One day after covering the Byron and Oregon football game, I was in Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City for the Arizona and Utah game. In terms of execution, Byron was on par with anything done at the college level.
After observing Byron the last few years, this is the conclusion I've come to: Yes, they have some talented athletes, but what really separates them from everyone else is execution and discipline.
Someone whose judgment l respect is former coach Kevin O’Neil. He told me that Byron works as hard as any team in the state. That would explain why every aspect of its game operates as such a high level.
That is contrary to what I hear from coaches all over the area in all types of sports and that is a general malaise and lack of commitment among today's young people.
As an advocate of sportsmanship and respect for officials, the Byron-Oregon game checked all the boxes. There was no chippiness on the field, fans were well-behaved and the opposing coaches chatted in unity afterwards.
There is no reason all of us, no matter whose side you're on, can't come together in harmony. After all, it's only a football game.
I say that partially in jest because when I was growing up, there was nothing more important on a Friday than football.
Though I am an Oregon resident, I spent part of the game in the Byron bleachers watching it with coach Boyer's grandmother Rose and other family members. Interacting with people from other towns has always been gratifying.
Certainly, relationships between Byron and Oregon have thawed quite a bit from long ago when sports rivalries became quite intense at the youth level on up after Byron started receiving nuke plant monies.
It's another rivalry game this week for Oregon against Stillman Valley. You got to love the fact these three schools are so close to one another and have maintained such storied tradition together.
After whipping North Boone and having winnable games upcoming with 'Bago and GK, 3-2 Stillman can afford a loss. Oregon's situation is much more tenuous with Lutheran still on the schedule.
No doubt, this will be the key game of the year for the Hawks. Even though they lost decisively to Byron, they played fairly well.
Don't forget about the huge match up at Milledgeville between Polo (5-0) and the Missiles (5-0). With No. 1 Amboy's loss to Ridgewood, the winner between these two schools will have the inside track on the top seed in the 8-man playoffs.
It's going to be the most difficult Friday of the season for me to choose what game to attend, as Rochelle hosts Morris also.
Forreston appears to be the only Ogle County school to not have a chance for the post season. You can't get down on the Cardinals, though.
They have a small senior class this year and play tough opponents. Comparatively, they've had one of the best statewide runs over the past 13 years and that is something to celebrate.
The IHSA postseason has already started with golf regional this week. Congratulations to Amelia Dunseth of Stillman Valley for winning the girls Big Northern individual title. Last year, she shot an impressive 79 to finish fifth at the sectional and advance downstate.
I still believe high-school golf is the most mentally taxing of all the sports.
Andy Colbert is a longtime Ogle County resident with years of experience covering sports and more for multiple area publications.
