WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:04.000 Schwiker, Cannison, Kuzak, Rondio Bradley sponsors for Friday Night Drive. I'm 2 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.799 Mike Krizak. If you've been injured, we are ready to take on the 3 00:00:06.839 --> 00:00:10.400 insurance company and get you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions 4 00:00:10.439 --> 00:00:13.640 of dollars for our clients. Visit G A, N A, S, 5 00:00:13.640 --> 00:00:25.039 S I M dot com. Good morning, everybody. Welcome into Friday Night 6 00:00:25.160 --> 00:00:29.800 Drive, Western Subber's podcast with Jake and Josh. As always, thanks so 7 00:00:29.879 --> 00:00:33.560 much for making us a part of your night or afternoon, or however you're 8 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:36.560 listening. Josh, as we're recording this, I have a cup of coffee 9 00:00:36.560 --> 00:00:40.719 in my hand. I'm in the car and we're gearing up to talk some 10 00:00:40.759 --> 00:00:43.880 football here on Wednesday morning. As we tape, it's how are we doing 11 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:48.399 this morning? Doing good? I mean kind of like we I talked about 12 00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:50.600 a four in this podcast. I get to Tuesday, Wednesday, I kind 13 00:00:50.600 --> 00:00:54.280 of feel like the batteries have been recharged a little bit from Friday Night and 14 00:00:54.560 --> 00:00:59.119 I can start really looking ahead to you know, the week ahead. And 15 00:00:59.759 --> 00:01:03.920 we certainly do that. But first, well we'll look from behind from last 16 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:07.719 week, you know, like you said, thanks everybody for joining us, 17 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:12.000 Thanks for everyone's support, Thanks to those who tune in last Friday, when 18 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:17.400 you know, Jake and Steve Susie were hosting Friday Night Live, and you 19 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:19.239 know, I tuned in a little bit, uh to listen to that. 20 00:01:19.359 --> 00:01:23.719 I tried to tune in from Geneva with updates. Finally was able to do 21 00:01:23.719 --> 00:01:29.560 it for my car after the game. But you know, just a it 22 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:33.079 was, It was a wild It was a wild week last Friday, which 23 00:01:33.120 --> 00:01:36.480 I'm sure you probably know that as much as anyone because you were sort of 24 00:01:36.519 --> 00:01:41.159 in command center with Friday Night Live. You know, certainly my game was 25 00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:44.760 one that stood out from last week. Yeah, so let's jump into that, 26 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:46.959 I mean real quickly. You know, it's funny because when you're in 27 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:49.719 the chair, like you just got scores that are flying by, and like 28 00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:52.680 you're trying to remember the team that you just talked about two minutes ago. 29 00:01:53.439 --> 00:01:56.959 But yours was a game that obviously we had circled here in the Kane County 30 00:01:57.000 --> 00:02:00.799 area, but Tavi Geneva, of course we talked at nauseum, you know, 31 00:02:00.799 --> 00:02:04.319 one hundred and fifth meeting. This is a game that Batavia has won. 32 00:02:04.599 --> 00:02:07.719 You know, consistently over the last you know, ten years or so, 33 00:02:07.159 --> 00:02:09.360 and it went down to the wire a little bit. Sounds like Ryan 34 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:14.520 Bow made some key plays late. Yeah, so really, you know, 35 00:02:14.560 --> 00:02:17.639 the big thing for me was it appears at Geneva. I mean, well, 36 00:02:17.639 --> 00:02:21.479 there's no peers. They've made significant progress as a program in the last 37 00:02:21.520 --> 00:02:27.280 few years. The question was is that how much has the gap closed with 38 00:02:27.319 --> 00:02:30.919 them in Batavia? It's just been a very one side of rivalry over the 39 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:36.039 last decade or decade plus. You know, how much of the gap closed. 40 00:02:36.199 --> 00:02:39.280 I think that the answer that we got from last Friday is the gap 41 00:02:39.319 --> 00:02:43.680 has not closed entirely, but it's definitely closed, right. I mean, 42 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:46.639 you know, Batavia got off to a good start. You know, they 43 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:51.560 are up fourteen to three at halftime. Honestly, it felt like a game 44 00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:54.639 that Batavia missed a few plays, they easily could have got it to maybe 45 00:02:54.680 --> 00:02:59.280 twenty one to three, and then you're thinking, ballgame. This game's over. 46 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:01.680 In fact, I think I said to another writer, Paul Johnson, 47 00:03:01.680 --> 00:03:05.360 and I said, if they score again to go up you know, twenty 48 00:03:05.400 --> 00:03:07.199 one three, Yeah, it's pretty much ball game. But they didn't. 49 00:03:07.199 --> 00:03:12.120 I mean credit to Geneva for keeping it the way they that as close as 50 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:15.599 it it and also admittedly Batavia missed, you know, missed a few plays. 