Batavia blanks Streamwood to clinch playoff berth

After a one-year absence, Batavia's football team is back in the state playoffs.

Junior quarterback Noel Gaspari threw 4 touchdown passes and ran for another - all coming in the first half - to help lead the Bulldogs to a 50-0 Upstate Eight Conference River Division triumph over Streamwood (2-7, 0-6) Saturday afternoon at Millennium Field.

With the victory, the Bulldogs improved to 5-4 (4-2 in the UEC River) and more importantly secured a state playoff berth for the seventh time in eight years after last season's 2-7 mark.

"Every year, Batavia is expected to be good and then we went 2-7," said Noel Gaspari, who completed 13 of 19 passes for 169 yards while adding 44 yards rushing on just 5 carries. "When you go 2-7, it's tough. This year, we knew we could do it and we did it."

Gaspari and the rest of his teammates made things look relatively easy Saturday, scoring touchdowns on each of the Bulldogs' first five offensive possessions.

Batavia took the opening kick and marched 63 yards in 9 plays, capped by Gaspari's 24-yard TD pass

to David Peskind in the back corner of the end zone. Fullback Alec Lyons kept the drive alive with his 8-yard run on 4th-and-1 from the Bulldogs' 45-yard line.

The Bulldogs' next series was an 8-play, 95-yard drive that included a 36-yard direct-snap run by Ben Fornek to set up Gaspari's 1-yard TD toss to tight end Cole Gardner and a 14-0 first-quarter lead.

Batavia added a 22-point, second-quarter surge that started with Gaspari's 28-yard scoring pass

to Joe Sortino on a 4th-and-16 play. It was Sortino's sixth TD reception of the season and third in the last two games.

Gaspari closed the half with a 7-yard TD pass to Peskind and 18-yard TD run. Holder Jon Gray even got into the scoring act when he made a 1-handed snare of a high snap from center and ran into the end zone for a successful two-point conversion that made it 36-0 at halftime.

"Our offensive line did a great job," said Gaspari, whose first 7 completions were to 6 different receivers. "They're the reason why we won again."

Austin Lindquist's 8-yard TD run and a 1-yard TD run by backup quarterback Brandon O'Kray completed the scoring as Batavia outgained Streamwood 454-75 and emptied its bench in the second half.

"It was nice to have a day like this to spread the ball around and gain some confidence," said Bulldogs coach Mike Gaspari. "It all starts with our offensive line."

Batavia will take a little time to celebrate before beginning to prepare for first-round opponent Lemont (9-0).

"We're going to enjoy every moment of it," said the coach. "When you get in, it's very special."

Meanwhile, it has been 8 years since Streamwood last reached the playoffs, and the Sabres haven't enjoyed a winning season since the 1998 team finished 6-3.

"Our seniors have really been a committed group," said Sabres coach Cal Cummins. "They have been our most physical group but then again we only have 15 of them."

Streamwood should benefit from the return of junior tailback Alex Morrow, who reinjured his ankle on the Sabres' first offensive series, junior quarterback Dalton Lundeen and sophomore receiver Blake Holder (4 catches, 42 yards).

"Batavia came in and was very physical," Cummins added. "You can tell they've been in the weight room. That's what we've got to do."