Batavia rolls past Hononegah

Sparked by four first quarter touchdowns, Batavia rolled to a 48-0 Class 7A second round win over Hononegah Saturday.

While the host Bulldogs gained a total of 492 yards - 361 rushing - the defense stymied the Indian's offense, limiting them to 113 total yards and intercepting four Payton Mather passes. Hononegah rushed for only 25 yards.

Batavia will face Nazareth Academy in next weekend's quarterfinals.

"We are coming together at just the right time," said Batavia coach Dennis Piron. "Honestly, the way we have been practicing, especially the linemen, things have really started to click for us the last couple of weeks. Things have really started to roll."

"Offensively we were trying to make a little more happen receiving," Hononegah coach Brian Zimmerman said. "I think we could of tested more running the ball earlier just to get them off balance."

Batavia crossed the goal line on all four of its first quarter possessions.

Trey Urwiler scored his eighth touchdown of the season to open the Bulldogs' scoring. A 21-yard TD pass from Kyle Oroni ended Batavia's first drive of the game. The junior QB completed 8 of 13 pass attempts for 131 yards. Trey Urwiler caught five for 72 yards.

The Bulldogs capitalized on two Indians miscues for their next two scores. After a Nick Crankshaw interception, Batavia needed only one play, a 67-yard Art Taylor run, to go up 14-0.

The senior rushed for 213 yards on 19 carries.

"This week in practice we focused on trusting each other," said Taylor. "So once I got the ball, I trusted that my linemen were doing their job so I could do mine."

Recovering a Hononegah (8-3) fumble on the ensuing kick, Batavia ran only two plays to add to its lead. Oroni connected with Sam Barus for a 35-yard TD strike.

Quinn Urwiler ended the first quarter scoring with a 2-yard plunge.

"They did a great job on both sides of the ball. We had some early turnovers that really put us in a bad position," Zimmerman said. "Our defense played on their heels, playing catch up and obviously you can't do that against a team like this."

Batavia (9-2) relied on Jackson Williams' toe for its second quarter scoring. Williams kicked two 23-yard field goals to give the Bulldogs a 34-0 lead at halftime. The first one was set up after another Mather interception.

Another pick, by Barus, led to Batavia's first touchdown of the third quarter. Taylor scored his second TD of the game and 13th of the season on a 22-yard run.

"When we get into the playoffs, not many teams know us, they don't understand the type of physicality that we come with," Barus said about the interceptions. "We like to press our corners up and play tight, physical defense."

"The challenge for our defense was that that we were going against a quarterback who has flung the ball all year," Prion said. "Our front is pretty aggressive, so when you are a quarterback and you have guys in your face, I think it set a quick tone."

Reserve A. J. Sanders completed Batavia's scoring with 4:43 left in the third quarter on a 7-yard run.

Nazareth (11-0), the defending 7A champion, eliminated Batavia from last year's playoffs with a 47-28 semifinal win.