football

Several high school football mergers have hit the area over the past several years. But, remaining as one of the few holdouts, Le Roy has been holding on to a tradition they’ve built over many years and is anticipating a return to glory sooner rather than later.

Season Outlook

Following a 3-4 finish a season ago, Le Roy is looking to a new cast of characters in order to restore this program as a championship contender. Equipped with 13 seniors, the Knights should have little trouble equaling their opponents experience level each week during the regular season.

What remains to be seen in LR is whether or not this new crop of seniors has what it takes to lead their team on a Section V Playoff run.

It’s tough for me to nail down exactly what to expect from this group, but with Week 1 just one day away – judgement day is coming.

The Knights will benefit from a much-lighter schedule than they had in 2016, with Livonia remaining as the one true Titan on their 2017 slate. The other six games sitting in front of Le Roy are all winnable – giving them a chance to put their best foot forward during the regular season.

As is the case with many local teams.

The merger between the LCAA and GRAA has made things much simpler for the teams in the surrounding regions, making this season one of the most-highly anticipated campaigns in recent memory.

Key Matchups

Week 3 – Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen

The Knights and Raiders endured an overtime battle for the ages last season, with the Raiders turning out the victor. Will this year be different?

Week 4 – Avon

Avon is historically tough and will likely present a difficult challenge for Le Roy in the middle of their schedule. 

Week 5 – Notre Dame

An old-time rivalry returns to the fold in 2017.

Week 6 – Livonia

Livonia has finished within the top-4 in Section V Class B for several seasons in a row. This is going to be a tough matchup for Le Roy. 

Key Players

Bryce Bordonaro (OL/DL)

Bryce is a strong force inside for the Le Roy offensive line, and also serves as one of the team’s leaders. 

Tyler Rider (OL/DL)

Tyler is another big man in the middle for the Knights, and another team leader. 

Luke Stella (RB/LB)

Luke will play a major role in the team’s success this season as a well-sized running back and linebacker. 

Cole Biggins (WR/DB)

Cole has flown under the radar in the past, but his performance this season might be too much to ignore for future opponents. 

Gaven Cassidy (WR/DB)

Gaven provides the Le Roy offense with solid athleticism along the outside of an offense which features a sophomore quarterback. 

Coach’s Quote

“We expect to be competitive in every game we play this season,” said Le Roy Head Coach Brian Herdlein. “Our team speed should be a strength for us this season.

"Our newcomers with the help of the returning players are filling the positions open from graduation last season nicely. We hope to be more of a factor in the postseason this year.”

Oakfield-Alabama/Elba is in its second season as a merged program and has a load of senior leadership, which they hope will carry them to a resurgent season in 2017.

Season Outlook

Although I have placed O-A/E at the bottom of my Preseason Power Rankings, the potential of this team to rise in the ranks, and finish the season in contention – is strong. They finished 1-7 a year ago and anticipate a better finish this year.

OA/E not only returns their starting quarterback, but also have numerous names coming back along the line of scrimmage, and a strong stable of backs – who served as backups last season. This year, it will be the O-A/E skill players’ time to shine and lead their team out of the depths of despair.

It can take a few years for a newly merged program to come together and reach their full potential. This year, in my mind, will serve as a stepping stone toward that end.

Key Matchups

Week 2 – Notre Dame

The Irish are an old-time rival of both Oakfield and Elba. Both sides will get up for this game. 

Week 5 – Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen

Byron-Bergen was previously merged with Elba before the Lancers began their relationship with Oakfield. Does any bad blood remain between the two sides?

Week 6 – Holley

Another winnable game for O-A/E.

Key Players

Colton Dillon (QB)

Colton is going into his second year under center for O-A/E, but has been learning a new system as he prepares for Week 1. He will be important for this team if they hope to achieve success.

Gage Dieterle (RB/LB)

Gage has been given a more important role this season as the team’s starting RB.

John Igoe (OL/DL)

John will help anchor a senior-laden line.

Cam Smith (OL/DL)

Cam will also help anchor the defensive and offensive trenches for O-A/E. 

