One team is looking to win second straight Class D title and seventh overall sectional title since 2008. The other is looking to win its first Section V championship as a merged program and enters the championship having beat two teams with a higher seed. Avon (#9 Class D NYSSWA) and Notre Dame Batavia/Byron-Bergen will play Friday night for the Class D title. Here’s the breakdown:
No. 5 seed NOTRE DAME BATAVIA/BYRON-BERGEN FIGHTING BEES (5-5/4-4 against Class D)
vs.
No. 2 seed AVON RIVER HAWKS (8-2/7-1 against Class D)
How they got here: Avon won against seventh-seeded Geneseo/Mount Morris 29-22 in the quarterfinals, and 28-9 against No. 3 seed Canisteo-Greenwood to advance to the finals. Notre Dame Batavia won a shootout over No. 4 seed Attica 52-41 in the opening round before taking down top-seeded Pavilion/York 19-14 in the semifinals to book a trip to the title game.
VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM CAROLE VOLPE HERE.
Players to watch for Avon: Kal Dolgos Sr. WR/SS (601 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns 42 catches, 714 receiving yards, 13 receiving touchdowns), Evan Blye Sr. QB (65% completion rate, 1,839 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns), James Chase So. RB (803 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, 18 catches, 303 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown), Robert Bridges Sr. RB/MLB (329 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 108 tackles), Elijah Rex Jr. WR/CB (16 catches, 309 yards, seven touchdowns, 19 tackles, two interceptions)
Notre Dame Batavia/Byron-Bergen: Chase Antinore Jr. QB/RB/WR/DB (841 rushing yards, 337 passing yards, 17 catches, 249 receiving yards, 20 total touchdowns, 28 tackles, two interceptions), Parker Lazarony Jr. QB/DB (613 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns). TJ Cephus Jr. So. WR/DB (30 catches, 519 receiving yards, four touchdowns, 22 tackles), Roy Ricks Fr. RB/DB (328 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, 30 tackles), Parker Moore So. FB/LB (78 tackles, 10 tackles for loss)
Coaches: Andy Englert (Avon), Otis Thomas (Notre Dame Batavia/Byron-Bergen)
History 101: The two teams met on October 10th with Avon coming away with a 48-20 home win. Avon is looking to win its second straight Section V Class D championship, and its seventh title since 2008. Notre Dame Batavia has won five sectional championships since 1978, with its last one coming in 2019. Byron-Bergen is yet to win a Section V title.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class D Far West Regional against the winner of the Class Section VI title game between Newfane and Wilson.
Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm Friday night at SUNY Brockport.
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