Genoa-Kingston: October 2008 Archives

It's playoff time for Hampshire, Genoa-Kingston, Bartlett, St. Charles North, St. Charles East and Huntley.

Here's a year-by-year look at the rivalry between Hampshire and Genoa-Kingston since 1984. The teams meet Friday night in Genoa in round 1 of the Class 4A Playoffs.

Of the eight classes in the state playoffs, none has a richer tradition than the Class 4A bracket when it comes to total number of state championships.

BY. R.J. GERBER
AND BRANDON MANGIA
Staff Writers

Hampshire and Genoa-Kingston don't need any introductions.

The two schools are separated by only nine miles and have a long history on the football field. And the two programs will renew their rivalry this weekend when the 11th-seeded Whip-Purs (6-3) and sixth-seeded Cogs (7-2) hook up in Genoa in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs.

From Staff Reports

BYRON -- Genoa-Kingston outlasted Big Northern Conference West rival Byron 15-13 on Friday to move to 6-3, 3-2.

The Cogs battled back from an early 6-0 deficit, eventually extending their lead to 15-6 on 9-yard touchdown run by Chris Wilkins. G-K then had to hold off a late charge by the Tigers (2-3, 3-6).

An in-depth look at week 9's area contests in the BNC, FVC and SCC. The capsule for the Dundee-Crown vs. Jacobs rivalry game will be featured in a separate post.

Larkin football passed its first must-win test of the season last week, defeating Elgin in the Town Jug game.

The job gets more difficult tonight when the Royals visit Waubonsie Valley. Larkin sits at 4-4 and needs a victory to become playoff eligible.

With the 2008 regular season about to end, what better time to take a look ahead to what we might expect in 2009.

Although a number of area teams are dominated by talented seniors this year, there are a plenty of underclassmen making a big impact.

Look no further than Bartlett and Huntley, the two unbeaten teams in the area, to find some of the best young talent around.

St. Charles East coach Ted Monken is never one to shy away from a shootout.

Then again, that should come as no surprise when he's got a gunslinger like senior running back Wes Allen, who ran for six touchdowns each of the past two weeks.

Despite those heroics, the Saints could only earn a spit in those two games, beating Lake Park 42-41 in double overtime in Week 5 before dropping a 49-42, four-overtime affair against Neuqua Valley last week.

Could East be in for another wild affair this week?

It's Week 6 of the high school football season, and every team in the area is dealing with bumps and bruises.

For teams with 3-2 records like Dundee-Crown, St. Edward and St. Charles North, this week is critical as they look to give their playoff hopes a boost. However, the Chargers, Green Wave and North Stars could all be without key offensive playmakers when they take the field this weekend.