Batavia’s Dominick Mogavero holds the Class B championship trophy Sunday, Nov . 8, at Sahlen’s Stadium. Batavia defeated Livonia, 52-20.
Batavia head coach Brennan Briggs raises the championship trophy.
Batavia quarterback Greg Mruczek releases a pass from the pocket.
Livonia’s John Smith, right, looks for open room to run.
Livonia’s James Hapke, center, falls on his own fumble after a hit by Batavia’s Ray Leach (34).
Batavia’s Ray Leach runs for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
Livonia’s Matt Hyde runs the ball down the sideline.
Batavia’s Trevor Sherwood, left, bobbles, then catches, the ball while being defended by Livonia’s John Smith.
Livonia’s Brody Metcalf, left, takes down Batavia’s Dominick Mogavero during the Section V Class B football championship, played at Sahlen’s Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Batavia won, 52-20.
Batavia’s Dominick Mogavero, left, is pursued by Livonia’s Brody Metcalf in the Class B football championship Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015. Mogavero ran for three touchdowns and four conversions as Batavia won, 52-20.
Batavia’s Dominick Mogavero runs for yardage.
Livonia’s John Smith, left, fumbles the ball after getting hit by Batavia’s Eric Davis, center, and Terren Lovria, bottom right. Livonia recovered the ball.
Batavia head coach Brennan Briggs gets doused with water by his players.
Batavia’s Malachi Chenault, center, intercepts a pass.
The gains for the Batavia Blue Devils on Sunday came in chunks of yardage, and usually with the ball in the hands of Dominick Mogavero.
That has been the case for the last two high school seasons at Batavia, a repeat champion in Section V Class B after the Blue Devils raced to a 52-20 win over Livonia during the tournament final at Sahlen’s Stadium.
“We went through the experience last year and I felt that last year, the sectional championship was kind of like the climax of our season,” Mogavero said.
“We don’t really feel that is (the case) this year. We want to keep rolling, going into next week playing tough.”
Mogavero, a Democrat and ChronicleAll-Greater Rochester linebacker last season based on the votes of area coaches, ran for three touchdowns and four 2-point conversions for No. 1 seed Batavia (10-0).
The Blue Devils will try to advance out of the regional round again against Section VI or Buffalo-area champion Cheektowaga (10-0) at 1 p.m. next Sunday in Rochester. Cheektowaga pushed the Blue Devils right out of the state playoffs last season in Buffalo, 35-16.
“When we heard they won, that’s what we were looking forward to, definitely,” Batavia senior quarterback Greg Mruczek said. “This definitely will be fun playing them again. It’s a great opportunity.
“We’re very excited.”
The scoring began early for the Blue Devils and came at a relatively quick clip.
In the first drive, the Blue Devils were in the end zone after three plays. Mruczek threw a pass downfield over a trailing defender to running back Anthony Gallo for a 60-yard touchdown 20 seconds into the playoff.
Batavia freshman Ray Leach ran 34 yards for a touchdown midway through the first quarter to extend the lead. Mogavero then reached the end zone for the first time with a run for two points.
Livonia struck back a little more than two minutes later. The Bulldogs swept downfield with runs out of tight formations and scored on a 6-yard run by Ethan Perham. Livonia cut Batavia’s lead to 14-8 on a 2-point conversion run by Perham.
The Blue Devils were still in high gear early in the second quarter. A three-play drive from the Batavia 30 ended with Mogavero’s first touchdown, a 7-yard run. Batavia failed to convert, but led 20-8.
Livonia’s next chance to respond ended with a fumble on fourth down at the Batavia 32. The Blue Devils needed two plays to score after the turnover on downs, a 33-yard reception by Ryan Hogan and a 24-yard touchdown run by Mogavero. A second conversion run by Mogavero made the score 28-8.
“All the credit goes to our offensive line and Dom, he did a great job,” Mruczek said. “Our line comes to practice every day and they work so hard. Give all the credit to our line, they did a great a job all game.”
There were more big plays before halftime, including a long run by Mogavero to set up his 1-yard touchdown run and an interception by Batavia senior defensive back Malachi Chenault.
JAMESJ@Gannett.com
Batavia 52, Livonia 20
Livonia
8
0
6
6
—
20
Batavia
14
22
8
8
—
52
B – Anthony Gallo 60 pass Greg Mruczek (pass failed)
B – Ray Leach 40 run (Dominick Mogavero run)
L – Ethan Perham 6 run (Perham run)
B – Mogavero 7 run (pass failed)
B – Mogavero 24 run (Mogavero run)
B – Mogavero 1 run (Mogavero run)
L – Matt Hyde 24 run (pass failed)
B – Trevor Sherwood 17 pass Mruczek (Mogavero run)
B – Leach 66 run (Jonathon Barber run)
L – Jon Greeley 3 run (run failed)