Maybe 13 will be the lucky one for Oswego East.
The Wolves travel across town to rival Oswego Friday seeking their first win in the series dating to 2005. Just as important as local bragging rights is the impact on the Southwest Prairie Conference race.
Oswego East (5-0, 5-0) has matched last year’s best start in program history and holds a one-game lead in the conference over both the Panthers (4-1, 4-1) and Minooka.
“People outside (the team) will make it bigger, but for us, it’s the next game on the schedule, a conference championship game,” Wolves coach Tyson LeBlanc said. “The way I look at it, the pressure is on them. They’re the ones with the (winning) streak.”
Oswego coach Brian Cooney said the rivalry compares favorably with any in the area.
“It’s like Waubonsie Valley-Neuqua Valley or Naperville Central and North,” he said. “We try to stick with what we know to be true (on the field) and don’t let the situation get bigger than what it is, which is high school kids vs. high school kids.”
It features two outstanding defenses. Oswego East’s is headlined by Illinois commit Antwain Walker and Northern Illinois commit Justin Clark in the secondary. But it’s strong across the board, allowing an average of 10.4 points.
Oswego, which counters with Iowa commit Noah Shannon on the line and Western Illinois commit Josh Shodipo in the secondary, has been even stingier. The Panthers allow an average of 7.4 points.
LeBlanc said Oswego East’s Brett Fern, who has split time with Clark at quarterback, will be sidelined by a shoulder injury suffered last week.
“We’re still preparing for everybody, just in case,” Cooney said.
LeBlanc said Oswego’s passing game in Levi Olson’s second year is improved and the run game behind physical Charles Coleman will be a challenge.
“You need to tackle him low, don’t try to tackle him high,” LeBlanc said.
One more time: Batavia travels to Geneva Friday for the 99th meeting in the series between neighboring rivals that dates to 1913.
The Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0) have won six straight in the series to cut the Vikings’ lead to 51-42-5. Geneva (3-2, 2-1) needs to win to stay in the Upstate Eight River title hunt. Batavia looks to keep winning to set up a potential title game vs. St. Charles North (4-1, 2-0) in the regular-season finale.
The Vikings will also want to win this one for coach Rob Wicinski, whose father died earlier this week. He has been in Michigan for the funeral, but will return for the game.
The big one: Jake Baxa, Marmion’s 6-foot-5, 270-pound center, was happy with the last week’s 28-27 upset of Montini last week. But he also relishes Friday’s game at Fenwick.
“It’s my biggest game of the year,” Baxa said. “We’re kind of like a Fenwick family, My dad and his brothers went there. … A win will help me a lot at Thanksgiving and Christmas.”
Baxa is one of just three returning starters on offense and also plays nose tackle for the Cadets (5-0, 2-0).
“I think we’ve earned it,” Baxa said. “Down (27-20) to Montini with 90 seconds and 80 yards to go, (fellow lineman) John Roche and I were talking and I said, ‘At least we’ve got Brandon (McPherson).’ He kept us composed. We just wanted to give him time and he led us to the winning score.”
Baxa said his teammate could be one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the state.
Twitter @RickArmstrong28
Mike Clark’s Chicago-area football rankings
With records and previous rankings
1. Lincoln-Way East 5-0 (1)
Up next: Friday at No. 6 Homewood-Flossmoor
2. Maine South 4-1 (2)
Up next: Forfeit win over Niles North
3. Prairie Ridge 5-0 (3)
Up next: Friday at McHenry
4. Naperville Central 5-0 (4)
Up next: Saturday vs. St. Edward (Ohio)
5. Phillips 5-0 (5)
Up next: Friday vs. South Shore at Mandrake
6. Homewood-Flossmoor 5-0 (6)
Up next: Friday vs. No. 1 Lincoln-Way East
7. Lyons 5-0 (7)
Up next: Friday vs. No. 8 Glenbard West
8. Glenbard West 4-1 (8)
Up next: Friday at No. 7 Lyons
9. Loyola 4-1 (9)
Up next: Friday at St. Rita
10. Lake Zurich 5-0 (10)
Up next: Thursday at Lake Forest
11. Marist 5-0 (11)
Up next: Friday vs. St. Patrick
12. Barrington 5-0 (12)
Up next: Thursday at Palatine
13. Stevenson 4-1 (13)
Up next: Thursday at Libertyville
14. Nazareth 5-0 (17)
Up next: Friday vs. Joliet Catholic
15. Hinsdale Central 4-1 (16)
Up next: Saturday vs. Proviso West
16. Huntley 4-1 (20)
Up next: Friday at West Aurora
17. Batavia 5-0 (18)
Up next: Friday at Geneva
18. Bolingbrook 4-1 (NR)
Up next: Friday vs. Lockport
19. Neuqua Valley 4-1 (NR)
Up next: Friday vs. Naperville North
20. Providence 3-2 (NR)
Up next: Friday vs. Hope Academy at Altgeld
