Scouting Batavia @ Sycamore

Batavia (1-5, 0-4)at Sycamore (4-2, 2-2)

Game time 7:30 p.m. today

Last year Batavia 47, Sycamore 22.

Last week Yorkville 14, Batavia 12; Sycamore 26, Rochelle 0.

Outlook As Batavia coach Mike Gaspari said, the Bulldogs are in "a little bit of unknown territory" without a typical postseason berth ahead of them; it'll be the first time since 2002 Batavia will only play nine games. The 25-year coach added, however, that spirits were high at Monday's junior varsity game against Marmion, practices were sharp earlier this week, and everybody continues to have the same focus they did since it all officially began in August. The Bulldogs' focus will have to be especially sharp against Sycamore, which was good enough to shut out a rugged Rochelle club. Two words we've repeated constantly about the Spartans: Marckie Hayes. Sycamore's dynamo scored every point last week, on touchdown runs of 56, 39, 3 and 21 yards plus a 2-point conversion. According to Rochelle stats, Hayes ran 31 times for 327 yards. Since Sycamore quarterback Ryan Bartels hurt his hand on the helmet of Geneva's Frank Boenzi in Week 5, the Spartans are often going with a Wildcat set, Hayes getting the direct snap. Gaspari has heard no word about Bartels' return, but either way Batavia will need to get the same tough defense from its front line of Alec Lyons, Cole Gardner and Brian Wilson, and attempt ball-control offense. Danny Seiton ran for 175 yards and 2 touchdowns last week, a key to the ball-control aspect, and Gaspari again plans to get the pass working to David Peskind and Scott Poulos, the Bulldogs' receiving yardage leaders. Somehow Batavia's got to get that third touchdown - last week's loss was the third by 4 points or less. "If we score that third touchdown, we feel we can compete," Gaspari said. Playoff notions or not, they'll give it their all. "We're going to try to win our last three games, because that's the best we can do at this point," Gaspari said.

Next week: DeKalb (1-5, 0-4) at Batavia.