51 00:03:15.199 --> 00:03:20.800 Geneva comes out in the second half. Admittedly, I thought Geneva was 52 00:03:20.800 --> 00:03:24.319 was very just kind of out of sync offensively in the first half. Specifically 53 00:03:24.439 --> 00:03:29.840 Nate Simpawski and Talent Taylor, who have a tremendous connection. It just wasn't 54 00:03:29.840 --> 00:03:32.879 working out for them because you know, whether not targeting him or just kind 55 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:37.360 of not quite connecting. I mean Talent Taylor, he had one catch in 56 00:03:37.360 --> 00:03:39.280 the first half for five yards. He actually only had three catches for the 57 00:03:39.319 --> 00:03:44.879 game. But Geneva was able to come out. They're able to score in 58 00:03:44.879 --> 00:03:47.960 their second drive of the second half. Nate Stampowski just made a lot of 59 00:03:47.960 --> 00:03:53.080 plays with his with his legs. You know, the kid is not a 60 00:03:53.080 --> 00:03:57.639 big kid as a quarterback, but he just makes plays spreading the field, 61 00:03:58.120 --> 00:04:02.319 you know, running the ball, and so they're able to score to make 62 00:04:02.360 --> 00:04:05.080 it, you know, a fourteen to ten at very end the third quarter. 63 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:10.599 But then Ryan Bow, I mean we kind of mentioned off the top, 64 00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:15.159 you know again, I thought he missed some throws earlier in the game 65 00:04:15.400 --> 00:04:17.000 that you're thinking, wow, I can't like that. I'm surprised that he 66 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:21.600 missed that throw. But when they really needed a kid to make the big 67 00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:28.399 throw or get the third and six type run, he delivered again and again 68 00:04:28.560 --> 00:04:31.279 and again. And that experience in an environment like that, it's funny. 69 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:33.560 I asked him after the game. I said, you've been in so many 70 00:04:33.560 --> 00:04:36.600 big games, but you haven't been in a close game against these guys. 71 00:04:36.720 --> 00:04:40.839 I mean, you know how much was that different? And he knew. 72 00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:43.720 He's like, you know, they know that. They're like, we know 73 00:04:43.800 --> 00:04:46.480 that this is a really good Geneva team, and we knew that this is 74 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:49.040 going to be a close game. We were not surprised by it at all. 75 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:53.639 But you know, he just made He just made the throws time and 76 00:04:53.720 --> 00:04:57.000 time, or the plays time and time again. Even at the very end 77 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:00.519 of the game. I mean they were up twenty one to eighteen. Geneva 78 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:02.600 just burned her last time out. They got a first down to burn it 79 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:08.040 out, and then the play after Ryan got the first down, he pretty 80 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:12.560 much could have gone in for the touchdown with about forty seconds left, he 81 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:15.439 just kind of slid and took a knee. He knew that that he knew 82 00:05:15.480 --> 00:05:18.040 that the game was open. He made the smart, intelligent play, the 83 00:05:18.120 --> 00:05:23.600 senior play. Just very impressive performance by him, but also by Geneva as 84 00:05:23.639 --> 00:05:27.360 well. Yeah, so real quickly, kind of going back to what you're 85 00:05:27.399 --> 00:05:30.120 talking about with talent. You know, I noticed that I read your story 86 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:31.240 and I was like, wow, so that that was one of the things 87 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:34.240 I wanted to address in my notebook. I'm not sure if you saw, 88 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:38.920 but I reached out to Chase Osborne and just talked to him a little bit 89 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:42.560 about that, and it sounded like they did some you know, bracket coverage 90 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:46.920 whereas him and Josh Kayley uh really kind of shadowed him all game and and 91 00:05:46.959 --> 00:05:50.040 really limited that impact. And uh, you know that's really important for Batavia's 92 00:05:50.120 --> 00:05:54.279 you know, defensive success. Make them run the ball and let some other 93 00:05:54.600 --> 00:05:57.959 athlete beat you. Of course, we know how highly touted talent is. 94 00:05:58.560 --> 00:06:00.240 Mean, he's going to get his, but you know, if you're a 95 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:02.759 defense you want you want to try to make somebody else beat you. So 96 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:10.720 impressive performance on both sides of the ball. Geneva's going to be fine as 97 00:06:10.839 --> 00:06:14.439 they are still playoff eligible. They still need one more win for that, 98 00:06:15.160 --> 00:06:17.680 you know, to make sure they're fully in. But I'm sure they'll be 99 00:06:17.720 --> 00:06:21.759 fine. Yeah, I definitely came out of this game thinking that. I 100 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:27.319 mean, Batavia. My opinion of them did not honestly change at all from 101 00:06:27.560 --> 00:06:30.920 before the game to after the game. They're they're a great team. They're 102 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:35.800 going to be a force in I'm assuming seven A, but Geneva, you 103 00:06:35.839 --> 00:06:41.319 know, I mean there, We'll see how they do down the road. 104 00:06:41.319 --> 00:06:43.199 They still have some tests the next couple of weeks, you know, with 105 00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:45.519 Wheaton North and Saint Charles North, So I want to get a little bit 106 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:47.920 more of a body of work from them before I you know, kind of 107 00:06:47.959 --> 00:06:51.959 pass my judgment, like it really matters, uh, going into the playoffs. 