Batavia, West Aurora, St. Charles East, Oswego and East Aurora are the picks to click in the Aurora-Elgin area season openers.
Maine South (10-2 last season) at Batavia (10-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: This one is as good as it gets, with legendary coaches Dave Inserra (Maine South) and Dennis Piron (Batavia) matching up for first time in what figures to be Piron’s final year.
Assistant coach Mike Theriault is Piron’s head coach in waiting and will continue with the freshmen and as the program’s director of youth football until Piron does step down.
“That’s the plan,” Piron said.
Teams coached by Inserra and Piron have made the playoffs every year of their tenures, missing only in the abbreviated pandemic season when none were held. Inserra’s Hawks have qualified in 24 of his 25 years, winning four state titles and finishing second four times.
Piron’s Bulldogs have qualified in 14 of his 15 years, winning a pair of state titles and taking second twice.
Two of the state’s best quarterbacks will also match up. Indiana-bound senior Jameson Purcell threw for 3,001 yards and 31 touchdowns last season for Maine South. Michael Vander Luitgaren, a Wyoming commit, threw for 2,708 yards and 31 TDs as a junior last fall.
X-factor: Thomas Prescott, Batavia, senior, tight end.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Batavia.
West Aurora (7-3) at Downers Grove South (5-5)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: It’s the first of three road games to open the season for the Blackhawks, who must replace three-year starter Mason Atkins. The program’s all-time passing leader is now at Ball State.
Tyler Fecht, a 6-2 senior who saw minimal action as a backup, gets the nod for West Aurora. Senior running back Bryce Riley (603 yards rushing, 216 receiving) believes Fecht will surprise.
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James Sobkowiak, a 6-4 junior considered a Division I prospect in both football and baseball, leads the Mustangs, who will be seeking their seventh straight playoff berth after rallying last year from a 1-4 start to finish second in West Suburban Gold.
Common foe? Downers Grove South lost 52-40 to Hinsdale Central, which beat West Aurora 56-7.
X-factor: Darek Sczceblewski, West Aurora, senior, kicker/punter.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: West Aurora.
Metea Valley (2-7) at St. Charles East (1-8)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Junior quarterback Cruz Herrera, who threw for 1,727 yards and 18 TDs as a sophomore, looks to return Saints to next level. He will play behind a line that includes junior left tackle Liam Barrett, who has multiple Power Four offers, and seniors Nolan Krystofiak at right tackle and Troy DeMien at center.
Senior safety Christian Hirniak, who moved in from Texas, recently committed to St. Thomas.
Junior quarterback Iggy Amorrortu, a transfer from Wheaton St. Francis, has taken the reins for Metea and was elected a captain by his new teammates. Senior Charlie Larson, last year’s quarterback, has switched over to wide receiver.
X-factor: Noah Douglas, Metea Valley, junior, running back.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: St. Charles East.
Neuqua Valley (3-6) at Oswego (11-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
Matchup breakdown: Seven starters return on offense and five on defense for Oswego, which surprised last season by squeaking out nail-biter wins over Maine South and Lockport to advance to the Class 8A state championship game before losing to Mount Carmel.
Senior quarterback Drew Kleinhans leads the offense for the Panthers, while junior running back Ammar Banire becomes a starter with 11 Division I scholarship offers.
Neuqua struggled last season but ended up with four of its six losses by seven points or less.
X-factor: Graham Schwab, Oswego, senior, fullback.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: Oswego.
East Aurora (2-7) at Plainfield Central (2-7)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday.
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Matchup breakdown: The Tomcats look for fast start against first three opponents who were a combined 5-22 last season, led what coach Nick Kukuc said “will be one of the better skill groups we’ve had here recently.”
Senior dual-threat quarterback Joseph Becker returns to lead the way, throwing to four senior receivers in Alexander Carter, Jairo Ceniceros, Jayvon Ingram and Alexander Baez or handing off to running backs in senior Jeremiah Jackson or junior Alexander Svoboda.
Junior quarterback Tommy Morissette returns for his second season leading Plainfield Central’s offense.
X-factor: Ulices Barrera, East Aurora, senior, defensive back.
Rick Armstrong’s prediction: East Aurora.