| BataviasBest.org
Thursday, October 16, 2014
After speaking with several members of the Batavia football program I have acquired an understanding of what feelings they have heading into their matchup with the undefeated Rams. Can the Blue Devils pull off the upset?
“It’s gonna take 100% effort,” said Batavia running back Anthony Gallo last night. “They are gonna be big and tough so we have to come out and match their aggressiveness and throw the first punch like coach is always saying. We have to show them right away we are not going to be pushed around.”
In concurrence with Gallo’s statements, Junior Adonis Davis also had plenty to say about his team’s chances of a win this week.
“This week it will take discipline,” said Davis, “Especially with the physical play that they possess.”
He also went on to mention which phase of the game he felt was most important for his team this week.
“The way we perform on special teams will be most important and will be a huge factor in the outcome,” he added.
To go along with Gallo and Davis’ statements last night, offensive lineman Gunner Rapone echoed their sentiments later on.
“Our team needs to play as physical as we can be this week,” said Rapone. “We all know that Batavia football is doing good this year, but we want to be great. Beating Bath, and continuing onto Sectionals would give us great momentum.”
As far as what is most important in his view, he was also aligned with Davis.
“Our offense and special teams,” he said. “Not to discredit our defense by any means, I just think that because we have faced Livonia who runs a similar offense we will be more confident going into the game than we would have been if we hadn’t already faced them. But I believe in order to be successful in this game we have to match how physical they are and punch the ball into the end zone, and follow that up with good play from our special teams.”
As I continued to speak with the players, a common theme kept coming up: Bath is big.
“They have big, strong guys up front and if we can match their toughness I like our chances,” said quarterback Greg Mruczek. “Our athletes will play a big role and as long as we play tough and physical I like our chances.”
Also, like those who spoke before him, Mruczek maintains that establishing their physicality will be very important.
“To match their physicality, we need to get tough this game,” he added. “It will be by far the most physical game we have been apart of all season.”
James Cryer also had plenty of positive things to say about the Rams.
“They are definitely going to be the most physically-tough team we play all year and are obviously a very good football team,” he said. “But I think that if we play as tough as we can for the entirety of the game, we will have a good shot at beating them.”
After speaking with the players, I asked the Batavia head coach what he though about their Week 7 matchup. In response to my inquiry, Brennan Briggs kept it simple.
“They will be a very tough team,” he said. “They are 6-0 and are currently ranked #6 in NYS. They run the double-wing offense with quite a few big boys, but I am confident our guys will come ready to play.”
With all that being said, the game this Friday night is sure to bring a ton of excitement to Batavia football fans far and wide. With a chance to earn the #1 seed in Class B with a victory and a Livonia loss, the Blue Devils will undoubtedly come to play when they go up against the Rams, with hopes of bringing home a victory. If you by chance won’t be able to attend the game, following along with us @BataviasBest on twitter where live updates will be provided throughout the game.
It should be a good one.
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