Batavia too powerful for Larkin
After a shaky takeoff on Friday at Memorial Field in Elgin it was all systems go for Batavia.
With starting tailback Zach Garrett out with an ankle injury quarterback Kyle Niemiec picked up the slack passing for 272 yards, including a pair of touchdowns. He also ran for a pair of scores to lead the Bulldogs to a 49-20 Upstate Eight River Division victory over Larkin.
The Bulldogs surprisingly found themselves down 13-7 midway through the first quarter after the Royals scored a pair of touchdowns on their first 2 possessions. However, Batavia (3-0, 1-0) rattled off 36 unanswered points to build a 49-13 lead by the end of the third quarter.
"I was really impressed with this Larkin team," Batavia coach Dennis Piron. "They have some real talented players and their coach has them playing with a lot of spirit. I just continue to appreciate the way our team is able to react to different situations. We didn't panic when things didn't go right at the start. We just went right back to our game plan and executing the Xs and Os."
The first quarter opened with a scoring frenzy from both sides. Batavia fumbled the ball away at the Larkin 37-yard line on the second play of the game. The Royals then struck first 5 plays later on a 21-yard touchdown run by quarterback David Hibbler. The Bulldogs answered right back with a 57-yard touchdown pass from Niemiec to Nick Stuttle to pull ahead 7-6.
The Royals (0-3, 0-1) retook the lead 13-7 just 2 play later when Keion Adams raced 64 yards for a touchdown on a bubble screen from Hibbler.
However, it was all Batavia after that. A 46-yard pass from Niemiec to Cole Stokke set up a 6-yard touchdon run by Kamontez Thomas that gave the Bulldogs the lead for good 14-13 with 5:49 left in the first quarter. Batavia added a 2-yard touchdown run by Dana Anderson later in the quarter to extend the lead to 21-13.
A 6-yard touchdown run by Niemiec and a 3-yard touchdown pass to Glenn Albanese in the second quarter made it 35-13 at the half. Niemic would add an 11-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and Matt Huizinga finished off the scoring for the Bulldogs with a 1-yard touchdown run.
In Garrett's absence a running back committee that included Niemiec, Huizinga, Anderson and Ethan Hallberg (team-high 49 yards) combined for 172 yards on the ground.
"I was really pleased with the way several guys stepped up for us," Piron said. "Kyle played a phenomenal game and we had several running backs answer the call."
Niemiec completed 15 of his 20 passes to 6 different receivers. Canaan Coffey was his favorite target with 81 yards on 4 receptions.
"I have a great offensive line that gave me a lot of time to throw," Niemiec. "And my receiving corp is amazing. I can throw it to all them with a lot of confidence that they will catch it. And with so many weapons there is always someone open."
Batavia turned up the defensive pressure to shut down the Royals' offense. The Bulldogs finished with 11 sacks. Johnny Lane was in on 3 to lead the way.
"We always have a pretty good pass rush, Lane said. "After they burned us with a couple big plays we responded with more blitzes and line stunts. We have a lot pf guys who can get after the ball."
Hibbler added a late 31-yard touchdown run for the Royals. He finished with 69 yards despite being dropped for 60 yards on the sacks. He also had 157 yards in the air. Adams finished with 101 yards receiving on 6 catches.
"Batavia is so much bigger and stronger than us," said Larkin coach Dragan Teonic. "Our goal was to get to the edge and try to outrun them. We were pretty effective doing that at times tonight. We just weren't able to do it enough against them. They are a very good team. But I am really happy with our effort tonight."