Batavia’s Gardner making impact all over the field

Saying that last Friday night’s Batavia-Geneva football showdown carried big-game connotations with it would be a huge understatement.

Naturally, any football game played between the two rivals these days is going to draw a sellout crowd.

So it wasn’t a surprise to see the Burgess Field stands filled from top to bottom, with the excess spillage lined up several deep alongside the fence just to catch a glimpse of the action.

Especially since the two teams entered Week 6 of the regular season with identical 5-0 records.

When the final seconds ticked off, the visiting Bulldogs emerged with a wild, hard-fought 46-34 victory and returned to Batavia with an unblemished 6-0 mark.

The win, coupled with St. Charles East’s 49-37 triumph over previously unbeaten Streamwood last weekend, left the Bulldogs all alone atop the Upstate Eight Conference River Division standings.

While the neighborhood battle was anything but friendly at times much to my dismay (emotions ran high between several members of the coaching staffs and players immediately following the game), the victory couldn’t have been sweeter for one Bulldog in particular.

Cole Gardner, who played a vital role on offense, defense and special teams, admittedly felt the win was bigger than usual.

“It’s unbelievable,” Gardner said less than 24 hours after the final whistle sounded. “Our team just finished watching some of the game films and I’m still so pumped. It’s just a great feeling.”

That sort of thing happens when your team finally breaks through against an old nemesis.

“For the seniors, this was our first time beating Geneva,” said Gardner. “It’s big-time.”

So, for that matter, is Gardner, the Bulldogs’ 6-foot-6, 250-pounder who lined up at three different positions — tackle, end, outside linebacker — on defense alone against the Vikings.

Gardner and his defensive teammates spent much of the time trying to chase down Geneva quarterback Matt Williams.

While the Bulldogs were only credited with a pair of sacks, they harassed the NIU-bound Williams into a 50-percent completion rate (12-of-24) and just 84 passing yards.

“He’s one of the better quarterbacks that we will face,” Gardner said of Williams. “It was a good challenge to see where we were. That’s a great team that can do a lot of things very well.

“But our defense is fast. I know that I’ve got a lot of help.”

Gardner also chipped in with 2 receptions for 9 yards, added an important 2-point conversion catch of a pass from Noel Gaspari to give the Bulldogs a 17-14 halftime lead, and later blocked an extra-point kick attempt by Kevin Dunlop early in the third quarter.

On the 2-point conversion, Gardner lined up at tight end on the left side, cut to the right and followed the motion of Gaspari, who rolled out the same direction. Tiptoeing the sideline, Gardner made an athletic 2-handed catch.

“I was lucky to keep my feet in bounds,” said Gardner. “It was a huge play and a great time to get that done.”

Gardner, who caught an 11-yard TD pass over the middle against St. Charles East one week earlier, provides a big red-zone target for Gaspari.

“I definitely love getting the ball in the red zone,” said Gardner. “I can use my height to my advantage.”

Teammates Zach Strittmatter (6-5) and Evan Zeddies (6-3) join Gardner as long-armed receivers.

“It’s so helpful because we’ve got so many tall receivers,” said Gardner.

Last spring, Gardner’s senior football season was in jeopardy after suffering a torn meniscus in his knee.

“Doctors originally told me I’d probably miss the first four games,” said Gardner. “But I came back earlier than I thought and only missed one game.”

The Bulldogs also received some positive news on the injury front last Saturday as Gaspari’s shoulder diagnosis wasn’t as bad as originally feared.

“That was terrific news,” Gardner said. “We need Noel healthy. He has been unbelievable.”

Ironically, Gardner had a couple of former Geneva football players rooting him on last weekend — his dad, Todd, and uncle, Jack.

“I never thought I’d be rooting for Batavia back when I was in high school or in college,” said Todd, a 1981 Geneva graduate. “But once your kid gets on the field or steps on the (basketball) court, that all goes out the window. But I’ll admit that while pulling for the kids, I’ll catch myself saying Geneva sometimes.”

Gardner’s dad fondly recalls his playing days at Geneva.

“I got the opportunity to play for Jerry Auchstetter and Karl Hoinkes (assistant),” said Todd. “I’ve got a huge amount of respect for both of those coaches.

“We finished 7-2 but it was a few years before the expanded playoffs (1985) so only the conference champion made it. We finished in a three-way tie for first place and beat Morris (14-7) but they made it and went on to win the state championship (Class 3A).”

Last Friday, the elder Gardner proudly watched from his former stomping grounds as his son’s team handed Geneva its first loss of the season.

“It was a neat thing for high school kids to play in that type of atmosphere,” said Todd.

His son agreed.

“It was a great night for so many reasons,” said Cole. “It was very satisfying to beat the school that your dad grew up playing for.”

Yet another reason why I love high school football.

You can reach Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com.