So much for a potential quarterback controversy this summer at Batavia.
It’s not happening.
Bodi Anderson, an ultimate team player, saw to that by approaching the coaches one week after leading the Bulldogs to a Class 7A runner-up finish last season and offering to change positions.
Anderson, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound speedster, is heading into his senior season. He started every game last fall behind center but is learning the ropes at wide receiver. Michael Vander Luitgaren, a 6-2, 180-pound junior who split time with Anderson in last year’s playoff run, now has the helm.
Those two had “a unique dynamic” last season, according to offensive coordinator Sean Anderson. Vander Luitgaren practiced with the varsity despite starting for the sophomore team.
“Bodi was a very good quarterback and Michael was still a sophomore,” Anderson said. “Bodi was getting the job done and we were winning games. It was a matter of, ‘Why fix it if it’s not broke?’”
It speaks well of the culture coach Dennis Piron has built in his hometown as Batavia (12-2, 6-1) ended up in a three-way tie with Geneva and St. Charles North for the DuKane Conference title.
Anderson came down sick during the week of preparation for the final regular-season game at Glenbard North, so Vander Luitgaren came up and split reps with Anderson in a 35-34 win.
During the Bulldogs’ five-game playoff run, they also split time, but Vander Luitgaren kept getting better and better.
“They worked well together,” Sean Anderson said. “Bodi still starting kind of took the pressure off Michael, being a young dude. Michael being able to come in took the pressure off Bodi.
“Michael was a gamer. It just happened.”
In the state championship game, Batavia had its season closed out by Mount Carmel for the fourth straight year. The Caravan led 28-21, then reeled off 27 straight points for a 55-34 win.
Vander Luitgaren threw for 390 yards, a Class 7A championship game record, with three touchdown passes to Brett Berggren.
Anderson finished the season completing 54% of his passes (95 of 176) for 1,353 yards with 15 TDs and eight interceptions. Vander Luitgaren completed 63% (73 for 115) for 1,154 yards with 13 TDs and four interceptions.
“I was just thinking about it,” Bodi Anderson said. “And what came to my mind was, ‘What’s gonna help the team the most and what’s gonna help us win games?’
“I went to coach Anderson and told him, ‘Wherever you need me to play, whether it’s offense or defense, I will play and do whatever supports the team the most.’”
Bodi Anderson’s dad, Mark, started at quarterback and safety at Batavia in the mid-1990s.
“I think Bodi understood what Michael could do and his potential,” Sean Anderson said.
Piron thinks it will be a win-win situation. Bodi is a track sprinter who runs a 4.44-second 40 and was on a pair of relays that set program records.
“He’s one of the fastest kids in the county and looks good at receiver,” Piron said.
Anderson joins a group that will be headlined by Berggren, second on the team with 660 receiving yards last season, and junior Darin Ashiru, who transferred from Plainfield North in the winter and contributed in track as well.
“Bodi knows all the plays and what everybody is supposed to do,” Sean Anderson said. “He just has to work developing receiver instincts, getting in and out of breaks and his releases.”
Bodi Anderson said Berggren and Ashiru have been mentoring him at the position. He also has to get used to being more physical.
“Wearing a green quarterback jersey in practice, I wasn’t touched by my teammates,” Bodi said. “There’s going to be contact on every play. It’s been different, but we’ll be a very fast offense.”
Sean Anderson’s mad scientist side can’t wait.
“With a former all-conference quarterback in the slot, there’s a lot of creative things we can do,” he said. “It should be another fun year.”