BY JONATHAN SKUZA
HONEOYE FALLS, N.Y. — Aidan Anderson and Ja’vin McFollins led the Batavia Blue Devils’ offense to a 35-20 victory over the Honeoye Falls-Lima Cougars in a rematch of last year’s Section V Class B title game Friday evening.
“Just proud of our guys,” Batavia’s head coach Brennan Briggs stated about the win. “Obviously we gave up some points in the second half, but we bent and we didn’t break and just super proud of them.”
Anderson was the Blue Devils’ workhorse on the ground, rushing for 124 yards and two touchdowns on 29 attempts. McFollins threw six complete passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a score. Cole Grazioplene and Vincent Arroyo caught the touchdown passes from McFollins.
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“He did a great job,” Briggs stated about Anderson’s performance. “He just kept plugging away, plugging away, plugging away, and eventually he wears the defense down. Proud of him for coming back from injury as well. He did a great job, but our offensive line also did a fantastic job.”
“Just amazingly proud of him,” Briggs said of the performance from the senior quarterback/defensive back. “He’s just done a fantastic job for us. He’s a leader. He wants the ball in his hands in big moments. He’s kind of that cool, calm collected kid.”
The Blue Devils started the game off strong with a great kick return to open up the ball game. The kick was returned deep into HF-L territory. Batavia punched the ball in with a three-yard run from McFollins on a seven-play opening drive. The following Blue Devil possession saw them go up two scores. McFollins hooked up with Arroyo from 64 yards.
After the Batavia forced a three-and-out from the Cougars, the Blue Devils drove down the field on a 13-play drive that resulted in Anderson getting his first rushing touchdown of the evening from two yards out.
The Blue Devils didn’t find the end zone again until the beginning of the fourth quarter when Anderson powered the ball into the end zone from a yard out to cap off a seven-play drive. Batavia led 28-12 after the second Anderson touchdown. The Blue Devils added one more score at the very end of the game with two seconds left on the clock. McFollins found Grazioplene in the end zone on a deep ball on a fourth and 24 chance.
Honeoye Falls-Lima struggled in the first half not being able to put any points on the board. However, the Cougars made some halftime adjustments and started a comeback in the second half. Quarterback Matthew Meacham found Andrew Wanzenried in the end zone on a file flicker play from 24 yards out on HFL’s first possession of the second half to cut Batavia’s lead down to two scores. Meacham and Wanzenried hooked up again for a 74-yard touchdown to bring the Cougars within nine points.
After the Blue Devils regained their two-touchdown lead, HFL drove down the field in nine plays to bring the ball game within eight points with a third touchdown pass from Meacham to Nolan Smith. Smith also caught a two-point conversion pass to bring the game within a score.
Honeoye Falls-Lima (5-2) will travel Thursday, October 20 to take on Dansville/Wayland-Cohocton at 6 pm.
Batavia (7-0) will return home Saturday, October 22 to face Newark/Marion at 1 pm.
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