Darin Ashiru is getting a lesson on how things work for Batavia’s football program in the playoffs.
The Bulldogs have shown a propensity for taking their best athletes, moving them around and using them in unfamiliar roles as the games get more and more important.
The junior receiver found that out against Hoffman Estates on Friday night when he lined up on defense at cornerback, something he hadn’t done since his freshman year at Plainfield North.
“We knew that they can throw the ball,” Ashiru said. “They have a lot of athletes around the field. We’re in playoff mode. It’s time for everything, so we made the decision in certain packages.”
In his first series defending the star receiver Torey Baskin, Ashiru came up with an interception. It led to one of Batavia’s eight touchdowns for a 56-0 rout in a Class 7A first-round playoff game.
Ashiru wasn’t too bad at his day job, either. He caught eight passes for 91 yards to lead Batavia (8-2), including a 42-yard TD from Michael Vander Luitgaren. Vander Luitgaren completed 11 of 16 passes for 165 yards and two TDs. He also connected with Brett Berggren on a 29-yard TD.
Batavia’s Darin Ashiru (0) breaks free for extra yards against Hoffman Estates during a Class 7A first-round playoff game in Batavia on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (James C. Svehla / The Beacon-News)
Preston Brummel also scored three TDs for the Bulldogs and Henry Hahn added one. They each carried the ball 10 times and combined for 129 yards on the ground.
Ashiru, meanwhile, joined several of this year’s stars playing on the other side of the ball. Ryan Myers, the DuKane Conference’s offensive lineman of the year, chipped in on defense Friday.
“We’re just trying to take advantage as much as we can of all of our guys right now,” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said. “Myers is giving us a little boost on defense as well.
“It’s a really nice job by our guys overall figuring the game out.”
Batavia’s Michael Vander Luitgaren (8) protects the ball on a run against Hoffman Estates during a Class 7A first-round playoff game in Batavia on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (James C. Svehla / The Beacon-News)
For Ashiru, it was a matter of utilizing his elite athleticism as often as possible. He dropped back to return kickoffs and punts Friday as well but didn’t get a chance to return one.
“He looked good in practice this week,” Piron said of Ashiru. “That was their best receiver and that was a beautiful interception. He took it away from him.”
Vander Luitgaren pointed out that he was on the bench going over the previous drive when he heard there was an interception.
“I see Darin jumping up and down, running off the field,” Vander Luitgaren said. “I was like, ‘Was that Darin?’ We have so many athletes — it’s just second nature to guys.
Batavia’s Preston Brummel (36) gets past Hoffman Estates’ Brandon Smith (4) for a TD during a Class 7A first-round playoff game in Batavia on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (James C. Svehla / The Beacon-News)
“He could go both ways full time if he wanted to. We want to keep him on offense, obviously.”
Ashiru loved the fact that could make an immediate impact at a new position.
“It was great,” Ashiru said. “Being able to come in on defense and make a big play like that while still being able to contribute on offense is huge. It’s great for us.”
And while offense put up the points, the defense was the star of the show.
The Bulldogs forced five turnovers and scored twice. Nick Jansey had a 19-yard fumble return TD in the second quarter and Jack Brown had a 50-yard fumble return TD in the third.
“The defense played exceptionally well,” Vander Luitgaren said. “Getting five turnovers, you can’t lose a game if you have five turnovers. The defense was the reason we won.
“They put us in spots to win the game.”
Batavia’s Darin Ashiru (0) reacts after beating Hoffman Estates in a Class 7A first-round playoff game in Batavia on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (James C. Svehla / The Beacon-News)
Piron is pleased with where his team is at heading into next week’s second round against Glenbard East, (9-1), a 63-29 winner Friday over West Chicago.
“We’re starting to get right and get healthy at the right time and do really good things,” Piron said.
It also was Ashiru’s first taste of Batavia playoff football, and he’s ready for more.
“It doesn’t get any better than this,” Ashiru said. “We’ve showed a lot of improvement. That was our first 50-point game. That was our first shutout. We’re firing on all cylinders now.”
Paul Johnson is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/31/darin-ashiru-batavia-hoffman-estates-ihsa-football/
