(Photo credit: | Batavia’s Best)
| Monday, November 5, 2018 | BataviasBest.org
Despite #1 Alexander holding a perfect record entering Saturday’s game, the story of the evening at Alfred University was the red hot #6 York/Pavilion Golden Knights, who had already pulled two major upsets on their way to the Section V Football Class D title game.
Alexander’s defense was stellar on Saturday night. (Photo credit: | Batavia’s Best)
If you asked the Trojans I would bet that they didn’t take that lightly, and performed accordingly, as they went on to defeat the Knights by a convincing 36-0 final score.
“I’m very proud of my team,” said Alexander head coach Tim Sawyer after the big win. “We had a great week of practice in bad weather, and our coaching staff had a good gameplan. We came out and executed.”
After winning their first football title in school history in 2016, a loss in the 2017 Class D Final forced the Trojans to go back to the drawing board. That defeat seemed to stick with Alexander throughout the offseason, and they proved determined to erase that memory by regaining their championship status in 2018.
“We’ve all been working since last season, since we lost here,” said Alexander RB Terrez Smith, who was awarded the MVP of the championship game. “That loss (in the ’17 championship game) still irks me. We come to practice every day and focus and do what we got to do. This is the result.”
Outside of a successful onside kick to begin the game, York/Pavilion simply couldn’t get anything going on either side of the ball and allowed the Trojans to roll right over them on their way to the title. Alexander finished with 389 yards of total offense to Y/P’s measly 188.
🏈 CLASS D FINAL | #1 Alexander vs #6 York/Pavilion – @SectionVFb
•Alexander 0 York/Pavilion 0 | 11:50 1Q
•ONSIDE KICK!! York/Pavilion opens the game with the onside and they recover! @Alex_Schools @AthleticsYork @Y_P_Football #Football #SectionV pic.twitter.com/NqUtE4XImU
— Batavia’s Best HS () November 3, 2018
It did take almost nine minutes of the first quarter before the Trojans scored their first of 5 touchdowns, a 56-yard scamper by Smith, but after they broke the seal they started to roll.
🏈 CLASS D FINAL | #1 Alexander vs #6 York/Pavilion – @SectionVFb
•Alexander 8 York/Pavilion 0 | 3:25 1Q
•TOUCHDOWN!! Alexander strikes first as Terrez Smith goes 56 yards to paydirt. Two-point was successful @Alex_Schools @AthleticsYork @Y_P_Football #Football #SectionV pic.twitter.com/8SErNe8Mmk
— Batavia’s Best HS () November 3, 2018
Five minutes later it was Smith again finding the end zone on another long run of 29 yards.
🏈 CLASS D FINAL | #1 Alexander vs #6 York/Pavilion – @SectionVFb
•Alexander 14 York/Pavilion 0 | 10:01 2Q
•TOUCHDOWN!! Another long run for RB Terrez Smith and the Trojans are rolling. Two-point try missed @Alex_Schools @AthleticsYork @Y_P_Football #Football #SectionV pic.twitter.com/l57itWx3ug
— Batavia’s Best HS () November 3, 2018
To close the first half RB Chris McClinic, who was awarded the Offensive Player of the Game, scored two touchdowns – one rushing, and one a touchdown reception thrown by QB Dylan Busch – and the rout was on.
🏈 CLASS D FINAL | #1 Alexander vs #6 York/Pavilion – @SectionVFb
•Alexander 22 York/Pavilion 0 | 4:30 2Q
•TOUCHDOWN!! Chris McClinic finds the end zone for Alexander and they are now running away from Y/P@Alex_Schools @AthleticsYork @Y_P_Football #Football #SectionV pic.twitter.com/zcxWKNCLCJ
— Batavia’s Best HS () November 3, 2018
“We just had to come in and play hard,” said McClinic after the game about what made them successful against what was a hot Y/P team. “They’re a tough team and we just didn’t let them get in our head. We’re going to stay humble, and keep on fighting hard (going into next week).”
The Alexander defense was smothering on Saturday. (Photo credit: | Batavia’s Best)
A tough Clymer-Salamanca-Panama team awaits the Trojans next week in the NYSPHSAA Class D Far West Regional, a game that will be played at Clarence High School at 12 pm on Saturday.
“Clymer is going to be our most-formidable opponent for sure,” said coach Sawyer to conclude his comments. “They’re a lot like us. They run it well, they pass it well, and they play tough defense. It should be a good matchup. We’re looking forward to it.”
As am I.
