They have two Greater Catholic League Coed Division home games remaining at Hamilton’s Virgil Schwarm Stadium, facing Chaminade Julienne on Saturday night and McNicholas on Oct. 28.
“The seniors have a few more days of football, and our goal is to finish out these last few weeks strong,” Badin coach Bill Tenore said. “Every time you go out there, that’s the most important game of the year. The records don’t really matter in the game you’ve got on that day, so we’re just going to try to win a couple football games.”
The Rams trail 27-21-2 in the series with CJ, yet have won the last four meetings. But the 2016 Eagles still have plenty to play for.
CJ is 5-3 and on a four-game winning streak. It remains in contention for a Region 16 postseason berth and can still win the GCLC North Division title — unbeaten Alter looms in Week 10.
Eagles coach Marcus Colvin said he’s watched his team mature throughout the season.
“They’ve been really locked in,” Colvin said. “I’ll admit I’m proud of where our guys are right now. We’ve played very good defense and been very opportunistic offensively.”
The CJ offense is averaging 35.5 points per game during the current winning streak, keyed by junior quarterback Ryan Peltier (6-1, 180) and senior running back Jac’Quel Freeman (5-7, 153).
Defensively, junior outside linebacker Isaiah Haywood (6-2, 197) and senior cornerback Darian Jones (5-8, 155) are the hammers.
“It definitely starts with those two,” Colvin said. “I could talk about Darian all day. He’s scored just about every possible way this year. He’s our Jabrill Peppers. He does everything for us.”
Badin ranks last in the GCLC in total offense (204.6 yards per game) and scoring (15 points per game). But Colvin described the Rams as “capital T tough.”
“They look a lot better than a 2-6 football team on film,” he said. “They’re a talented bunch. We see their record, but it doesn’t mean much to us. They’ve gotten us the last couple years.”
Particularly painful was the last trip to Hamilton in 2014. Badin won 55-49 and stopped CJ quarterback Jacob Harrison just short of the goal line on the last play of the game.
“That was a bus ride that hurt,” Colvin said. “If I ever write a book, I’ll write about my gut feeling from that game.”
Tenore believes his team can compete with the Eagles this year.
“I think CJ’s a very winnable game for us,” Tenore said. “I think we’re ready to put together a good effort. The kids are playing hard. In the fourth quarter, we should be in a position where we can win the game.”
Saturday’s game
What: Chaminade Julienne (5-3, 4-1 GCLC North) vs. Badin (2-6, 1-4 GCLC Central) at Hamilton, 7 p.m.
Where: Virgil Schwarm Stadium, 1165 Eaton Ave., Hamilton
Last meeting: Badin won 29-9 in 2015
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