I normally would not jump into one of these threads; however, the constant bashing of Batavia Football is extremely disappointing to me. I have nothing against the CCL or the teams in it as I attended Providence Catholic in the mid to late 80s when Coach Senffner was just ramping up the program and we were able to get the first state title for him with a young Pete Bercich leading the way. The comments about Batavia Football are way off base as I had a son play of the 2017 state championship team as a junior (he played very sparingly) that beat Lake Z. and Jack Sanbourn in OT and then as a senior lost to Naz. and JJ in the semis. What you guys don't understand about Batavia football it is much more than the wins and losses (although Coach Prion is something like 152-29) it is about the bonds these young men build growing up playing together from just little guys. My son has stood up in several weddings for young men he played Bulldog football with. Coach Prion, Coach Holm, Coach Cole, etc. left a lasting impression on my son and taught him lessons is life that go way beyond football. The coaches at Batavia are true leaders of men and helped shape my son to become the man he is today. Are you correct that Batavia has not fared well against the CCL? Yes. Go back to 2017 and Batavia has not been eliminated by a public school in 10 years. 2017-State Title, 2018/2019-JJ took them out in the semis and the quarters. 2020-Covid, and then the Mt. Carmel experience for the next 4 years (2nd round, finals, semis, and finals) and yes three were blow outs, and then finally St. Rita (semis) last year. 10 years and not losing to a single non-CCL team in the playoffs. In a 9-year stretch (with only 8 real seasons due to Covid) one title, 2 other championship game appearances, along with 3 other semifinal appearances is not bad no matter what name is on the front of your jersey. What Coach Piron has built at Batavia is something special and if you saw the look in a young bulldog's eye when he saw a Michael Jansey or a Quinn Urwiller back in the day or a Michael Vander today then you might understand why it means so much to these kids. For every Donavan McNabb or Pete Bercich there are thousands of kids that take their last snap in high school and even the few that go to play college ball almost all of them never make past that so give me a program like Batavia and coaches like Coach Piron, Coach Holm, Coach Cole, etc. every day of the week and twice on Sunday's. to shape these young men and leave a lasting impression on them for the rest of their lives. Come out to game on a Friday night and you will see first-hand what this program means to the town. A couple of final points as this is getting lengthy, it is not like Batavia runs away from playing top teams as outside of being in the DuKane conference they have played East St. Louis, Lincoln Way East twice, Glenbard West (twice), and Maine West in non-conference games over the last few years to name a few. Is this year's team going beat Lincoln Way Central? We will see and if so, will they beat Brother Rice if they win their first game (maybe not) but one thing they will do is give it everything they have and play with that passion and joy all of these young men have had for Batavia football for their entire life until that final whistle blows as they do not know any other way as that is because of the culture that Coach Prion and his entire staff has set. This should be applauded and as Coach Prion rides off into the sunset this fall the entire community is going to be there to support him (and the team) and thank him and rather the ride lasts 1 game or 5 it has certainly been a great ride. Remember high school football should be about the kids, and the Batavia Bulldog Football Program could not be more about the kids and the life lessons that are instilled into them. Go Bulldogs.
