Ten matchups to look forward to this HS Football season

Alexander has had Pembroke’s number in recent seasons, but the tide could turn this year.

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***Sunday, August 20, 2017* *| BataviasBest.org***

Now that we are less than two weeks away from live HS Football action, here are ten matchups to look forward to during the regular season:

Week 1

Bolivar-Richburg vs Alexander – 7:30 pm, Friday, September 1

The Trojans won their first Sectional Title in program history last season, and B-R completed the season as a state-ranked squad. This road game will be a great measuring stick for Alexander in Week 1.

Attica vs Hornell – 7:30 pm, Friday, September 1

Attica has been a GR Titan for many years, but in the past couple of seasons, their regular season schedule has gotten increasingly tougher with the addition of some difficult non-league contests. In 2017, they have drawn Hornell 0n the road in Week 1 – who finished as Class B runner-up in 2016. The Blue Devils are also entering the season under a first-year head coach, increasing the excitement surrounding this matchup.

Batavia vs Johnson City – 2:00 pm, Sunday, September 3

The Blue Devils head out to the Carrier Dome to open the 2017 season, where they will face Johnson City (IV) in a non-league matchup on the first Sunday of September.

Week 2

Pembroke vs Alexander – 7:30 pm, Friday, September 8

Pembroke is a team whose stock is rising quickly, as a coaching change and a growing roster could produce stronger results this season. The Dragons welcome Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Famer Dick DiMinuco back into the fold, who will serve as the team’s offensive coordinator under second-chance head coach Justin Loeber – who previously led Pembroke’s varsity team as head coach a few seasons back. Going up against the defending GR League Champions in Week 2, look for Pembroke to be put to the test.

Week 3

Le Roy vs Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen – 7:30 pm, Friday, September 15

This longstanding rivalry will be renewed in Week 3, after last year when this matchup was perhaps the Game of the Year. Look for another great game this year.

Week 4

Attica vs Alexander – 7:30 pm, Friday, September 22

Another cross-county rivalry, this time of the Genesee Region variety, features the previous two GR League Champions in a matchup which will see the Blue Devils look to regain bragging rights over the Trojans.

Week 5

Bishop Kearney vs Batavia – 7:00 pm, Friday, September 29

Last year’s Class C and Class B Champions meet for a matchup of two independent teams hoping for a chance at back-to-back titles. The Kings are under new leadership this year, however, as previous head coach Eddie Long has made the move to his former alma mater – Greece Olympia.

Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen vs Oakfield/Elba – 7:30 pm, Friday, September 29

Byron-Bergen cut ties with Elba prior to last season, after being merged with the Lancers for a few seasons. This year, the the two schools, accompanied by their new partners, will square-off with one another looking to dash the hopes of the other – after the previous relationship ended sourly.

Notre Dame vs Le Roy – 1:30 pm, Saturday, September 30

The final rivalry game to look forward to this season, as the Irish and Knights’ strife dates back quite some time, and will return to the football field this season at Notre Dame in Week 5.

Week 6

Wilson vs Batavia – 4:00 pm, Saturday, October 7

Wilson was one of the only teams to push the Devils to the brink during the 2016 regular season. I hear good things about the Wildcats heading into 2017, which could make for another exciting matchup in Week 6.