Coach’s Quote

“The O-A/E Football Team looks to make vast improvements in their second year of the new merger,” said Head Coach Mike Cintorino. “With new systems being installed on both sides of the ball and significant buy in from the athletes, the program looks to once again compete for a league title and find their way back to sectionals.

"Although this is a very young team, many of the players have varsity experience and will look to utilize that throughout the season. Now being part of the Livingston-Genesee Region Conference will provide a good test for the O-A/E Football team while holding on to the many rivarlies of the old Genesee Region.”

Last season, the Irish suffered their first losing campaign in 11 years, and return in 2017 hoping for more out of their new leadership class.

Season Outlook

It’s no secret that ND Football took a major step back last season, and it would be incredibly disappointing for fans of the Fighting Irish to be forced to watch their team go through yet another dismal campaign. For, the ND Faithful is not used to watching its football team struggle through Divisional and even non-Divisional matchups.

In 2017, however, the Irish are hoping to ‘Wake Up the Echoes’ and restore the winning tradition of ND Football.

They feature a returning starting quarterback but welcome a load of talent coming up from the JV squad, which leaves this new-look squad with the expectation of making progress and climbing the ladder – beginning with the first step on Opening Night vs Canisteo-Greenwood.

Aside from C-G, all of ND’s 2017 opponents are from the newly-merged LCAA/GRAA League, with Le Roy serving as the only other non-Divisional matchup on their schedule. This merger has been a win for all involved, including the Irish who I believe will benefit from a more-familiar slate.

Key Matchups

Week 2 – Oakfield-Alabama/Elba

Notre Dame is ranked above O-A/E in my Preseason Power Rankings. If they hope to gain any traction within their Division, they must win this game. 

Week 4 – Holley

The Irish will be out for revenge in this game. 

Week 5 – Le Roy

This old-school rivalry comes back in 2017 with each side matching up well with one another.

Key Players

Brendin Klotzbach (QB/LB)

Brendin returns to lead the Irish offense during his senior season. He has the athleticism and arm strength to get the job done.

Eddy Skalny (OL/DL)

Eddy will provide leadership for a young ND offensive line.

Coach’s Quote

“This group of young men have been working very hard,” said Notre Dame Head Coach Rick Mancuso. ”And with the leadership of the senior class, we have progressed a little quicker than we anticipated.

"We have a good mix of seasoned players, plus talented newcomers. After enduring the programs first losing season last year in the last 11 years, this team has shown the work ethic it will take to get back on the competitive path.”

Pembroke Football has had a rough go of things in recent years, but 2017 could be the season where we see them finally break out. With a familiar face making the move to Dragons’ head coach, and many experienced athletes returning to the roster, Pembroke is working toward a level of success which hasn’t been seen from this program in quite some time.

Season Outlook

Former head coach, and 2016 assistant Justin Loeber has returned to the helm of the Dragons’ program and has also welcomed back another former Pembroke head coach, and Greater Buffalo Sports HOFer, Dick Diminuco as offensive coordinator. The rapport between these two has already been built – dating back to Diminuco’s time spent as HC – and it is Loeber’s belief that their working relationship will translate to a smooth transition on the field.

In addition to two familiar faces on the sidelines, Pembroke returns a QB who has previously run Diminuco’s offense, and return a RB who led the GR in rushing yards a season ago. A young offensive line may provide a bit of growing pains for this offense to begin the year, but expect their experience in the backfield to carry them through October – and into the Section V postseason.

I believe in this team this year, more-so than I ever have before. Their Divisional schedule has remained the same, and their non-Divisional games are both winnable. If the Dragons can take care of business, they should prove me right in 2017.

Key Matchups

Week 1 – York/Pavilion

The Golden Knights are a big, strong team who will test the Dragons’ young offensive line immediately to begin the season. 

Week 2 – Alexander

The Trojans won the GR League Title last season, and will be a tough out once again in 2017.

Week 5 – Geneseo

I have heard good things about Geneseo during the preseason. This will be another non-Divisional test for the Dragons. 

Week 6 – Attica

Attica is my preseason pick to win the Division, giving this game in Week 6 the potential to be a very big game for Pembroke. 

Key Players

Reid Miano (QB/DB)

Reid returns for his third season under center for the Dragons, and leads an offense which has plenty of experienced talent behind him. 