108 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:56.759 But from what I saw, you know, last Friday against competing against 109 00:06:56.800 --> 00:07:00.319 one of the elite teams in the state, certainly in seven A, they're 110 00:07:00.319 --> 00:07:01.360 gonna be a tough out, you know, once the playoff starts. I 111 00:07:01.360 --> 00:07:04.279 mean, they have some veteran leadership at quarterback, you know, a wider 112 00:07:04.279 --> 00:07:08.759 sea with talent Taylor. You know. I like their defense. I was 113 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:12.360 a little bit worried Tommy Diamond, a really fine defensive player. He went 114 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:15.240 out late in the third quarter of that game looked like a little bit of 115 00:07:15.240 --> 00:07:18.040 an elbow or arm injury, so somebody to kind of monitor going forward. 116 00:07:18.040 --> 00:07:21.600 He's a very important part of their defense. But I was very impressed in 117 00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:25.120 Geneva as a whole. Do you want to stay in the in the Duke 118 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:29.399 Kne Conference real quick and just briefly touch on Wheaton South and Wheaton North, 119 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:32.680 then yeah, So another big game in that conference, Wheaton North and Wheaton 120 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:39.279 Warrenville South. You know, it's a game that Wheaton North has had the 121 00:07:39.319 --> 00:07:42.399 upper hand the last three years as they've emerged as one of the better teams 122 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:45.720 in the state. They won the last three meetings going in the last Friday, 123 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:48.759 but they only did so by a combined six points. So it's one 124 00:07:48.759 --> 00:07:51.279 of those games where, yes, I think Wheaton North is probably a little 125 00:07:51.279 --> 00:07:56.720 bit better right now, but I wasn't surprised by any result. But that 126 00:07:56.879 --> 00:08:00.759 being said, the fact that Wheaton Wornville South was able to get to able 127 00:08:00.759 --> 00:08:05.279 to get that win, it kind of reaffirms to me that Wheaton Warnville South, 128 00:08:05.560 --> 00:08:07.920 since the return of Matt Crider from the wild, they're a different team 129 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:11.920 than they were before. I mean, they they are absolutely a different team 130 00:08:11.959 --> 00:08:16.079 than they were before with him at running back, balancing luc at carbon Arrows 131 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:20.279 running back or at quarterback. They've always had a pretty good defense. They're 132 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:22.879 gonna be a team to watch. I mean, I know. We were 133 00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:26.120 talking to coach Dennis Pieran from PA tav afterwards and he was kind of rat 134 00:08:26.199 --> 00:08:30.040 on off the schedule we have ahead and and he was like, uh, 135 00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:31.679 and then Wheat and South, I'm not sure what they did tonight And I 136 00:08:31.679 --> 00:08:35.840 said, well, they actually beat Wheaton North and he's like yeah, He's 137 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:39.039 like, we we know, I mean we know that they're they're they're a 138 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:43.519 team that's that's on, that's on to com right now. So really confirmation 139 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:46.840 of that them getting to win and they needed it. I mean, they're 140 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:50.000 they're among a group of teams that are just in a dogfight, uh for 141 00:08:50.039 --> 00:08:52.639 the playoffs. They're going to get another one this week playing Lake Park. 142 00:08:52.799 --> 00:08:58.080 So uh. But a very impressive win for Wheaton Warnville South forced a few 143 00:08:58.120 --> 00:09:01.360 turnovers. Matt Cryder had another huge game. He's that's always had, it 144 00:09:01.399 --> 00:09:07.000 seems since he's returned. So a very good win for the Tigers. San 145 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:11.000 Francis icy Catholic one that you know we always have circled down our schedules and 146 00:09:11.039 --> 00:09:13.480 again you know that that's another one that did not disappoint. No, so 147 00:09:13.600 --> 00:09:16.120 that is a game that I feel like the last three or four years, 148 00:09:16.120 --> 00:09:20.679 and you probably agree, I have no idea what to expect. I feel 149 00:09:20.720 --> 00:09:22.639 like when I'm making my picks for that game, it's like I'm gonna close 150 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:26.240 my eyes and just throw at the dardboard and hope that I hit. Well, 151 00:09:26.360 --> 00:09:28.799 I missed again. I feel like I've missed my pick the last three 152 00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:35.000 years in that game. And that wasn't disparaging against Saint Francis. I know, 153 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:39.720 really good, but Saint Francis, I believe it's for the second week 154 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:45.759 in a row it comes from behind victory. Alessio Millvision, I'm butchering its 155 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:50.360 Alessio, let's put it that way. Leading another come from behind victory. 