Batavia’s defense dominant again, continues shutout streak against Geneva

GENEVA – Geneva running back Carter Powelson popped outside for a 20-yard gain on Geneva’s first play from scrimmage.

That was all Tyler Jansey, Jack Sadowsky and the Batavia defense needed to eventually remind the Vikings that it wasn’t going to happen again.

“No. Uh-uh. Not at all. That’s just how our defense is,” said Jansey, a junior linebacker, following Batavia’s 35-0 victory over Geneva on Friday.

“That’s just how our defense is: We have a short-term memory with bad plays and we’re just going to keep fighting; doesn’t matter who the opponent is, we will fight to the end. That’s our defense,” Jansey continued.

Batavia (7-0, 5-0) has won the last 11 matchups between the teams. The last time Geneva won was in 2010. Friday’s contest served as the 103rd game of the historic rivalry. Geneva leads the all-time series 51-47-5.

Batavia’s defense has not surrendered a point to the Vikings (4-3, 2-3) in the last five contests dating back to 2017. In 2016, the Vikings scored seven. To date, Batavia has outscored Geneva 230 to 7 in the last five years.

“It’s just great,” said Sadowsky, a junior linebacker. “They have a new coaching staff this year. They thought they had some hope and we just smashed them in their mouths. All glory to God; it’s beautiful.”

Perhaps even more staggering: Batavia’s defense forced six punts in the second half, surrendering just one second half first down, which was picked up on their final drive.

[ Photos: Batavia vs. Geneva ]

The Bulldogs allowed 58 rushing yards to Powelson, the Vikings’ feature back, alone. Alex Porter completed 7-of-21 passes for 93 yards. Porter had one completion in the second half.

“We had great pass-rushers on the line,” Sandowsky continued. “Great coverage; our defensive backs were locking up. They [couldn’t] do anything against us. We’re just a better team.”

Sadowsky doesn’t think there “is a ceiling” for this Bulldogs defense.

”We just keep getting better and better every week. We haven’t gotten close to our potential,” he said.

The Bulldogs took a 14-0 lead on consecutive Jalen Buckley rushing scores on their first two drives. The ensuing Vikings possession, Porter marched his team down to the 1-yard-line. After a consecutive rushing attempts went backwards and an incompletion, Porter was intercepted by Vince Solano in the end zone with 10:05 left in the half.

Batavia punted twice their next possessions. Geneva drove to the Batavia-27 on their final drive before the half, but a busted field goal attempt was thwarted, leaving it 14-0 Batavia at the break.

“The big thing for me is this: It’s a [Geneva] team that was hugely improved in film, on paper and everything we saw this year,” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said. “…What we’re doing a real better job of the last couple weeks is coming out, driving the ball and scoring.”

“…Now that we’re getting clicking right off the bat and we’re putting the ball in the end zone, it’s changing the feeling of the game for our offense,” Piron continued. “…Overall, a good balanced effort by our team and our defense. Again, they’ve been very good all year.”

Buckley finished with 194 rushing yards and 73 receiving yards.

The Bulldogs earned second half rushing touchdowns from Ryan Boe, Ryan Whitwell and Buckley’s third touchdown of the game to cap off the scoring.

“I thought we did play a really good and sound first half,” Geneva coach Boone Thorgesen said. “Against a team like Batavia and what they do, you’ve got to capitalize when you’re down in the red zone because you don’t get down there very often. We just didn’t and hats off to them.”