Nov. 07--A Friday rush-hour drive from the far West Suburbs to Chicago's South Side was Batavia's reward for earning the No. 4 seed in the Class 7A playoffs.
DeKalb is closer, and Batavia played like a team with designs on being there come Thanksgiving weekend.
Kyle Niemiec looked the part of a state-championship quarterback, throwing for 229 yards and four touchdowns -- three to tight end Glenn Albanese -- and rushing for 111 and a score as the Bulldogs beat Simeon 35-14 at Gately Stadium.
Albanese starred for Batavia (10-1), whose lone loss came to 8A power Naperville Central.
"We are a team that just wants to play football no matter where we're at," Niemiec said. "Who cares where we're playing? We are playing the game we love. Yeah we know where it's at, but who cares? We're playing football."
The intimidation factor of playing Simeon (8-3) at Gately clearly had no effect on Niemiec at any point.
His first two completions were touchdowns, a 68-yarder to favorite target Canaan Coffey on the first play of the game and a 32-yarder to Albanese that gave Batavia a 14-0 lead before Simeon recorded a first down.
Albanese, a 6-foot-5 junior who has orally committed to play baseball at Louisville, scored on all three of his receptions.
His 16-yard catch from Niemiec gave Batavia a 21-0 lead at the half, and they connected again in the third quarter on a 17-yarder to make it 28-7.
Niemiec outran a Simeon defense known for its speed for the game's final score, a 31-yard bolt.
"I don't know what to say about that kid any more," Albanese said of Niemiec. "He's crazy. He is so good, you can go on and on about him. He's such a versatile kid. He's almost a running back playing quarterback."
Mike Helfgot is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
Player of the game: Kyle Niemiec, Batavia, 12-for-22, 229 yards, 4 TDs; 11 carries, 111 yards, TD.
Key performers: Batavia -- Glenn Albanese, 3 catches, 65 yards, 3 TDs; Canaan Coffey, 4 catches, 97 yards, TD. Simeon -- Malik Holcomb, 8 catches, 108 yards, TD.