156 00:09:50.759 --> 00:09:54.720 They get to win on a two point conversion. That's on the heels of 157 00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:58.000 coming from behind to beat Joliette Catholic. You know the week before, similar 158 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:03.960 in and comform behind fashion Saint Francis. It feels like Saint Francis every week 159 00:10:03.000 --> 00:10:05.559 is in a close game that's down to the wire. I mean it was 160 00:10:05.559 --> 00:10:09.080 down to Grove North it scored late to beat them. It was Fenwick that 161 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:13.039 I believe scored pretty late to beat them. It was comfort behind to beat 162 00:10:13.120 --> 00:10:16.720 Joyd Catholic. It was comfort behind to beat I see. I think they 163 00:10:16.759 --> 00:10:20.919 came from behind to be Sterling. Every week it seems like they play a 164 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:24.159 really close game and I think it's going to continue the rest of the year. 165 00:10:24.440 --> 00:10:28.279 Now that being said, Bob McMillan, their Saint Francis coach, told 166 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:31.120 me during the summery. He said, I think Oleso is as good as 167 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:33.919 quarterback as any in the Midwest, which at the time I'm thinking, Man, 168 00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:39.279 this is really a coach that he really likes his quarterback and he's really 169 00:10:39.320 --> 00:10:43.000 touty him. I can't speak for quarterbacks around other states, but I do 170 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:48.440 think that Alessio is playing as good as any quarterback in the state right now, 171 00:10:48.519 --> 00:10:50.960 certainly in our neck of the woods. He's he's been tremendous this year. 172 00:10:52.159 --> 00:10:54.960 Yeah, I don't have the stats right in front of me, but 173 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:58.240 but I would agree with just that that general sentiment. And you know, 174 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:03.679 you talk about the comeback wins and what's the consistent piece that they have while 175 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:07.200 their quarterback, right I mean, somebody who is able to play deep and 176 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:11.360 fourth quarters, keep things under under wraps and calm and able to lead his 177 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:13.519 team. And he's been doing it time and time again. You know, 178 00:11:13.559 --> 00:11:18.080 their defense is playing well of lates. And you know, again this is 179 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:20.639 a team where you know, we were kind of talking, you know, 180 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:22.440 in the summer and the start of the year. You know, let's see 181 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:26.799 what they are, you know, going into this new league, and they're 182 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:28.519 passing the tests. Yeah them, and sat them and I see both have 183 00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:33.240 definitely passed the tests so far. Both really good seasons and teams to watch 184 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:37.720 during the stretch run. You know, else thorn into Page County last Friday. 185 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:41.600 You know, maybe the biggest game in the Page County last Friday was 186 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:45.879 Downers Grove North hosting York matchup of five and zero teams. You know, 187 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:48.679 York comes away with a thirty two to twenty one win, which you know, 188 00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:54.679 somewhat similar to Batavia, where I felt really good about York going into 189 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:58.639 the game and I leave feeling really good about York coming out of it. 190 00:11:58.679 --> 00:12:01.360 I mean, Jake Mellion had a huge game, two hundred and sixty yards 191 00:12:01.399 --> 00:12:07.000 and three touchdowns. You know, York is a team that I mean, 192 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:09.399 they're really relying I think on Jake Melliam. He's had some really big games 193 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:13.120 for them so far. You know, the quarterback Sean Wenton's been great for 194 00:12:13.159 --> 00:12:18.559 them. Their defense, Joe Rife, defensive lineman. He just committed to 195 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:20.600 Notre Dame a little bit over a week ago. You know, they've been 196 00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:24.320 very good. So they get a win. But I will say Downers Go 197 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:28.840 North the fact that they were able to, you know, look moral victories 198 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:31.559 whatever. I mean, they lost the game, they were able to keep 199 00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:35.559 the game close, and they were missing Noah Battle who he was injured in 200 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:39.159 a week prior to that. Not sure on the status. It sounds like 201 00:12:39.519 --> 00:12:43.120 he's going to be back pretty soon, possibly this week. But the fact 202 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:46.240 that they were able to, they were without such an enormous part of their 203 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:50.440 team, certainly their offense, and still able to be right there at the 204 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:54.120 end really kind of tells me that Downers Go North is a team to watch, 205 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:56.919 you know, going forward. Their sophomore quarterback Owen Lanzwo, I beleive 206 00:12:56.960 --> 00:13:01.080 you through for over two hundred yards and a couple touchdowns in that game, 207 00:13:01.279 --> 00:13:05.600 obviously missing his you know, you know, top running back so I think 208 00:13:05.639 --> 00:13:09.159 even in loss, I think Downers Will North kind of showed that, you 209 00:13:09.240 --> 00:13:11.480 know, hey we're you know, look look at us, we're pretty good 210 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:13.960 too. Yeah. Absolutely, you know, I don't have much