Maybe it’s true what they say about everything being bigger in Texas. Junior defensive lineman Malachi Smith appears to be living proof of that concept for Batavia.
The coaches happily welcomed the 6-foot, 270-pound Smith last winter when he moved to town and told them he had played some football. He slotted right in at nose guard.
The transition? Practically seamless.
“He fit in well with the team right away,” said Jordan Buckley, the Ball State recruit and senior defensive end who plays alongside Smith. “We’re like brothers now.
“I told him tonight as we took the field, ‘Welcome to Batavia playoff football.'”
It was a great beginning for Smith and Batavia as an outstanding defensive effort anchored a resolute 46-0 rout of visiting Brother Rice in the first round of the Class 7A playoffs.
Seven players scored touchdowns for the Bulldogs (9-1), who easily moved on and will play in the second round against Lincoln-Way Central (9-1), a 23-14 winner over Jacobs.
A traditional Catholic League power, the Crusaders came in with a 5-4 record but many observers thought the game would still be a formidable first-round matchup.
It didn’t turn out that way, though. Smith and Co. shut down Brother Rice’s ground game and Batavia’s offense clicked on all cylinders, forcing a running clock one minute into the third quarter.
“Coach Holm is no beginner,” Batavia coach Dennis Piron said of Matt Holm, his veteran defensive coordinator.
The Bulldogs limited Brother Rice to 43 yards in the first half. Navy-bound senior running back Randall Nauden entered with 1,349 yards but was limited to 22 on nine carries in the first half.
“As we started watching film, we knew they were a running team,” Buckley said. “First thing we saw was No. 21 (Nauden) had over 50% of their touches. We prepared for him and for the quarterback runs.
“Those numbers are amazing. We’re a run-stop defense for a reason.”
Smith came in with 22 tackles, including 10 for loss. The 6-5, 260-pound was right behind with 17 tackles and five for loss. Both were in the middle of Friday’s action.
“It’s a huge win,” Smith said. “It’s amazing because I didn’t come from a winning program. This feels great. I came from the College Station area of Texas, and my high school, Bryant, was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round my first two years.
“I had heard a lot about the CCL, but this was my first time playing a team from that league. I was expecting a dogfight, but out guys showed up. No. 21 runs hard. That’s a dog, but we practice all week filling gaps.”
Batavia’s offense, meanwhile, operated smoothly under the guidance of senior quarterback Ryan Boe, even with a heavy, misty rain to begin the game and a strong wind blowing out of the north end zone.
Boe, the North Dakota State recruit, ran for a team-best 78 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in the first half. He completed 10 of 13 passes for 230 yards and TDs of 33 yards to Luke Alwin, 17 yards to CJ Valente and 33 yards to Isaiah Brown.
Charlie Whelpley, Zach Granberg and Nathan Whitwell all ran for TDs.
“Boe is committed to a D-I school for a reason,” Valente said. “He shared the wealth with all of us scoring.”
The defense was the story, however.
“Malachi stands out every game,” Holm said. “Buckley had a great game and Ben Fiegel was awesome, and RJ Bohr was tremendous limiting Nauden’s cutbacks on the back side.”
Josh Kahley also had an interception and Kameron McLeod recovered a fumble.
“Our defense hits hard and helped us a lot, giving us great field position,” Valente said.