Zach von Kramer (RB/DB)

Zach returns as the GR League’s leading rusher, and will be out to defend his rushing title in 2017.

Damion Ramirez (OL/LB)

Damion is the most-experienced of the Pembroke lineman, and will have to do his best to bring the younger guys along throughout the year. 

Brandon Kowalski (WR/DB)

Brandon is a steady contributor for Pembroke on both sides of the ball. His stats may not show it, but he is a vital piece to this team this season. 

Jarrod Carrow (TE/DL)

Jarrod is another returning athlete for the Dragons who is due for a breakout year. 

Coach’s Quote

“What I learned my first (stint as head coach), was that I was so unprepared to take the job,” began second-time Pembroke HC Justin Loeber a few weeks ago. “Coach Diminuco came in, I had two years to work with him, and he showed me how to really practice, and get the most out of our kids. I feel much more-prepared my second-time around.”

Things are finally looking up for Pembroke Football. Stay tuned for what could be a big year.

Alexander won their first-ever Section V Football Title last season, but enter 2017 needing several new faces to fill roles left empty by the graduation of the Class of 2016. The tradition of Championship-level success was solidified last year for the Trojans, and it will be up to this group to carry the torch forward into the future.

Season Outlook

The Trojans face a steep challenge right out of the gate, as 2016 state-ranked Bolivar-Richburg will host the Trojans -- who have few easy matchups this season. However, I believe what they return at running back and on defense should be enough to carry them to another big year. Currently, they sit as the #4 team in my HS Football Power Rankings, just behind longtime rival Attica.

While I expect Alexander to finish within the Top 2 or 3 in their Division, come Sectional time they will have to prove themselves to be a Title contender once again. Absent from this group are many of the leaders of the Trojans' 2016 Championship team, and new voices must fill the void in order to get this team to remain as a Class D Titan.

Lucky for them, it's as steady as she goes when it comes to their head coach, as Tim Sawyer is back for yet another season in the Green and Gold. He has done a solid job surrounding himself with good people and has produced a winner in Alexander. His leadership should allow for a seamless transition into 2017.

Key Matchups

Week 1 -- Bolivar-Richburg

Bolivar-Richburg was a strong team a season ago, and will likely be a tough out in 2017 as well. Alexander opens with a tough matchup on the road. 

Week 2  -- Pembroke

The Dragons could surprise this year as they have the 2016 GR League leading rusher returning to their backfield, accompanied by a three-year varsity QB. This alone should provide Pembroke with a chance to overcome the Trojans in Week 4. 

Week 4 -- Attica

Attica is my preseason pick to win the Division Title. If Alexander can knock off the Blue Devils for the second-straight season, it will likely be the Trojans who instead hoist the trophy at season's end. 

Key Players

Jake Jasen Jr. (C/MLB)

Jake is a second-year varsity starter and is the anchor of the Trojans' young offensive line. He is also a solid run defender on defense.

Erik Scharlau (DE/TE)

Erik recorded 7 sacks last season at defensive end, and will also serve as a big target at tight end, as the Trojans have a young QB this season entering his first year under center.

Chris McClinic (RB/DB)

Chris ran for over 500 yards last season as a sophomore behind a senior RB, but this year things will open up for him to extend his presence in the backfield for the Trojans. 

Job Smith (LB/FB)

Job is a tremendously physical player who his coaches expect will provide great leadership on both sides of the ball. 

Mitch Gordon (LB/FB)

Mitch led Alexander in tackles a season ago and will be big out of the backfield for his team this season as well. 

Coach's Quote

"As a coach, I am excited about the challenge this season," said Alexander HC Tim Sawyer upon our discussion last week. "I am pleased with the development and the work ethic of the players in our program. I believe if we all do our jobs to the best of our abilities, we will have a chance to win every week. I am fortunate to have a tremendous coaching staff at both the JV and Varsity level."

Alexander has a reputation to uphold as a Section V contender. Can they keep the ball rolling?

Stay tuned.

The Batavia Blue Devils hosted the Batavia Bull Dawgs at Van Detta Stadium on Monday night for its annual Blue Devils Experience.