more to 211 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:18.519 add other than I just I look forward to seeing Jake Melly and statline, 212 00:13:18.600 --> 00:13:20.960 you know, when we're putting the games up on social media, like what 213 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:24.919 did this kid do tonight? And time and time again, it's it's big 214 00:13:24.960 --> 00:13:28.360 time numbers. Yeah, yeah, you know, just a just a huge 215 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:31.519 season, you know for that kid so far, and certainly York six and 216 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:35.679 oh you know, they played Glenbard West this week, and I don't look 217 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:39.200 past the all toppers, but York is a team that I'll be very surprised 218 00:13:39.240 --> 00:13:41.879 if they don't run the table and go nine to zero in a regular season. 219 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:45.720 So yeah, great win for them, you know, Jake, I 220 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:48.279 think maybe we'll take a quick break, touch on a couple of Kendel games 221 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:52.080 and then look at to this week. If that's right, that sounds good 222 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:54.879 to me. I'll take a sip of coffee here and we'll go into We'll 223 00:13:54.919 --> 00:13:56.879 go in around too, So don't go anywhere. You're listening to the Friday 224 00:13:56.960 --> 00:14:01.360 night Drive Western summer's podcast, Jake, and after a quick few messages, 225 00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:07.360 this is state Representative Steve Reich, and I'm happy to sponsor this year's Friday 226 00:14:07.440 --> 00:14:11.720 Night Drive. There will be plenty of time for politics down the road, 227 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:16.039 but for now, let's enjoy some high school football. Whichever school you follow, 228 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:20.840 give them your support. After quick break, Josh, before we get 229 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:24.720 to some of the Kendal games, just a quick reminder, you can follow 230 00:14:24.799 --> 00:14:28.399 us on Twitter at Jake Barloson at JWLG ninety six and find all of our 231 00:14:28.399 --> 00:14:33.000 work Friday Night Drive at shawlocal dot com. Also check us out Friday night 232 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:37.879 from eight to eleven Friday Night Live Steve Susina. I will be breaking things 233 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:43.840 down, Josh, some big Kendal matchups and touch on that market. Yeah, 234 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:46.960 there's there's some good wins for teams for various reasons last Friday. You 235 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:50.600 know, I'm gonna start with the team that I've talked a lot about on 236 00:14:50.639 --> 00:14:54.320 his podcast for good reason, Sandwich. You know, they come out, 237 00:14:54.960 --> 00:14:58.600 you know, they get a their fifth win of the year, making them 238 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:03.360 playoff eligible. Significant noteworthy in that I talked about it before. They did 239 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:05.919 not have a varsity football team last year due to low numbers in the last 240 00:15:07.039 --> 00:15:11.200 ARC season they did have, they finished nine and twenty twenty one. This 241 00:15:11.279 --> 00:15:16.320 is their first playoff appearance, and I believe ten years, assuming something weird 242 00:15:16.320 --> 00:15:20.799 doesn't happen and they don't make the playoffs or that, I very much belie 243 00:15:20.799 --> 00:15:22.759 they're going to be making a playoffs. So, you know, it's just 244 00:15:22.799 --> 00:15:26.279 been a great story. I mean, just I don't know what to say. 245 00:15:26.279 --> 00:15:30.000 It's to me it's in the neck of the woods that I cover. 246 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:31.960 It's one of the best stories. The fact that the program has been able 247 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:35.519 to come back, you know, the way that they have well, I 248 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:39.840 mean it really matters from a community standpoint, right, like it's something that 249 00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:41.919 everybody can latch onto, like it doesn't matter, like what's going on in 250 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:46.000 people's lives, like people, well you're in the checkout line at the grocery 251 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:48.879 store. Hey, you see what the kids are doing on Friday night. 252 00:15:48.600 --> 00:15:54.279 It matters. It's bigger than football sometimes too, Yeah, no doubt about 253 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:56.840 that. And tip of the cap to those kids and Chris Cassie, their 254 00:15:56.919 --> 00:16:00.759 head coach. He is a guy that's this. He is relentless positive. 255 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:03.120 I mean, even when things are down, he just keeps his nose to 256 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:07.639 the grindstone, and he's very much invested in that program. I mean is 257 00:16:07.720 --> 00:16:10.559 I know, I believe his wife is ahead of the boosters. I mean, 258 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:12.759 it's just just really doing a good, good things there. So, 259 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:18.480 you know, great work by the program at Sandwich down the road. Very 260 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:22.200 big win for plan O last week they snapped a three game losing streak, 261 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:26.399 shut out Johnsburg nineteen nothing, so you know, big win for them, 262 00:16:26.519 --> 00:16:30.120 shut out win, Ryder lost, and junior defense to tackled, a really 263 00:16:30.120 --> 00:16:33.039 big game for them. And then in the Southwest Prairie Conference, I'm gonna 264 00:16:33.039 --> 00:16:37.360 start with with Yorkville. They're a team that it's funny, you know, 265 00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:41.679 you think about three or four games and I kind of got an I kind 266 00:16:41.679 --> 00:16:45.840 of got a read on a team about what they're going to be about. 