West Aurora, Batavia, Aurora Christian, St. Charles North and Naperville Central are picks to click in season openers.
Hinsdale Central (4-5 last season) at West Aurora (10-1)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Red Devils have missed playoffs last three seasons with four, three and four wins, respectively, but the West Suburban Silver foe will be much more formidable than recent early nonconference opponents the Blackhawks have faced.
Senior quarterback Mason Atkins (Ball State) set the bar high last year with 72% completion rate and 32 touchdowns. Zach Toma, a 6-foot-2 senior receiver, and Liam Norris, a 6-3 senior receiver, should be his top targets.
Hinsdale Central’s high-profile players include senior guard Gene Riordan (Iowa) and junior defensive end Tommy Riordan, who has Iowa and Wisconsin offers. Junior defensive end John Breton is attracting plenty of Mid-American Conference interest.
X-factor: Spencer Martin, Hinsdale Central, senior, wide receiver/safety; transfer from Nazareth.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: West Aurora.
Glenbard West (4-5) at Batavia (12-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
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Matchup breakdown: Visiting Hitters have revenge on their minds since 35-28 season-opening loss last year to Bulldogs helped keep them out of playoffs for the first time in the tenure of coach Chad Hetlet that dates to 2007 and includes two state titles and a runner-up finish.
The Michael Vander Luitgaren era also begins for the Bulldogs. Offensive coordinator Sean Anderson said the highly touted junior quarterback “can be like a magician back there just with his pocket presence.”
An eye-catching new scoreboard also makes its debut in the south end zone.
Another aspect hard to miss will be Glenbard West junior Josiah Wallace, a 6-8, 280-pound guard who transferred from Mount Carmel and is drawing Power Four interest. He will protect junior quarterback AJ Rayford, who transferred from Providence.
X-factor: Charlie Rosengren, Batavia, junior, running back.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Batavia.
Ottawa Marquette (6-5) at Aurora Christian (5-4)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: The traditions continue with host Eagles seeking eighth consecutive playoff berth and Crusaders their 13th straight under new coach Ken Carlson. He’s familiar with the program, however, having served 10 years as defensive coordinator for retired Tom Jobst.
Anthony Couch, a third-year starter at quarterback, is back to run Ottawa Marquette’s wing-T.
Senior quarterback Asa Johnson returns to lead high-flying Aurora Christian, which won this game last season 24-19. The Eagles want to put up more than five wins and improve their seeding this fall, which would help with their move up to Class 2A.
Aurora Christian should get a boost this season by playing six of its nine games at home.
X-factor: Dominic Klimpke, Aurora Christian, senior, defensive lineman/wide receiver.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Aurora Christian.
St. Charles North (9-2) at Minooka (8-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Senior wide receiver Keaton Reinke (Northwestern) and senior quarterback JT Padron, a transfer from St. Charles East, should test its Class 8A opponent from the Southwest Prairie West. The host Indians have made seven straight playoff appearances.
Minooka returns three seniors on offense in 6-5 left-handed quarterback Zane Caves, 6-4 tight end Jackson Miranda and 5-10, 200-pound running back Chase Nurczyk. Caves (Michigan State) is a Big Ten baseball pitching commit.
North Stars, who will send at least 10 players to the college level from this team, have made 16 playoff appearances since the school opened in 2001.
X-factor: Lucas Tenbrock, St. Charles North, senior, punter/kicker/right tackle.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: St. Charles North.
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Oswego (10-1) at Naperville Central (11-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Panthers, the undefeated Southwest Prairie West champion, allowed single digit points in eight of 11 games last season but have to replace three senior linebackers. Junior Caden Cooney, middle of three sons for coach Brian Cooney, will be a good starting point.
The Redhawks answer with seven senior starters back in defensive ends Troy Kashul and Jake Stanish (Buffalo), nose guard Jason Figg, linebackers Aaron and Daniel Nussbaum and defensive backs Gavin Wade and Nick Zbylut. They will be joined by Garrett Nichols (Brown), a senior defensive back who transferred in from Texas.
X-factor: Teddy Manikas, Oswego, senior, wide receiver.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Naperville Central.