That's when the young players get a chance to gather for a pre-game prep-talk in the Blue Devils' locker room, run through the tunnel onto Woodward Field, warm up with the varsity squad and then play a game against the defending Section V champions.

Batavia opens its season at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse on Sunday. For ticket information, click here.

The run which the Batavia Football team has put together throughout the past three seasons has been nothing short of historic. After years of dormancy, the Blue Devils are now coming off of three-straight Section V Class B Titles, and are the favorite to win their fourth in a row in 2017.

Season Outlook

In an attempt to ramp-up their regular season schedule, Batavia has gone outside of the box and scheduled teams which they hope will provide them with a steeper challenge than their 2016 slate -- in order to better prepare themselves for the postseason, where they've fallen just short of the State Final Four in each of their three Championship seasons.

However, upon researching each of their 2017 opponents, it seems as if the Blue Devils effort to do so may be all for naught - as they are likely to be favored to win many, if not all 7 of their regular season games. 

Although they come into this year sporting a new quarterback under center, the experience which they possess at almost every other position on the field will help ease any growing pains their signal caller may experience. In addition, Batavia head coach Brennan Briggs has proven himself to be one of the top-coaches throughout Section V, and his ability to game plan, and make halftime adjustments has been what has put his team over the edge since his first year at the helm. 

When it's all said and done, I truly believe we will see Batavia win their fourth-straight Sectional Title. They remain as the best team in their classification, and from my perspective, it will take a miracle of sorts to knock them off as Champion. However, the real question is -- can this team get to the Carrier Dome for the State Final Four?

Time will tell.  

Key Matchups

Week 2 -- Aquinas 

Aquinas isn't necessarily the team who is a favorite to win a State Title every year, and enter 2017 under new leadership. With that being said, I expect the Lil' Irish to be one of the stronger teams on Batavia's schedule this year - and could push the Blue Devils to the brink of defeat. 

Week 5 -- Bishop Kearney

Also entering the season under a new head coach, the Kings lost a bunch from their 2016 Class C Championship squad. However, they do have an experienced quarterback under center and the new HC which they have brought in has a reputation for success. 

Week 6 -- Wilson

Wilson has given Batavia the most trouble of any of their opponents in recent seasons  - most recently pushing them in what finished as a 12-6 victory for the Blue Devils last season. This year, I expect they will give the Devils another tough game. 

Key Players

Ray Leach (RB/LB)

Ray finished as a first-team All-State selection last season and may be the best player in Section V this season. He will be tough for any opponent to stop this season. 

Butch Ray (OL/DL)

Butch was also a first-team All-State selection in 2016 and is the definition of an unstoppable force on the line of scrimmage. He, like Leach, is one of the top-players in Section V this season. 

Chandler Baker (QB)

Chandler comes equipped with elite arm strength and could provide the Devils' passing game with a boost this season. In addition, his athleticism is top-tier which makes him a dual threat in this offense. 

Coach's Quote

"We have a very young team this season," began Batavia HC Brennan Briggs upon our preseason discussion. "We should get better as the season progresses and the younger members become more comfortable with their role."

"It is always tough to replace your QB as well as other key members of a football team," continued Briggs. "But the 2017 football team is looking to put their stamp on the Batavia Football program. We have a lot of guys in new positions, but they are coming along. The goal is to go 1-0, and get better every day. We have some very difficult games along the journey, but our hope is it will prepare us for a solid post-season run."

Alex Brasky is Editor and Publisher of Batavia's Best.

The three-peat Section V champs Batavia Blue Devils get to play in another big-time stadium in their first game of the season Sept. 3 and boosters are hoping for a big local turnout.

The Blue Devils will face Johnson City at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. Kickoff is 2 p.m.

Tickets are available at Batavia High School in the Athletic Director's Office. Summer hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $8, or $10 at the door. Checks for tickets bought locally should be made out to Batavia Coaches Association.

Students are encouraged to sign up in the AD office. A ticket and a ride on the spectator bus will be $10.

Starting this week and for the next few weeks, Batavia Bulldawgs will be preparing for the upcoming fall football season.  

New location is at Lions Park, Buell Street, Batavia Many teams of different age groups were working on drills and play game scenarios.  