267 00:16:45.279 --> 00:16:48.559 And then Yorkville goes and beats Minookah last week. Who's minook has been really 268 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:52.120 good in that conference, and then you start to think, wow, maybe 269 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:56.240 they're a little bit better than I thought they were in getting that win. 270 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:00.480 So a very big win for them. Again, we say all the time, 271 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:03.519 it's a game that they needed, you know, to keep themselves in 272 00:17:03.600 --> 00:17:07.200 position to possibly grab a playoff appearance and they're now three and three. They 273 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:11.200 got Oswego this week. That'll be a tough game, but that was a 274 00:17:11.279 --> 00:17:15.880 very big win for Yorkville and then Oswego. You know, they suffered their 275 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:22.039 first loss in Week five against Plainfield North. They came back in a huge 276 00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:26.799 fashion. They really took it to a previously unbeaten West Aurora team. They 277 00:17:26.880 --> 00:17:30.200 ran for god almost three hundred yards, which is big because they only ran 278 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:34.680 for forty yards or so against Plainfield North. So a really kind of a 279 00:17:34.720 --> 00:17:38.440 bounce back win for them. And again, I know Steven Kyle talked about 280 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:42.799 on their podcast Arduring the week that Southwest Pray West is just it is just 281 00:17:42.920 --> 00:17:47.559 why I mean, Steve mentioned it, and I agree. I'm not sure 282 00:17:47.599 --> 00:17:49.519 who the best team in that league is and I'm not sure who the worst 283 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:52.920 team in that league is. It's just a week to week type thing of 284 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:56.160 well this team does that, oh, this team does that. I really 285 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:59.720 don't know what to expect, but the bottom line is that makes it a 286 00:17:59.759 --> 00:18:03.720 lot of fun, no doubt. Absolutely. Uh look ahead into the schedule, 287 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:06.839 is we go into week seven, do you want to stay in the 288 00:18:06.920 --> 00:18:08.799 Ducaine? Where do you want to go. Yeah, I mean big win 289 00:18:10.039 --> 00:18:12.680 or a big game in the Cayne Conference this week is probably you know, 290 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:18.200 Geneva Wheaton North out the Wheaton South Lake Park game is pretty big for playoff 291 00:18:18.200 --> 00:18:22.440 implications. But Geneva, whaton North, two teams that are coming off you 292 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:26.319 know, close losses, I would say probably feeling a little bit different about 293 00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:32.039 things coming off those losses, whereas Geneva maybe feels maybe a little bit puff 294 00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:34.279 out the chest. We're feeling a little bit better about ourselves. I hate 295 00:18:34.279 --> 00:18:37.160 to say that in the loss, but they should. If they're not feeling 296 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:41.359 that way, they should. And on the other side, Wheaton North, 297 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:44.880 you know, they're probably feeling a little bit kind of ornery after losing that 298 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:47.519 game to Wheat and South, so kind of instant to see how that one 299 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:49.000 turns out. Yeah, I mean this is a big one. I mean 300 00:18:49.000 --> 00:18:52.599 they're what they're three and three. You know, we're we're starting to run 301 00:18:52.599 --> 00:18:56.279 out of games here, right like, So if you're if you're just looking 302 00:18:56.319 --> 00:18:59.759 at it from that standpoint like you kind of need this one or or if 303 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:03.119 you don't don't get this one, you certainly need the next two. So 304 00:19:03.559 --> 00:19:06.480 yeah, I mean we I would not have expected Wheton North to be a 305 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:07.440 team at the begind of the year that I'm like, Wow, they're really 306 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:11.200 kind of fighting for the playoff lives. But that's sort of the reality of 307 00:19:11.240 --> 00:19:15.759 the Ducaine Conference, and especially when you schedule a fairly difficult non conference schedule 308 00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:21.119 that we North did with with you know, playing Lockport. But yeah, 309 00:19:21.160 --> 00:19:22.799 I mean that it's a big one for them, you know, note about 310 00:19:22.839 --> 00:19:27.079 no doubt about that. And yeah, I mean I I kind of get 311 00:19:27.079 --> 00:19:30.759 a better read on Geneva than Wheat and North because I've seen them, but 312 00:19:30.079 --> 00:19:33.160 uh, you know, kind of instant to see you know, Geneva can 313 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:37.440 continue to get it going if they can get Talent tailor a little bit more 314 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:41.599 involved. I have to believe that that is a big emphasis in practice this 315 00:19:41.640 --> 00:19:44.319 week, that we need to get talent back on track. Is just kind 316 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:45.720 of a quiet game for him, and he's way better player than that, 317 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:52.000 so h and like for me on that is like sometimes like you just don't 318 00:19:52.039 --> 00:19:53.640 have like the best game, you know, but that's okay, Like, 319 00:19:53.680 --> 00:19:59.079 I mean, that's that's part of that's part of just sports and and improving. 