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Friday, October 20, 2017 | BataviasBest.org
Here is a brief preview of the Section V Football Playoffs – which begin tonight. For LIVE coverage from the sidelines, be sure to tune in on Twitter, or Batavia’s Best on Facebook.
CLASS B
Seeding
1. Hornell (7-0 overall)
Hornell is coming off of a runner-up finish in Class B last season, and the Red Raiders have once again put together another fine campaign – and at this point are unbeaten.
2. Geneva (6-1 overall)
Geneva has been the surprise team in Class B this season and will be a tough out in the coming days, and weeks.
3. Livonia (6-1 overall)
Livonia’s only loss came to Hornell this year, but the Bulldogs were throttled by the Red Raiders in what turned into a complete blowout. Although they seem to have spread things out a bit more this year, I would expect they are just a notch below the other top-teams in Class B.
4. Batavia (5-2 overall)
The three-time defending champion Blue Devils come in to the playoffs as a surprising 4-seed, but that won’t stop them from reaching at least the semifinals, and perhaps the finals once again this year.
5. Wayne (5-2 overall)
Wayne lost their all-star starting quarterback to injury earlier in the year, and likely will have a tough time competing with Batavia in round 1.
6. HF-L (3-4 overall)
The Cougars started the season strong, but faltered down the stretch. Unless they turn things around on the fly, they will likely be on the outside looking in during the later stages of the postseason.
7. Waterloo (3-4 overall)
Waterloo will not be a factor in Class B.
8. Newark (2-5 overall)
Newark limped into the playoffs and will be a walk-over for Hornell in round 1.
Opening Round Matchups
#1 Hornell vs #8 Newark – Friday, October 20, 7:30 pm @ Hornell HS
#4 Batavia vs #5 Wayne – Friday, October 20, 7:00 pm @ Van Detta Stadium
Stay tuned for a Scouting Report and Prediction for this game – coming soon
#3 Geneva vs #6 HF-L – Saturday, October 21, 5:00 pm @ Geneva HS
#2 Livonia vs #7 Waterloo – Friday, October 20, 7:30 pm @ Livonia HS
Prediction
When it’s all said and done, I expect Batavia will work their way to a fourth-straight title in Class B. Although they will face a tougher road to the finals than in previous years, having to face top-seed Hornell in round 2, if the Blue Devils play up to their capabilities they will prove themselves to be in another class than their competition during the coming weeks.
CLASS C
Seeding
1. East Rochester/Gananda (6-1 overall)
ER/G lost top-tier running back Cameron Cleveland to graduation this year, and will have a tough time replacing him in the postseason – where he thrived for consecutive seasons.
2. Le Roy (6-1 overall)
The Knights surprised many with their 6-1 regular season record, but their defense is for real and any team will have major trouble scoring on Le Roy during the post.
3. Penn Yan (5-2 overall)
The Mustangs are a solid team, and will be a tough matchup for Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen in round 1.
4. Bath (5-2 overall)
The Rams are consistently a Class C powerhouse and I believe they will have a good chance to beat top-seed ER/G in round 2.
5. Marcus Whitman (5-2 overall)
Marcus Whitman has drawn a tough matchup with Bath in the first round. I’m not sure if the Wildcats are good enough to beat the Rams.
6. Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen (5-2 overall)
The Raiders endured both trials and tribulations during the regular season, but battled their way into the playoffs where I believe they can do some damage – if they are to get by a tough Penn Yan team in round 1.
7. Letchworth/Warsaw (4-3 overall)
Letsaw put together a respectable season, but drew a rematch with Le Roy in round 1. In the two team’s first matchup, the Knights won handily.
8. Mynderse (4-3 overall)
Mynderse won’t be a factor in Class C.
Opening Round Matchups
#1 East Rochester/Gananda vs #8 Mynderse – Friday, October 20, 7:00 pm @ East Rochester HS
#4 Bath-Haverling vs #5 Marcus Whitman – Saturday, October 21, 1:00 pm @ Haverling HS
#3 Penn Yan vs #6 Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen – Saturday, October 21, 6:00 pm @ Penn Yan HS
Stay tuned for a Scouting Report and Prediction for this game – coming soon
#2 Le Roy vs #7 Letchworth/Warsaw – Friday, October 20, 7:35 pm @ Hartwood Park
Stay tuned for a Scouting Report and Prediction for this game – coming soon
Prediction
Admittedly, this was the hardest of the three classifications for me to forecast, but Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen is a team that I’ve been super high on since the beginning of the season. Their size, strength, and athleticism as a whole goes unmatched throughout Class C, and although they slipped up in their rivalry matchup with Le Roy midway through the year, I believe the Red Raiders are the best team in their class, and will finish the season as champion.
CLASS D
Seeding
1. Clyde-Savannah (7-0 overall)
Clyde-Savannah has one of Section V’s most-electrifying talents in RB Derrick Chance, and after a runner-up finish last season, C-S will be looking to take a step forward and finish the season as Champion.
2. Alexander (7-0 overall)
Alexander is the defending Class D Champ, and like Clyde, has one of Section V’s top-athletes in RB Chris McClinic. I can see a Trojans-Golden Eagles matchup in the finals, a rematch of last year.
3. Red Jacket (6-1 overall)
RJ is always a tough team with tough players in the backfield. No game will be easy for RJ’s opponents during the postseason.
4. Pembroke (6-1 overall)
Pembroke has put together quite a resurgent season, and it would be a shame to watch it come to an end tonight. They play Canisteo in round 1, in what should amount to a great game.
5. Canisteo-Greenwood (6-1 overall)
I watched the Redskins face-off with Alexander earlier in the year and came away unimpressed. However, their 6-1 record proves they like won’t be a walk-over for Pembroke in round 1.
6. Cuba-Rushford (5-2 overall)
Cuba-Rushford was defeated by Canisteo-Greenwood earlier this year, so they sit behind the Redskins in the overall Sectional Standings. I expect the Rebels will be a tough out for Red Jacket in round 1, and if they are to pull the upset, another tough out for Clyde-Savannah in round 2.
7. C.G. Finney (3-4 overall)
Alexander has drawn a tough opening round matchup with the Falcons, who have the athletes to stymie RB Chris McClinic. Finney will likely play the Trojans tough tonight.
8. Perry/Mt. Morris (2-5 overall)
P/MM won’t be a factor in Class D.
Opening Round Matchups
#1 Clyde-Savannah vs #8 Perry/Mt. Morris – Friday, October 20, 7:00 pm @ Clyde-Savannah HS
#4 Pembroke vs #5 Canisteo-Greenwood – Friday, October 20, 7:00 pm @ Pembroke HS
Stay tuned for a Scouting Report and Prediction for this game – coming soon
#3 Red Jacket vs #6 Cuba-Rushford – Saturday, October 21, 12:00 pm @ Red Jacket HS
#2 Alexander vs #7 CG Finney – Friday, October 20, 7:30 pm @ Alexander HS
Stay tuned for a Scouting Report and Prediction for this game – coming soon
Prediction
I admit, I didn’t expect this out of Alexander this year. However, a season after winning their first Section V Title in school history, a season after losing much of their starting lineup to graduation, Alexander has rebuilt and replenished quickly and find themselves in line for a second-straight title. Gimme the Trojans.
Tune in beginning at 7:00 pm! on Twitter.
Other articles you may like:
Section V Football Playoffs – Opening Round matchups
Section V Football – 2017 Playoff Seeding: Which teams are IN, which teams are OUT