Blue Devils Head Coach Brennan Briggs has been leading a two-day summer football camp for young players in grades one through eight at Batavia High School. The camp features various offensive and defensive drills to help the kids learn football fundamentals.

Today winds up with a flag football game, pizza and a T-shirt for each participant.

UPDATE: Submitted group photo from the end of the camp

It's the middle of summer, but it's not too soon to start thinking about high school football -- the players are getting ready.

Batavia Head Coach Brennan Briggs sent in this picture of some of his team who participated yesterday in 7-on-7 drills yesterday as they get ready to defend three straight Section V championships this season.

Also participating in the drills were Elba/Oakfield-Alabama, Gates, Churchville, Alden and Albion.

The 7-on-7s take place every Tuesday.

There are 11 versus 11 drills on Thursday at Cal-Mum.

Brian West Jr. loved people, and people loved him, according to Tim Sawyer, head coach of Alexander High School's football team.

He packed a lot of living into his 17 years, Sawyer said. Friends, family, and football.

Early this morning, Brian West died at Strong Memorial Hospital from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle rollover accident on West Bethany Road on the Bethany/Alexander town line, just yards from his home.

Sawyer wasn't just Brian's coach. He had known him his entire life. Sawyer and Brian's father grew up next door to each other, were best friends and Sawyer also knew Brian's mother since high school and Brian's grandmother is Sawyer's neighbor.

Besides football, Brian liked to hunt and fish and ride ATVs, just like Sawyer and his dad when they were growing up together.

"He was a lot like his dad in that way," Sawyer said.

Brian was one of the nicest kids you could meet.

"I think his relationships meant a lot to him," Sawyer said. "His friends, his teammates, his family. He always had a smile on his face and wanted to have a good time while he was around people."

He was part of the Trojan's first-ever Section V champion team last year. He planned to pursue a career in law enforcement. (Click here for his obituary).

The cause of the accident is under investigation, and with Brian's death, it may be hard to determine. As of last night, investigators said there were few clues at the scene.

Brian was northbound on West Bethany Road and lost control of his Chevy Avalanche after coming over the crest of a hill. The truck swerved, partially left the roadway on the west shoulder, and as Brian seemed to bring it back to the road surface, it flipped over. It may have rolled over twice. Brian was ejected and landed in a neighbor's driveway. He was alert and conscious when first responders arrived and that seemed to provide hope to everybody at the scene that he would survive the crash.

He died this morning at Strong at 5:20 a.m.

Brian was a good football player, Sawyer said. He excelled as a defensive lineman but played mostly as an offensive tackle this past season because of a pre-season ankle injury. Sawyer said he was too valuable on offense to risk playing both ways every game.

"He was almost like a Dustin Schmieder type of kid," Sawyer said. "He wouldn't have come off the field this year for me."

Recently Brian ran a 4.96 40-yard dash.

"We were looking at him possibly playing tight end for us this year," the coach said.

Brian loved athletics and he loved to compete, Sawyer said.

The Alexander football team works out together in the weight room during the offseason, and tonight is no exception.

"We're a really close-knit community and our team is no different," Sawyer said. "As a team, we'll try to wrap our hands around this and I'll talk a little bit about life and how we all leave a legacy, if it's a good one or if it's a bad one. We all have got to make our time count. That's going to be my message to the boys. I'm going to tell them I love them. We lost a big part of our team today and as young men, as men, we've got to be able to deal with that stuff."

Sawyer also spent time today with Brian's parents. Before he went to their house, he said, he spent some time thinking about what he could say. It's hard to know what to say, he acknowledged.

"I said to Brian Sr., 'If God would have said 17 years ago, I will give you a son for 17 years and them I'm going to take him home, I think we would all take that deal if that were a good life, a life worth living,'" Sawyer said. "Maybe that's not the right perspective. I don't know. But he had a good 17 years."

Life doesn't always work in a storybook fashion. Not everything continues along perfectly, Sawyer said. 

"As sad as it is, I choose to focus on the positive," Sawyer said. "The boy had a great life. Yes, it’s cut short, but he didn’t get cheated out of his 17 years."

