Batavia blows out Larkin in Upstate Eight debut

Batavia was almost flawless in its introduction to the Upstate Eight Conference River division.

Quarterback Noel Gaspari ran the offense to perfection, completing all 11 of his passes, and the Batavia backs, with nine getting touches, ran roughshod over Larkin Friday night in Batavia.

The Batavia defense was equally stingy, sacking Larkin quarterback Kyle Newquist nine times while holding the Royals' attack to 5 yards rushing and 7 seven first downs.

Six different Batavia players scored in the Bulldogs' 41-0 victory over Larkin.

"We just try to move the chains," said Gaspari, who was 9-for-9 passing in the first half for 163 yards and a pair of scores. "We didn't try to get it back on one play. The offensive line won the game tonight."

Gaspari was referring to the Bulldogs' first of four first-half scoring drives; the junior signalcaller found Austin Lindquist on a 47-yard screen pass to set up his 7-yard scamper one play later.

But it was the Batavia defense that told the main story.

The Bulldogs' front seven was unmerciful against Newquist, sacking him on four consecutive pass attempts bridging the end of the first and beginning of the second quarter.

Batavia defensive coordinator Dennis Piron said the unit had a singular mission.

"We game plan every team as if they are a state-championship-caliber team," Piron said. "Our only strategy was to take (Larkin wideout Trevor Whitehead) away and sack the quarterback."

Emund Kabba doubled the Bulldogs' 6-0 lead early in the second quarter with a 24-yard end around, and Gaspari found Cole Gardner and Joe Sortino with respective scoring strikes of 6 and 30 yards in the final two minutes of the first half.

Batavia (2-1, 1-0) led 26-0 at the break; Larkin (1-2, 0-1) had negative yardage at the intermission as Newquist was dropped in the backfield seven times in the opening two quarters.

"Coming into the season, we knew that our front seven was going to be one of our strengths," Batavia coach Mike Gaspari said.

Brian Wilson and McKenzie Brown anchored the Bulldogs' interior line; linebackers Ben Allison, Jacob Benner and Gardner cleaned up the rest.

Batavia senior cornerback David Peskind had two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

"(The pressure on Newquist) was probably the main reason I was able to do that," Peskind said. "We (Kevin Schroeder also had a pick) were able to get to the ball."

Batavia reserve backs Mike Giacopelli and Alex Moore initiated a running clock with second-half touchdown runs.

For Larkin, Miguel Villafane caught 4 passes for 43 yards, including three in succession, as Batavia concentrated on denying Whitehead.

"When they double-teamed Whitehead, we were looking for other people to step up," Larkin coach Mike Scianna said. "We were kind of behind the eight-ball (right off the bat). They disrupted our timing (on offense). We got outmanned."

Matt Rice had 33 second-half rushing yards to lead the Royals' ground attack.