Batavia’s method on offense seems to be pretty simple. From the first snap of the game, the Bulldogs put the pedal down and dare you to try and catch them.
If you can.
Batavia hit the ground rolling Friday night against St. Charles East and a 47-14 win gave the Bulldogs their sixth straight win and at least a share of the Upstate Eight River conference title for the third straight year — the first time that has been done in school history.
Since losing 29-25 to Richards in Week 2, Batavia (7-1, 5-0) has averaged 48 points a game. Friday, the Bulldogs scored on their first six possessions in posting a 40-0 halftime lead.
“We were clicking, weren’t we?” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said. “We’ve had great practices and great prep work. Our defense is continuing to get healthy … our offensive line is phenomenal and the decision-making of our quarterback was exceptional.”
Quarterback Micah Coffey and running back Anthony Scaccia combined to do most of the damage for Batavia. Coffey completed 15 of his 18 passes to seven different receivers for 194 yards and three scores in just a half of work, while Scaccia rushed for 137 yards and three touchdowns while catching three passes for 46 yards and a score.
Batavia racked up 221 yards in the first quarter in breaking out to a 21-0 lead and had 352 yards of offense in the first 24 minutes.
“Coach Gaspari (offensive coordinator) told us before the game that we live and die by our front five guys,” Coffey said. “Our offensive line played their tails off and I’m really proud of them. They were amazing; this win is all on them.”
Center Patrick Gamble is the anchor of that line and broke into a big smile when told of Coffey’s comments. It’s not often that the hard working guys up front get so many compliments.
“It’s awesome to know that the quarterback knows what the O-line is doing,” Gamble said. “He respects us and we respect him, and what we all do for each other is just unreal.”
The Saints (5-3, 3-2) were held to just 45 yards of offense in the first half, including minus-11 yards on the ground. They finally broke onto the scoreboard in the fourth quarter when quarterback Jimmy Mitchell scampered in on a keeper from 17 yards out, then tacked on another score when Mitchell hit AJ Washington with an 8-yard scoring pass with 33 seconds to go.
Mitchell threw for 160 yards for the Saints, while Erik Anderson rushed for 19 yards and caught three passes for 52 yards.
“That’s a heck of a football team, and they’ve got it going on,” St. Charles East coach Mike Fields said. “They came up and handled us up front and all over the place.”
Batavia will close the season at home next Friday against Elgin, while St. Charles East will travel to Larkin looking for a sixth win to lock the Saints into the playoffs.
