Kane County Chronicle Football Notes: Nathan Hayes, St. Charles East turn the page, get big bounce-back win against Waubonsie

St. Charles East’s offense wasted little time re-adjusting last week.

After a difficult Week 1 loss to Lemont to open the season, Saints quarterback Nathan Hayes and his offense took just one day to turn the page.

“I think just a lot of guys saw that speed in Lemont and we weren’t ready for it,” Hayes said. “That Saturday, we said ‘OK, this is where we need to be.’”

“Last Monday, we set the tone in practice and practiced a lot faster,” Hayes continued. “I thought going into the game against Waubonsie, we were a lot looser because we felt more prepared and faster during the week of practice. I think just overall [we were] more confident in ourselves for that game.”

The results apparently agree. St. Charles East bounced back in a big way with a 27-7 win over Waubonsie Valley.

Hayes exploded to go 14-of-27 with 253 yards and four touchdowns to three different receivers. On the ground, the Saints had 130 yards on 30 carries.

“I thought [the offensive line] did a really good job,” Hayes said. “I felt more confident in them and I was able to step up in the pocket a few times and make some throws downfield. The fact that I am feeling more comfortable in the pocket is all a credit to them and the work they’ve been putting in.”

The 27 points scored last week is more points put up on the scoreboard than at any point during the spring season for the Saints (1-1). Twenty-one was their spring season high and they finished with 35 total.

“I trust all my guys,” Hayes said. [Wideout] Jake Goodmiller is a guy that runs good routes and knows where to be in the holes of the defense. Mason Tousignant had a breakout game, so he’s a guy that I have to get the ball to more.”

“Kelton [McCaslin] is becoming more confident in himself. It was only a matter of time that he had a great game like he did on Friday,” Hayes said.

Tyler Sapit shines on Batavia ‘D’ line: Batavia senior defensive lineman Tyler Sapit has finally started to click on performing all the fundamentals of a defensive end.

Sapit is third on the defense with 15 tackles.

“Staying low, keeping my feet moving [and] being aggressive with my hands,” Sapit said. “Just overall everything. I just really put my mental game into that and it’s showing, I guess.”

After being primarily a rotational piece in the spring, Sapit now has more opportunity to shine as a starter. Sapit only had two total tackles and three quarterback hurries during the spring.

Batavia (2-0), coming off a come-from-behind 21-13 win at Oswego, turns its attention to a pivotal Week 3 matchup against Wheaton North in the DuKane Conference opener. The Falcons beat the Bulldogs 16-7 in April at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb to close out the spring season.

“We’ve got to keep an eye on their deep passing game, of course,” Sapit said. “That’s mostly for the DBs and then D-Line, we can help out too by getting a nice pass rush. We heard [Wheaton North QB Mark Forcucci] holds onto the ball for about four seconds, so we have to get a pass rush in there.”

George Litgen, St. Charles North ‘D’ off to impressive start: Through two weeks, the St. Charles North defense has yet to surrender a point.

It’s started with executing the defensive game plan and going from there.

“We’ve played a pretty physical and athletic brand of football,” senior linebacker George Litgen said. “I think that has helped us to hold those two goose eggs.”

Litgen is leading the team with 13 tackles, but the North Stars (2-0) are also getting it done up front with senior Lucas Sharkey and sophomore Angelo Bradley.

Sharkey has a team-high seven sacks, while Bradley is third in total tackles with 10.

“[Bradley’s] motor is unreal. That kid flies around on the field,” Litgen said. “I’ll see him see him make tackles all the way on the other side of the field chasing guys down.”

“What Luke has been doing is crazy,” Litgen continued. “Seven sacks and it’s helping out the whole defense; definitely helping out our defensive backs getting the pressure on the quarterback.”