(For additional photos visit www.jimburns.org)
| Monday, November 5, 2018 | BataviasBest.org
Everyone knows about Batavia senior RB Ray Leach and what he’s accomplished during his four-year varsity career. However, what he did Saturday in the #1 Blue Devils’ 49-14 win over #3 Wayne in the Section V Football Class B Final was nothing short of legendary.
Batavia has won four Section V Football titles over the last five seasons. (For additional photos visit www.jimburns.org)
Leach carried his team to the championship on Saturday by way of 344 rushing yards and 6 rushing touchdowns – both Batavia High School single game records.
“He’s a special young man,” said Batavia head coach Brennan Briggs after the game about his star RB. “He would have had a lot more games like this if I would have (always) left him in for four quarters, but he showed today that he is a premier athlete and there should be quite a few colleges knocking on the door after what he did tonight.”
Saturday’s game began in favor of Wayne, as an onside kick and a fumble recovery sparked an early passing touchdown from Eagles’ QB Grayson Zenelovic to WR Logan Blankenberg.
🏈 CLASS B FINAL | #1 Batavia vs #3 Wayne – @SectionVFb
•Wayne 7 Batavia 0 | 10:21 1Q
•Wayne capitalizes on the turnover Grayson Zenelovic to Logan Blankenberg for the score, Batavia stunned early @BHSScores @WCSD_Athletics#Football #SectionV pic.twitter.com/5wf4ly52PB
— Batavia’s Best HS () November 4, 2018
After a slow start, Batavia would wake up with 8:55 left in the first quarter when Leach scored his first touchdown of the night.
🏈 CLASS B FINAL | #1 Batavia vs #3 Wayne – @SectionVFb
•Wayne 7 Batavia 6 | 8:55 1Q
•Blue Devils answer as Leach breaks free, PAT is no good however Wayne stays in front @BHSScores @WCSD_Athletics#Football #SectionV pic.twitter.com/PTxIxNcRys
— Batavia’s Best HS () November 4, 2018
The missed PAT allowed Wayne to remain in front for the entirety of the first quarter and a half, until Leach again broke free for a Blue Devils’ score which gave them their first lead of the game.
🏈 CLASS B FINAL | #1 Batavia vs #3 Wayne – @SectionVFb
•Batavia 14 Wayne 7 | 6:02 2Q
•Leach finds paydirt again and converts the two to put the Blue Devils up a score @BHSScores @WCSD_Athletics#Football #SectionV pic.twitter.com/dEwh76QxZw
— Batavia’s Best HS () November 4, 2018
Leach scored once more before the break in order to put his team ahead by two touchdowns, and the rout was on.
🏈 CLASS B FINAL | #1 Batavia vs #3 Wayne – @SectionVFb
•Batavia 21 Wayne 7 | 2:48 2Q
•Leach is loose again his third score following an INT by Ethan Biscaro makes it a two score Blue Devils lead@BHSScores @WCSD_Athletics#Football #SectionV pic.twitter.com/rQqgguww8m
— Batavia’s Best HS () November 4, 2018
To begin the third quarter Leach reached pay dirt for the fourth time.
🏈 CLASS B FINAL | #1 Batavia vs #3 Wayne – @SectionVFb
•Batavia 35 Wayne 7 | 11:37 3Q
•Second half is underway and Batavia recovers an accidental onside kick and than Leach is gone again, Blue Devils in control@BHSScores @WCSD_Athletics#Football #SectionV pic.twitter.com/61Jg9YXWpP
— Batavia’s Best HS () November 4, 2018
Midway through the third quarter the Blue Devils’ RB scored his fifth touchdown of the night, and added one more for good measure minutes later.
🏈 CLASS B FINAL | #1 Batavia vs #3 Wayne – @SectionVFb
•Batavia 42 Wayne 7 | 9:44 3Q
•Who else but Ray Leach, he breaks a long punt return and then powers in for the fifth time today, Blue Devils all but sealed this one @BHSScores @WCSD_Athletics#Football #SectionV pic.twitter.com/QG6AqdksYx
— Batavia’s Best HS () November 4, 2018
“Our lineman had been working hard the whole week,” said Leach after his big performance. “They opened great holes for me. I just read (the play), hit the hole hard, and things turned out great.”
Batavia RB Ray Leach was unstoppable on Saturday. (For additional photos visit www.jimburns.org)
Up next for Batavia is the NYSPHSAA Class B Far West Regional where they will meet Section VI champ Cheektowaga, a team that has had Batavia’s number in the past. The game is set for this Saturday at 6 pm at Clarence High School.
“We just need to get after it every day (this week),” said Batavia QB Ethan Biscaro following the game. “Hard work and dedication (all week) and we’ll come out on Saturday and see what we can prove.”
I’m really looking forward to Saturday. It should be an exciting day of football.
