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Despite quarterfinal loss Batavia has much to be proud of

What does Cary-Grove have in common with Mount Carmel, Downers Grove North and Prairie Ridge?

Those are the last 4 teams to have eliminated Batavia's football team from the state playoffs over the past 5 years - the Bulldogs captured the Class 6A state championship with a 34-14 victory over Richards in 2013.

Cary-Grove joined the list last Saturday following its 42-21 Class 7A state quarterfinal triumph over Batavia before a standing-room-only crowd at Bulldog Stadium.

When a fifth-seeded team with a rich football history of its own like Cary-Grove (Class 6A state champion in 2009 with second-place finishes in 2012 and 2014) beats a fourth-seeded team, it really isn't an upset.

Upsetting - yes, if you're a Bulldog fan.

"Nobody expected this to be our last game," said Batavia senior quarterback Kyle Niemiec, who completed 24 of 39 passes for 275 yards and a pair of touchdowns while also adding a 6-yard rushing touchdown.

"Everybody on our team - we're all fighters."

Niemiec certainly proved himself as a fighter throughout the past two varsity seasons, especially during Saturday's contest when he sustained bone-jarring hits from Cary-Grove defensive stalwarts Kevin Pedersen, Alex Prendergast, Zachary Underwood and Tyler Pennington.

Early in the fourth quarter, Niemiec survived a roughing-the-passer penalty to toss a 27-yard touchdown pass to Canaan Coffey.

Later in the quarter, the Bulldogs called a timeout to allow Niemiec a little extra time to regroup following another crunching blow from Prendergast.

"I was just trying to hang in there as much as possible for my team," said Niemiec. "I just wanted to play through it."

Coffey also fought through some aches, pains and double-coverage from Cary-Grove's 3-3-5 defense to catch 7 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown.

"They were bracketing me," said Coffey. "They had a back about five yards off (the line of scrimmage) with a safety over the top. It opened up everyone else."

Senior teammate Cole Stokke was the chief beneficiary, finishing with 8 receptions for a game-high 100 yards.

Niemiec, Coffey and Stokke were among the 17 seniors called up to varsity during the state championship run in 2013 who saw their high school football careers come to an end last weekend.

"This is it," said Coffey, who caught 81 passes for 1,145 yards and 11 touchdowns this season. "I don't think it has full on hit me yet.

"I wouldn't trade these four years for anything," Coffey added. "I'm definitely going to miss it. I'll miss Bulldog Stadium."

Coffey, whose older brothers Jordan, Jesse and Micah were all multisport athletes at Batavia, will be a familiar name sorely missed at Bulldog Stadium in the coming years.

"I have so many great memories going back to when I was just watching my older brothers," said Canaan, who was a third grader when Jordan threw a pair of touchdown passes in Batavia's 30-20 Class 6A state title loss to Normal Community in 2006.

Two years ago, the youngest Coffey had a sideline view as he watched Micah complete 15 of 18 passes for 229 yards and two TDs in the Bulldogs' state title-winning game against Richards.

"It's crazy to think that it's all over," said Canaan.

Senior strong safety Tyler Holl, who watched older brothers Brandon and Shane start on the second-place state team in 2006, also played his final prep game last Saturday.

Batavia has become a state powerhouse over the past 20-plus years since former head coach Mike Gaspari guided the Bulldogs to their first playoff appearance in 1991.

Since then, the Bulldogs have qualified for postseason play 18 times, including 12 of the last 13 years.

Since Dennis Piron took over as head coach in 2011, the Bulldogs have compiled an impressive 52-7 record (. 881 winning percentage) with three double-digit victory seasons.

Cary-Grove, which will take on top-seeded Glenbard West Saturday in the 7A semifinals at Duchon Field in Glen Ellyn, has made the state playoffs 12 consecutive years.

"Their kids - I think they're a lot like us," Piron said of the Trojans. "They work very, very hard together in their school."

As for his own team, Piron sounded like a proud parent following the season-ending defeat.

"I'm proud of our team, our kids, and our coaches, I know how hard they've worked," said the coach. "These boys - they never missed anything. They're totally dedicated. They're good students. I haven't been to the dean's office once the entire year. We haven't had any training room violations the entire season."

"We had a great season," said Niemiec, who figures to be a main cog in the Bulldogs' batting order when baseball season begins next spring. "A lot of people doubted us. That just gave us motivation.

"I'm proud of the way we played the whole season."

You can reach Craig Brueske at csb4k@hotmail.com

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