Two former Genesee County football stars have been selected for induction into the Section V Hall of Fame.

David Boyce, of Le Roy, and Mark Shardlow, of Elba, will both be inducted during the 20th-anniversary ceremony April 6.

Joining the 2017 class are:

• Mark Baniewicz, Fairport
• Trent Bridges, Irondequoit
• Mike Butler, Irondequoit
• Keith Downing, Fairport
• Danny Gilardi, East Irondequoit Eastridge
• Thomas Nacca, Jefferson

Three coaches from Section V and two others who have contributed to Section V football will be inducted: 

• Jim Haugh, Victor and Livonia
• Mike Nally, Edison
• Ron Rucker, East Rochester
• Marc Remillard, game official
• Kevin Pino, athletic trainer, in contributor category

The ceremony will be at RIT Inn and Conference Center. Tickets to the induction ceremony and dinner are $40 per person or $350 for a table of 10. They may be ordered before April 1 with checks payable to Section 5 Football by mailing to: Frank Marafino, 4 Georgetown Drive, Apt. C, Rochester, NY, 14617.

The Batavia Blue Devils have been selected to play a game the opening weekend of the high school football season in the Carrier Dome Classic, an annual event that brings in football teams from all over the state, Head Coach Brennan Briggs said this morning.

The exact time and date of the game -- either Sept. 1 or Sept 2 -- has not been determined yet, nor has an opponent for the Blue Devils been selected yet. It will likely be a Class B or Class A team out of Section IV, Briggs said.

Batavia was selected after Briggs applied for a slot in the classic a year ago.

"I'm excited for the kids," Briggs said. "It should be a blast. It's exciting for them."

The Carrier Dome Classic also puts the Batavia program on a bigger statewide stage, Briggs said. It will give people from all over the state a chance to see what Batavia football is all about.

Many of this year's team members were able to play a regional championship game in 2016 in New Era in Buffalo, home of the Buffalo Bills, so a game in the Carrier Dome is another nice highlight to their high school football careers.

"There are not too many times you get a chance to play both at New Era and the Carrier Dome," Briggs said. "It's pretty sweet."

The Carrier Dome also hosts the state championships, so Briggs said, that yes, indeed, at some point during the year he can use "get back to the Carrier Dome" to help motivate his team. It might inspire the players to dream big.

But the 2017 season is going present challenges each week, Briggs said. Besides what will certainly be a tough opponent in week one, week two is a home game against perennial Monroe County powerhouse Aquinas. The whole schedule for the three-peat Section V champions is likely to be stacked with tough opponents, Briggs said. Honeoye Falls-Lima has been moved to Class B and schools such as Geneva, Hornell and Livonia are always tough.  

"It will be a stacked deck," Briggs said.

Batavia running back and linebacker Ray Leach is the only sophomore to be named to the All Greater Rochester First Team in football.

Leach finished the season with 1,888 yards rushing. He scored 28 touchdowns. He made 62 tackles as a linebacker.

Leach isn't alone on the first team. Also named from Batavia Anthony Ray, a junior, who was Section V Class B Defensive Player of the Year and has been on all three of Batavia's Section V championship teams. He made 82 tackles and nine sacks.

Named to the second team was quarterback Jerry Reinhart.

The other top honor for a Genesee County athlete went to Maggie Cecere, Batavia, who was named to second team in girls soccer.

Batavia got into a shootout Saturday night at Ralph Wilson Stadium against the Dunkirk Marauders and came up a bullet short, losing a fight to the finish 50-48.

Both teams scored seven touchdowns apiece, but Dunkirk made one more two-point conversion than the Blue Devils, and that made all the difference.

A win would have propelled Batavia into a chance at a state title, instead, their season is over.

"This is a great group of kids and I couldn't be more proud of them," said Head Coach Brennan Briggs after the overtime loss. "It didn't turn out the way we wanted, but once again, I'm proud of these guys. Ten and one is a great football season."

The game, in many ways, was a battle of two big-play backs, Batavia's Ray Leach and Dunkirk's Alton Ingram. Leach, a sophomore, came into the game just shy of a 1,000-yard season and Ingram had more than 1,100 yards rushing.

