When Darin Ashiru transferred to Batavia last December from Plainfield North, comparisons to former players for the Bulldogs became inevitable.

Ashiru has a similar skill set and even personality to Isaiah Brown, last season’s field-stretching star. The comparison is an easy one to make for junior quarterback Michael Vander Luitgaren.

“We joke around with Darin a lot, saying he’s literally Little Zay,” Vander Luitgaren said. “They both run crispy routes. One-on-one, I know where I’m going. Throwing to Darin is like throwing to Zay.”

By this point of the season, Ashiru and Vander Luitgaren have developed an easy chemistry. And the results showed Friday during a 24-21 DuKane Conference win in overtime at rival Geneva.

Ashiru finished with seven catches for 111 yards to lead Batavia (4-2, 3-1). The junior recover also scored the Bulldogs’ first touchdown, grabbing a 29-yard pass from Vander Luitgaren.

Vander Luitgaren completed 19 of 28 passes for 248 yards with two TDs and an interception, only his second pick of the season. He also added a 1-yard TD run.

Batavia kicker Caleb Peters (17) and holder Bodi Anderson (4) react to an extra point against Geneva during the second quarter of a DuKane Conference game in Geneva on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

Charlie Rosengren caught a 19-yard TD pass and ran for a team-best 68 yards. Defensively, Nick Jansey had three sacks. Caleb Peters made the game-winning 27-yard field goal in overtime.

Geneva’s Ben Peterson nearly matched Vander Luitgaren all night for Geneva (3-3, 2-2), completing 13 of 25 passes for 345 yards and 2 TDs — with an 83-yarder to Bennett Konkey and a 23-yarder to Lincoln Mercado. Peterson also picked up a 6-yard TD run.

Ashiru’s career at Batavia, meanwhile, got off to a tough start. He broke a rib on the first play from scrimmage against Glenbard West. It meant he had even more catching up to do.

“It was tough being hurt,” he said. “I broke a rib, so that’s never fun. The process of getting me back was amazing. They helped me with everything to get me back to how I was before I got hurt.

Batavia’s Charlie Rosengren (7) finds space to run against Geneva during during the first quarter of a DuKane Conference game in Geneva on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

“Now you see, we’re balling.”

In his first full season as a starter, Vander Luitgaren is happy to have Ashiru back up to speed too.

“It took us awhile to get him going, but I think when he’s full go, we’re going to be a really scary offense,” Vander Luitgaren said. “I’d take him one-on-one with almost any DB in the state.

“He’s one of the best receivers I’ve ever thrown to.”

Batavia’s Michael Vander Luitgaren (8) goes down after being tripped up against Geneva during the first quarter of a DuKane Conference game in Geneva on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

Konkey’s huge TD catch got Geneva on the board first and Batavia was forced to chase the rest of the way. Ashiru’s TD catch forced a 7-7 tie at halftime. After Geneva grabbed a 14-7 lead, Batavia scored two straight TDs to take its first lead.

Peterson’s TD run wound up forcing OT, though. The Vikings were stymied on fourth down on the first possession. After two running plays and a penalty, Batavia brought in Peters for the field goal.

“They made the plays at the end,” Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen said. “I’m just so proud of the kids and the adversity we’ve fought through this year. The way we performed (Friday) makes you proud as a coach.

“This is going to make us a better football team down the stretch.”

Batavia’s Darin Ashiru (0) gets into the open field after shedding a tackle for a TD against Geneva in the second quarter of a DuKane Conference game in Geneva on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (H. Rick Bamman / The Beacon-News)

For Batavia, after close losses to Glenbard West and St. Charles North, the win was welcomed.

“If we lost this game, it would be a lot harder for us to do what we need to do,” Vander Luitgaren said. “Winning this game puts us in a lot easier spot, but we still know we have a long way to go.

“We have to be perfect from here on out.”

And games like this were exactly what Ashiru envisioned when he arrived at Batavia.

“There is something special that we have here,” Ashiru said. “This is what prepares you for the next level, these big games. It’s great being a part of something that’s bigger than yourself.”

Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/03/darin-ashiru-batavia-geneva-ihsa-football/