(Photo credit: | Batavia’s Best)

 |  Saturday, November 24, 2018 | BataviasBest.org

It was a difficult ending to a great run for the Batavia Football team, as the Blue Devils were unable to overcome a key injury to quarterback Ethan Biscaro in this afternoon’s NYSPHSAA Class B Final, and fell to Glens Falls by a final score of 55-32. Biscaro was injured on a non-contact play during the first quarter when Batavia was ahead 14-0, and the injury took the air out of the Devils’ sails and directly led to their eventual demise.

Batavia lost quarterback Ethan Biscaro early-on in the first quarter. (Photo credit: | Batavia’s Best)

“It hurts,” said Batavia head coach Brennan Briggs about the loss of Biscaro. “He is the heart of our offense and defense, and we tried to do our best without him. That’s football.”

The other big factor in the the Batavia loss was Glens Falls quarterback Joe Girard III, who made big plays throughout the game in order to push his team ahead of the Blue Devils. Indians’ running back Aalijah Sampson also had a remarkable day in the GF win, recording 4 touchdowns and 140 rushing yards. Girard III finished with 314 passing yards to go with 2 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing touchdowns.

🏈 CLASS B FINAL | Batavia (V) vs Glens Falls (II) – @SectionVFb

•Batavia 14 Glens Falls 6 | 9:20 2Q

•Joe Girard III is able to evade the entire defense and find paydirt to put the Indians on the board@BHSScores @GlensFallsCSD @NYSPHSAA #Football #SectionV #SectionII pic.twitter.com/npVhoHEbDh

— Batavia’s Best HS () November 24, 2018

“We came out of here on top with a win, and I couldn’t be more proud of my guys and my coaches,” said Girard III after the game. “They believed in me, and believed in each other. We were one heartbeat today.”

The Batavia secondary was burned for big yardage time, and time again on Saturday. (Photo credit: | Batavia’s Best)

Batavia, on the other hand, was not their usual selves this afternoon as they made mistakes, drop passes, committed penalties, and it all added up to a difficult, lopsided loss in their biggest game of the year.

“I’m proud of these guys,” continued Briggs after the tough loss. “They did what no one else did (before them). They brought a community together.”

A lone bright spot in an otherwise difficult day for Batavia was star running back Ray Leach, who continued his string of stellar performances with another 400-yard effort, and another 4 touchdowns. Over the last four games Leach totaled near 1,650 yards on the ground and scored 26 touchdowns. For the season he totaled 2,993 rushing yards – a new Section V single season record.

🏈 CLASS B FINAL | Batavia (V) vs Glens Falls (II) – @SectionVFb

•Batavia 20 Glens Falls 14 | 3:51 2Q

•Leach will not let his team fade easily, he busts loose for 6 to put Batavia back in front@BHSScores @GlensFallsCSD @NYSPHSAA #Football #SectionV #SectionII pic.twitter.com/Aq6z6d1S4B

— Batavia’s Best HS () November 24, 2018

It won’t be easy for the Blue Devils to look back on this game fondly, but knowing they reached this point – which no other Batavia team before them had reached – must leave them with some feeling of satisfaction when it’s all said and done. This was a special team which accomplished plenty of special things.

For that they should be proud.