Saturday, Leach carried the ball 20 times for 224 yards and Ingram ran 33 times for 240 yards. Both backs scored four touchdowns each.

Coming into the game, Batavia knew Ingram would be a challenge.

"You’ve got to gang-tackle him," Briggs said. "You can’t arm tackle him. He’s a big kid. He runs hard. He makes you pay if you try to arm tackle him. He’s a good football player. I tip my cap off to him. I wish we could have done a little bit more to stop him but that’s football."

The sophomore Leach finished the season strong.

"He did a great job," Briggs said. "He busted the big plays. He made the runs. He made the plays he could have made. I look forward to having him for two more years. He did a great job. He’s hard to stop."

The game opened fast and never let up. A minute into the first quarter, Leach scored on a 59-yard run.

On Dunkirk's first play from scrimmage on its first possession, Dunkirk's QB Evon Hernandez connected on a 61-yard pass to Elwin Gomez.

In the battle of two-point conversions on these first two touchdowns, the Marauders came out on top, and led 8-6.

Before the end of the quarter, the two teams would combine for another four touchdowns and Dunkirk entered the second quarter with a 22-20 lead.

Jerry Reinhart and Chandler Baker also had big games for Batavia. 

Reinhart scored twice on the ground, part of his total of 131 yards on 14 carries, and tossed TD passes to Leach and Baker. He was 3-9 passing for 48 yards.

Baker gained 54 yards on seven carries and caught two passes for 37 yards.

Dunkirk came into the game as a big-score team, strong run game and some athletes who could move the ball. Briggs said he and his coaches knew they would be tough to stop.

"We knew we would probably have to outscore them," Briggs said. "It was a great game. We just didn’t come out on top."

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The best season in Alexander football history came to a disappointing end Friday night at New Era Field in Orchard Park, where the Trojans lost a regional playoff game to the #1 Class D team in the state, Maple Grove, by a score of 28-0.

The Trojans managed to hold the Dragons to just eight points in the first half, but turnovers and an inability to get its offense moving allowed Maple Grove to run away with the game.

Maple Grove held Alexander to 142 total yards on offense, most of them on the arm of P.J. Brennan, who was 10-29 passing for 122 yards.

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Alexander's defense came through again, forcing six turnovers and recording six sacks, in route to a 19-6 win over Clyde Savannah to win the Section V Class D championship.

It's the first Section V football championship in school history.

Outside linebacker Derrick Busch has five tackles and three interceptions.

Adding to the Trojans' interception total were Chris McClinic and Dane Heberlein. 

Dustin Schmieder, who set a Section playoff record last week for sacks, had 2.5 of the team's total on Friday. Adding to the sack totals were Erik Scharlau, Zach Jasen and Mitch Gordon. 

QB P.J. Brennan was part of all three TD scores for Alexander, rushing for 77 yards on nine carries. He tossed a TD pass to Busch. Heberlein had 112 yards on 21 carries.

Alexander will now contend for the regional title against the state's #1 ranked Class D team, Maple Grove.

More photos can be found at: http://francletography.photoshelter.com/gallery/2016-11-04-Alexander-Varsity-v-Clyde-Savannah/G0000hw7fveE08f8/C0000f1tHYlmnDIE

Usually, offensive performance in football grabs the headlines, but yesterday, in the Trojans' 34-13 win over Bolivar-Richburg to advance in the Section V Class D tournament, Alexander's Dustin Schmieder had 8.5 sacks.

"I've never seen anything like it," said Head Coach Tim Sawyer.

Schmieder also had five tackles and Erik Scharlau had 2.5 sacks and seven tackles.

And while we're talking about defense, Derrick Busch and Chris McClinic each had an interception.

The previous Section V playoff record for sacks in a game was five by Dan Liseno, for Clyde-Savannah in 2002.

On offense, Dane Heberlien scored two TDs and P.J. Brennan was 3-11 for 91 yards and TD, with one interception. Busch caught the 11-yard pass for the TD. Mitch Gordon scored on a one-yard run.

Schmieder also had a 68-yard reception on the first play of the game.

Hannah Paolucci kicked two extra points on the day.

The Trojans had 309 total yards on offense, but Sawyer still noted, "Penalties held us back today. We need to clean up the penalties and some missed tackles."

