossmoor graduate, gets closer to home after coaching wide receivers, linebackers, defensive line and special teams for the Pioneers.
9. Week Zero
Eimer has lined up a Week Zero scrimmage with Waubonsie Valley and second-year coach Adam Pucylowski, looking to return to the playoffs after finishing 5-5.
More Top Picks Tents Backpackings
“I’m old-school Aurora,” Eimer said. “That was a big rivalry match when Waubonsie was in the Upstate Eight, second only to East Aurora.”
Batavia, meanwhile, will face Maine South.
“I’ve never played them, and I want to play all the big boys at some point,” Piron said. “Some coaches worry about injuries, but it gives you live reps, especially for second and third teamers.”
10. Quarterbacks galore
Waubonsie Valley senior Colin Ford, a 6-5, 220-pound senior with a strong arm who qualified for state last spring in the 100-meter run in his first year of track, will lead the Warriors. He has an offer from Wyoming and also is drawing looks from colleges as a possible tight end.
Plenty of other QBs will draw attention. Sophomore Roy Magana Jr. will try to lead Marmion (5-5) back to the playoffs, as will senior Jalen Carter at Kaneland (5-5). Carter previously played at both Aurora Christian and Wheaton St. Francis.
JT Padron, a 6-4, 205-pound senior who started last season at St. Charles East, has transferred across town to St. Charles North. Oswego East’s Niko Villacci is back for a third season, while Yorkville’s Jack Beetham returns for a second fall with several NCAA Division II offers.