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Double dose of football on Thanksgiving Day in Batavia

For many, football and Thanksgiving Day go hand in hand. This year, it’s especially so for Batavia High School since the Bulldogs are heading the state Class 6A championship game against Richards Saturday at Northern Illinois University’s Huskie Stadium in DeKalb.

The team squeezed in an early morning practice Thursday and were cheered onto the field by more than two dozen members of the Batavia Youth Football League prior to the BYFL’s annual Turkey Bowl.

The first- through seventh-grade players formed a tunnel and gave the Bulldogs high-fives as they took the field.

Several of the high school players started in the youth league, according to Mike Popela of Batavia, president of the youth league.

BYFL has about 500 kids as members and is celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year.

Popela describes the Turkey Bowl as an end of the year treat for the kids to get out one more time to play. And getting to play on the field next to the varsity team was a special treat for them on Thanksgiving Day.

“Batavia is a football town. It can’t be beat,” Popela said.

Kevin Farbisz, 11, has played in the league since second grade and helped form the tunnel for the varsity team.

“I’ve always wanted to be in the tunnel. I’ve always wanted to play football here for Batavia, so it’s kind of cool for me,” he said.

Kevin said that one day he “will be in this tunnel ... taller ... and as a football player, not as a little kid,” while playing for the Bulldogs.

  Members of the Batavia High School team get high-fives from members of the Batavia Youth Football League as they run onto the field for practice on Thanksgiving Day morning. The Bulldogs were practicing for Saturday’s state championship game. The youth team went on to participate in its annual Turkey Bowl game. Laura Stoecker/lstoecker@dailyherald.com
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