320 00:19:59.200 --> 00:20:02.799 So I was doing a quick fly by here and just any other quick 321 00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:06.079 games that caught my eye, not so much in the Dukene. I mean, 322 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:07.680 I think those are the two big ones, so we can just jump 323 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:12.119 over to what you think in suburban life. Yeah. So, you know, 324 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:18.599 an interesting game on Elmhurst Friday. Loyola is playing Icy Catholic, a 325 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:25.039 matchup of you know, defending state champions. You know, Loyola obviously a 326 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:30.720 significantly bigger enrollment school than I see, but I see as shown already that 327 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:33.599 they can compete with the big boys. I mean they you know, they 328 00:20:33.640 --> 00:20:37.119 beat Maris a couple of weeks ago. You know, May's being a much 329 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:40.559 bigger school. So yeah, kind of curious to see if I see can 330 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:42.680 hang in there against the team that I mean, I'm sure that Loyola has 331 00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:48.440 way fewer players going two ways than than Ice Catholic, So yeah, that'll 332 00:20:48.480 --> 00:20:52.079 be a good kind of measuring stick to see how they do in the Catholic 333 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:55.079 week. Another one, Yeah, I mean, I don't have too much 334 00:20:55.119 --> 00:20:56.599 more to add on that, but I do like what you brought up about 335 00:20:56.599 --> 00:21:00.440 the whole two way thing because I think you'll start maybe to see it, 336 00:21:00.000 --> 00:21:03.279 you know, third quarter, fourth quarter, you know, especially if Loyola 337 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:07.319 is just able to run the rock and control the clock. That's you know, 338 00:21:07.359 --> 00:21:10.799 that's kind of what I'd be looking for. Yeah, definitely as you 339 00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:14.200 look later in the game and also later in the season two. I mean, 340 00:21:14.480 --> 00:21:17.759 you know, I think every team, maybe they don't start off quite 341 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:19.039 as healthy at the end of the year as they did at the beginning of 342 00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:22.240 the year. It's to nature of the game. So yeah, you know, 343 00:21:22.440 --> 00:21:26.920 we'll see how you know, they'll they're able to handle that. You 344 00:21:26.960 --> 00:21:32.720 know. Another kind of interesting game that I'm watching in the West Suburban Silver, 345 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:36.799 down A Grove North is going to Lions Township, two teams that I 346 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:38.839 said at the beginning of the year, I thought that they were probably the 347 00:21:38.880 --> 00:21:44.480 most likely teams to to kind of nudge and challenge the Yorks of the world 348 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:48.839 and you know, Glenbard West for supremacy in the West Suburban Silver. Kind 349 00:21:48.839 --> 00:21:53.319 of still feel that way, you know, curious to see how Downers grow 350 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:56.640 North is able to bounce back from from losing York. And on the other 351 00:21:56.680 --> 00:22:02.559 hand, you know, Alliance's head some games, they're they're kind of close 352 00:22:02.599 --> 00:22:06.039 to being undefeated. I feel like they've led at halftime of both games, 353 00:22:06.079 --> 00:22:08.720 and you know, I think they're a really good team, but I think 354 00:22:08.759 --> 00:22:11.960 that a win Friday would do a little bit more in my confidence level for 355 00:22:12.039 --> 00:22:15.279 them. If they're able to get that win over Downers North. Yeah, 356 00:22:15.319 --> 00:22:18.240 I mean, my my only context to add was I just saw them in 357 00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:23.160 one game against Glenbard West, and you know, I just go back to 358 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:27.000 that game of just finishing drives, penal these you know mistakes where frankly, 359 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:30.279 that was a game that they should have won. So, you know, 360 00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:32.960 assuming that they can get those corrected over the you know, the course of 361 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:34.599 the next you know, number of weeks, we'll see. Yeah. I 362 00:22:34.640 --> 00:22:37.799 mean, we're gonna find out a lot about Lions Township the next two weeks 363 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:41.480 because they go Downers Go North and York back to back. So you know, 364 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:45.880 we're going to get a pretty good indication about you know, where they're 365 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:48.799 at, not only in their conference, but just you know quality in general. 