Next week, Alexander will face Clyde-Savannah, who beat the Red Jackets 40-14, for the Class D championship.

Photos by Rick Franclemont. For more photos and to purchase prints, click here.

Things seemed to be going Livonia's way in the first half of the Class B Section V semifinal game in Rochester yesterday afternoon.

The Bulldogs controlled the ball for much of the first two quarters while the Batavia offense sputtered, with the team getting its only points in the half on a 71-yard kickoff return by Chandler Baker.

Livonia led the Blue Devils 14-8, but this is Batavia on the field. Head Coach Brennan Briggs preaches "relentless football." Toughness is a given, and when the Blue Devils took possession to open the first half the determination to play tough was apparent.

Batavia scored on their opening drive, followed by a fumble recovery on Livonia's first possession, and the Bulldogs never got back in the game.

It's almost as if you could watch Livonia's fight fade with each passing down.

"Livingston County is great football and they’re tough kids, but I do believe at the end of the day, we’ve got one of the toughest football teams going and these guys pride themselves on it," Briggs said. "When we sniff a little bit of weakness, we’re going to go after it and we’re going to keep going and we’re not going to stop."

The Bulldogs seemed to game plan well to counter the ground threat of sophomore Ray Leach, who was held to only 28 yards on 15 carries for the game, so in the second half, Briggs switched things up a bit, letting QB Jerry Reinhart use his arms and legs more.

Reinhart finished with 73 rushing yards on 13 carries. He was also 7-14 passing for 121 yards and a TD.

His favorite target was Leach, who had four catches for 73 yards, including a 23-yarder for a TD.

“You get number 34 in space and he’s deadly," Briggs said. "Our quarterback can get the ball to him and get him in space where they can’t bottle everything up and then somebody has to make a play on Ray Leach in space and that’s pretty difficult to do.”

Leach was also a factor on defense coming up with big play after big play, including snuffing out a Livonia drive with an interception in the end zone.

"He likes to hit," Briggs said. "He likes to bring the stick. He gets fired up. He did a good job doing his 1/11th and he was locked down to defend one of their best receivers. I’m proud of him and I’m proud of this football team."

The defensive dominance by the Blue Devils in the second half was a team effort, with contributions from Reinhart, Chandler Baker, J'Zon Richardson and Anthony Ray.

The defensive line stiffened in the second half, doing a better job of bottling up Brody Metcalf, Matt Hyde and John Smith on the ground, pushing back the O-line and harassing Metcalf more consistently when he dropped back to pass.

“To be honest, that’s not scheme," Briggs said while discussing some of the second-half defensive adjustments. "That’s our guys deciding that they’re really going to start to take over."

It's almost as if Batavia could smell blood in the water after that first fumble (there were two in the second half (three actually, but the refs gave the ball to Livonia)).

Briggs said his team knows how to sniff out another team's weakness and exploit it. Reinhart agreed.

"If you keep pounding somebody’s weakness, they’re going to slow down, no matter who it is," Reinhart said.

Batavia won 31-20 after Livonia scored a TD in the final second of play (see last picture in slideshow).

The Blue Devils now have a chance to three-peat as sectional champions. This is a very different team from the one that took home the trophy each of the past two seasons and Briggs said this year's squad has had a bit of a chip on its shoulder because of comparisons.

"These guys have their identity now," Briggs said. "A lot of people talk about that we graduated 16, 17 players and Batavia wasn’t going to be there, but here we are and we’re still going to keep that chip on our shoulders."

Reinhart said that identity is built around the team's motto, "relentless."

"That’s what is says on the back of al our T-shirts: relentless, and that’s how we play football," Reinhart said. "We hit these guys and we don’t stop until the game’s over."

Next Saturday at 3 p.m., Batavia will be back in Rochester to face Hornell for the Section V Class B championship. Hornell has been out of the post-season picture the past couple of years but comes into the final, like Batavia, undefeated for 2016. Yesterday, the Red Raiders beat Palmyra-Macedon 49-29.

Top photo: Codie Dioguardi scores on Batavia's opening second-half drive.

To purchase prints of photos, click here.