With the 2025 football season fast approaching, the Palatine Pirates took the field Friday night for the annual Red-White Scrimmage at Palatine High School Stadium. This year, the tradition had a new twist: the Pirates faced off against Buffalo Grove for the first time.
The unusual matchup not only entertained fans but also gave coaches valuable insight ahead of the season opener against Rolling Meadows, and offered an encouraging glimpse of what’s to come this fall.
“Honestly, in the past the scrimmage was really just a formality, and a lot of times we wouldn’t play our best players,” Head Coach Corey Olson said. “This year we’re going to use it almost like a preseason game, where we’re going to play our starters.”
On the field, the Pirates gave a preview of the highly competitive season to come. They scored two touchdowns by halftime, taking a 14-0 lead into the second half before closing out the night with a convincing 21-0 victory.
The scrimmage was about more than just the score, it gave Olson and his staff a chance to evaluate players, make adjustments, and prepare for the tough stretch ahead. “We want to see execution, limit penalties, and just see the overall procedure go well and sidestep a lot of the early season,” Olson said.
The season outlook for Palatine remains promising, especially with key returners like wide receiver Kole Fager, quarterback Will Santiago, and offensive linemen Evan Downer and Tony Balanganayi anchoring the lineup. The Pirates will need that leadership as they navigate early tests against Rolling Meadows and Mount Prospect.
“I can say that I feel the most confident and excited this year because not only how our leaders are performing, but also how everyone else is kind of coming together, and it’s all just meshing,” Fager said.
With the scrimmage now behind them, the Pirates turn their full attention to Rolling Meadows for their first official game. Their first away game of the season taking place on Aug. 29 at Rolling Meadows. A matchup that will set the tone for a season filled with high energy and expectations.
“I believe this year is going to be one for the books,” junior Brandon Martino said.