366 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:52.960 Going to the playoffs. You know, Friday night game that I'm going 367 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:56.720 to be at, I'm going to be at Oswego Yorkville playing Oswego, you 368 00:22:56.720 --> 00:23:00.799 know, kind of neighborhood. I don't know how big arrivals there. They've 369 00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:03.920 only been in the same conference for a couple of years, but certainly two 370 00:23:04.160 --> 00:23:07.480 kind of blue collar teams that like to run the football, they like to 371 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:11.400 play good defense, and you know, Yorkville is definitely in the upper hand 372 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:14.480 the last couple of years. They won a game a couple of week years 373 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:17.720 ago to get to the playoffs. They shut them out last year. You 374 00:23:17.720 --> 00:23:22.000 know. Right now, Oswego they still have a chance to win at least 375 00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:23.880 to share the conference title, but they better win this game if they want 376 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:27.759 to do that. So I'm really curious just to see Yorkville, just to 377 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:30.160 see what they're all about. I haven't had a chance to see him yet. 378 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:36.559 Oswego. They're a team that they continue to be really defined by their 379 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:40.200 defense and the success that they're able to have. And they were able to 380 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:44.079 run a football again, you know, last Fridays. So that's gonna be 381 00:23:44.079 --> 00:23:47.039 another game, you know that conference. I mentioned a few minutes to go 382 00:23:47.079 --> 00:23:49.200 on this podcast, I don't know what to expect every week going to the 383 00:23:49.240 --> 00:23:52.799 game. And I will say, as a sports writer, when you don't 384 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:55.160 know what to expect going into the game, on the one hand, it's 385 00:23:55.240 --> 00:23:57.400 like, wow, I don't really have that angle going into Friday. So 386 00:23:57.440 --> 00:24:00.400 that makes my job a little bit more different. But on the other hand, 387 00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:03.400 I love it. I mean, you love it when you go into 388 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:07.359 a game and you don't know what to expect, you don't have preordained storylines, 389 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:11.240 And that is the way it is for me Friday going into that game. 390 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:14.119 Yeah, I mean just to I, you know, to pull the 391 00:24:14.119 --> 00:24:15.440 curtain back a little bit, like sometimes like I don't even know what my 392 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:19.960 lead is until I'm like talking to the coaches and they they say something that 393 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:23.319 sparks it right like, And that's what makes this fun is is that it's 394 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:26.480 not it's not as easy as here's the cookie cutter lead that I had going 395 00:24:26.559 --> 00:24:30.720 in. It's anything can happen, and that's what makes us fun. It's 396 00:24:30.759 --> 00:24:33.400 a sports where it's just so much more enjoyable when you go to a game 397 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:36.960 not knowing what to expect. When I mean there's a lot of games again 398 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.160 we're pulling back to curtain where you go to a game and you have a 399 00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:41.480 pretty idea about what's going to be the outcome of the game. This is 400 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:44.960 this is one of the games Friday where I'm not sure. I mean, 401 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:48.599 I think I swego is there's certainly the better team on Paper end with their 402 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:52.359 record, but New York Fellow has shown that they can compete with teams and 403 00:24:52.119 --> 00:24:53.920 yeah, well we'll see. Should be a good game, a lot of 404 00:24:53.920 --> 00:24:57.680 good games Friday. Absolutely, So with that, I think we'll wrap things 405 00:24:57.759 --> 00:25:03.440 up again. Just another remind to tune into Friday Night Live with us as 406 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:07.119 we're gonna have our writers joining all throughout the night. And of course these 407 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:10.160 do see the star of the show. He does great as always, so 408 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:12.440 for Josh Walgi. Any of the quick closing thoughts here, No, it 409 00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:15.759 should be a great week all right for Josh Walgy. I'm Jake Barlaston. 410 00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:18.200 Thanks so much for making us part of your afternoon and we'll see you next 411 00:25:18.200 --> 00:25:25.319 week. Schweiker Gannison Kuzak Rundio proudly sponsors for Friday Night Drive. I'm Mike 412 00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:27.440 Krizak. If you've been injured, we are ready to take on the insurance 413 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:30.680 company and get you to the end zone. We've recovered hundreds of millions of 414 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:36.079 dollars for our clients. 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