Can you hear me now?
Definitely.
Batavia receiver Brett Berggren had a good connection with up-and-coming quarterback Michael Vander Luitgaren last November when both turned in record-setting performances in a Class 7A championship game loss to Mount Carmel.
Berggren, now a senior, caught eight passes for championship game records of 191 yards and three TDs from Vander Luitgaren, a sophomore who came off the bench in the eventual 55-34 loss and threw for 390 yards, also a record.
“That was a great accomplishment I could take from that game,” said Berggren, a three-sport standout who plays basketball and runs track. “Obviously, we didn’t get the job done. We didn’t get the win.
“I feel like there’s so much more to do than just those records.”
With Berggren and Vander Luitgaren back for a full season, the best may be yet to come for the Bulldogs, who slot in at No. 1 in the Beacon-News/Courier-News preseason rankings.
It was the fourth straight year that the Caravan, who move up to Class 8A this season, eliminated Batavia from the playoffs.
“They’re a great team and have some studs,” Berggren said. “Getting another chance at them would be amazing, but I just want to see where the season takes us.
“Hopefully, go win the whole thing.”
Vander Luitgaren stoked his recruiting interest with a dazzling playoff run while sharing quarterback duties with junior starter Bodi Anderson. Vander Luitgaren received an offer from Toledo this summer and will lead a diversified, explosive attack.
The 6-foot-2, 185-pound Berggren is the team’s top returnee at receiver, snagging 47 catches for 851 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging a team-best 18.1 yards a catch. He was second to Grand Valley State recruit Isaiah Brown, who caught 65 passes for 971 yards and 13 TDs.
“It was a good group, but I think our receiving corps is even deeper this year,” Batavia offensive coordinator Sean Anderson said. “We’ll get kind of creative.”
Bodi Anderson has moved to receiver and defensive back, while junior speedster Darin Ashiru transferred in last December after a strong varsity debut at Plainfield North.
A pair of 6-5 tight ends and another 6-4 wideout give Vander Luitgaren big targets.
Berggren and Vander Luitgaren, who played baseball, continued their work together despite being in different sports.
“We’d come into the fieldhouse at 6 a.m. before school and do a bunch of throwing and route running,” Berggren said. “Just building a better connection, especially with our timing.
“Michael knows when to get the ball out, so building our timing was a big thing for me. I feel like we’ve improved on it so much.”
Berggren, meanwhile, will line up all over the field.
“I’m really everywhere, out wide or in the slot,” he said. “The other day I was in the backfield, catching passes and doing some run plays. Whatever they tell me to do, I’ll do it.”
Batavia coach Dennis Piron sees a valuable asset in Berggren.
“Brett’s a very tough cover,” Piron said. “He has speed, explosiveness, and you can’t hang with him. He catches contested ball and he’s a guy that can carry the ball.”
In last year’s state final, Berggren played the entire second half after dinging his shoulder on an awkward landing.
“Brett is one of the biggest weapons in the DuKane Conference and you’re gonna have to double him,” Piron said. “Unless you want to have him do some very serious stuff to you.”
Berggren, who has an NCAA Division II offer from Minnesota State and D-I interest from Valparaiso, also made visits to Mid-American Conference schools Western Michigan, Ball State and Northern Illinois.
“He’s had a ton of let’s ‘see how the year goes’ talk,” Piron said. “I think there’s gonna be some disappointed people when the time comes because he’s going to rack up yards and TDs and end up with opportunities.”
Berggren hopes that includes a return trip to the state championship game, which this year falls on Nov. 29, his 18th birthday.
“There would be nothing better than that,” he said.
Quick hits
Team: Batavia.
2024 record: 12-2.
Offensive leaders: Michael Vander Luitgaren, junior, quarterback; Brett Berggren, senior, receiver; Ryan Myers, senior, lineman; Steven Bannos, senior, lineman; Preston Brummel, senior, fullback.
Defensive leaders: Andrew Culotta, senior, defensive back; Gavin Pecor, senior, lineman; Nick Jansey, senior, linebacker; Tony Minnec, senior, linebacker; Bodi Anderson, senior, defensive back.
X-factor: Darin Ashiru, junior, receiver.
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