Byron stares down playoff home opener

By Chris Johnson

Sports Correspondent

The Byron Tigers are one win away from guaranteeing they will be home on Friday, Oct. 28, when the IHSA Class 3A Football Playoffs begin. On Friday night, Oct. 7, the Tigers broke free from the Trojans and carried a 31-13 final to a 7-0 record. The win dropped Mendota to 1-6 on the year and puts Byron in Rockford this Friday night.

Rockford Christian is coming off a two-point overtime loss to the Winnebago Indians. The Royal Lions are led by former Pecatonica Indians Head Coach Brett Frederick. Earlier this season, Rockford Christian found success on the field for the first time since 2012. They carry a 2-5 mark heading into this Friday night’s date with destiny.

Byron is in the situation of determining where the playoffs will begin. A win on Friday means the 8-0 mark heading into the season finale against Winnebago won’t be for a home game only. They’ll already have that secured. If they take out the 5-2 Indians, they know they will have a chance to stay perfect and will be the top seed in the northern branch of the Class 3A Tournament. It’s that simple for Byron.

The Tigers are averaging 48 points a game on offense. The number puts it in the realms of the elite offensive teams in the State. There is another problem for Byron’s opponents this year as well. In seven wins, Byron has given up 100 points. Genoa-Kingston has scored almost 120 points less than Byron this season. They’ve given up four points less as well. The Cogs are 7-0 and are coming off an impressive 14-6 defensive gem over Dixon. The Dukes were hovering near the top of the Big Northern standings into week seven. They’ve now slipped two games behind the leaders with two games to go. Only Byron and Genoa-Kingston has the chance to be the undefeated champion of the Big Northern Conference. As the schedule was set up heading into the 2016 season, Byron and Genoa-Kingston were not penciled in to do battle. That could happen at the Class 3A semi-final level in mid-November. This season two teams may find a way to survive the eleven-team Big Northern Conference with 9-0 marks.

In week nine the Tigers head home and prepare to close the regular season against an old friend and another team Byron may have to work through to get their chance at the Class 3A Title. Winnebago, with a 5-2 mark has to deal with 5-2 Rockford Lutheran this Friday night before preparing for the undefeated Tigers next week. Based on the strength of schedule and the total playoff points that appear to be lining up, Winnebago will be a team that is higher on the tree in getting a bid to the post-season with a mark that has the potential to fall to 5-4 before the Oct. 28 post-season openers.

There are negatives to just getting in however. If Winnebago loses to both the Crusaders and Tigers, their 5-4 mark could put them directly in the path of one of the potential co-champions of the Big Northern Conference, either Byron or Genoa-Kingston in the opening round game.

Byron will be favored in this Friday night’s match. Byron appears to have the statistical edge in their week nine game as well.