Batavia vs. HFL: Rivalry of the Decade Returns in Sectional Semi’s

Batavia Blue Devils Look to Recapture Early-Season Magic as Sectional Play Begins

Following a rollercoaster (4-4) regular season, the Batavia Blue Devils enter the Section V Class B postseason as the No. 2 seed—positioned for another potential deep playoff run, but not without some lingering questions.

Season Recap: A Tale of Two Halves

Batavia started 2025 looking every bit like a sectional title favorite. The Blue Devils opened the year on a four-game win streak, defeating rival Honeoye Falls-Lima (HFL), Eastridge, Cleveland Hill, and Greece Arcadia in convincing fashion. The defense was opportunistic, the offense balanced, and Batavia appeared to be firing on all cylinders.

But midseason brought a harsh reality check. Batavia ran into a gauntlet of tough opponents, suffering consecutive losses to Brockport, East/WOI (the No. 1 seed in Class A2), and Monroe (Class B’s top seed). The Blue Devils capped the regular season with a heartbreaking 27–26 loss to a strong Medina team out of Section VI—one that slipped away in the final moments.

Despite the .500 finish, Batavia’s overall body of work was strong enough to earn the 2 seed in the Class B sectional bracket.

Semifinal Showdown: A Familiar Foe Returns to Van Detta

The Blue Devils will now host an all-too-familiar opponent in the semifinals—Honeoye Falls-Lima— the matchup will be Batavia’s and HFL’s tenth in the last decade with the series currently even at 5-5. Batavia and HFL met in Week 1, when the Blue Devils cruised to a 42–21 victory behind a smothering defensive effort that produced three touchdowns. However, replicating that performance will be a tall order this time around.

For one, Batavia will be without star linebacker Lakoda Mruczek, who was responsible for two of those defensive scores and is now out for the season. His absence will be felt both in leadership and playmaking.

Meanwhile, HFL enters the postseason as arguably the best three-win team in Section V. The Cougars’ 3–5 record is misleading—they’ve faced nearly the same schedule as Batavia, and their late-season losses came against the same high-caliber programs (Monroe, East, and Brockport). Don’t let the record fool you—HFL is a battle-tested squad with the talent to make this a tight semifinal matchup.

Key Storylines for Batavia

Quarterback Play:
One of the biggest questions heading into the postseason is who will take the majority of snaps at quarterback. Early in the season, senior Will Stevens held the reins, leading the offense through the air while mixing in the occasional wildcat look with Maggio Buchholz. But as the year went on, Head Coach Alex Veltz experimented with a more even split, even letting Buchholz handle entire games under center—most notably in the win over Eastridge.

Buchholz adds a powerful downhill rushing threat that complements Batavia’s ground-and-pound identity, while Stevens remains the more polished passer. Expect to see both utilized situationally depending on game flow.

Running Back Rotation:
The Blue Devils’ backfield has been a revolving door of capable options all season. Nolan Ball, Dev’re Sanders, Naj’mell Gardner, Buchholz, and Greyson Betances have all seen time carrying the ball in varying roles. Gardner’s burst and open-field ability have made him the most explosive option, while Sanders has steadily earned more carries as the season’s progressed. Ball has shown physicality and good vision all year when healthy, exploding in the seasons first 4 games. Expect all three—Gardner, Sanders, and Ball—to be featured in some capacity against HFL.

Health Check:
Injuries piled up late in the season, but Batavia appears to be mostly healthy entering the semifinal aside from the loss of Mruczek. The first-round bye could prove crucial in getting players rested and ready for what promises to be a physical battle.

Prediction

This one feels like a coin flip. HFL is far better than its 3–5 record suggests, and Batavia’s midseason skid exposed some vulnerabilities. However, with home-field advantage at Van Detta Stadium and a week to recover, the Blue Devils should be in position to regroup and handle business.

Expect a closer contest than the season opener—but one that still ends in Batavia’s favor.

Prediction: Batavia 28, HFL 21

If that result holds, Batavia would advance to the Class B Championship on November 15th for a likely showdown with top-seeded Monroe—a true David vs. Goliath matchup for sectional glory.