Batavia looks explosive again
Batavia has won 26 straight games and four consecutive titles in the Upstate Eight Conference River Division. The 2015 season could see more of the same.
"It's not unlike any team I've had for the past couple years," said Bulldogs coach Dennis Piron. "They have a lot of potential, a lot of upside. I think this group of kids wants to prove something, and it looks like it based on their off-season."
That's apparent on an offensive line that despite Batavia's spread-offense capabilities has Piron also seeking a power game. Tackle to tackle among prospective starters Mitch Davey is the lightest at 6-foot-2, 245 pounds, with guard Ross Berggren 6-3, 295 and center Zach Sims 6-2, 280. Though they lack starting experience, there's more where that came from.
"We're huge, holy cow," Piron exclaimed.
The coach calls 190-pound tailback Zach Garrett one of the strongest boys in the school. The senior co-captain ran for 826 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. Piron sees him leading an ensemble including newcomers Dana Anderson, Ethan Hallberg, breakaway back Matt Huizinga and shifty returner Kamontez Thomas, likely expanding his role in a Wildcat-style scheme.
In 2014 Kyle Niemiec shared the quarterback position with since-graduated Evan Acosta before Niemiec eventually took the bulk of the snaps. The 6-2 senior used his speed to run for 256 yards while completing 63 percent of his passes for 887 yards, 9 touchdowns.
Returning receiver Canaan Coffey led Batavia by a wide margin with 59 catches for 732 yards, 9 touchdowns. Senior Nick Stuttle will use momentum from a breakout track season to fuel his wideout return. The Bulldogs are deep both at receiver and tight end, including 6-4 Cole Stokke and 6-5, 220-pound junior tight end Glenn Albanese. Sixteen receivers stand at least 6 feet tall.
Defensive coordinator Matt Holm graduated sackmasters Josh Leonhard, Noah Frazier and Jake Hlava, but merely reloads behind another wave of downhill bruisers.
Middle linebacker Colin Thurston ranked second on last year's squad with 83 tackles and recorded 6.5 of Batavia's 48 sacks. The secondary has a great head start with Tyler Holl at safety and Brett Bowman at cornerback; he picked off 7 passes as a junior including 3 against St. Charles North.
"I think our playmakers on defense are going to be guys who can turn a game in a single play," Piron said.
He believes speedy linebacker Zack Majka may have the same affect as 2014 UEC River defensive MVP Hlava. That'll be partly dependent on a defensive line that, as on offense, is not greatly experienced but brings depth, quickness and some size.
"If it all comes together," Piron said, "we're going to be really hard to stop."