Cooper throws 3 TD passes to lead Bulldogs
DeKALB — The seeds for Batavia’s Class 7A state title were planted back in 2013 at Huskie Stadium. A group of eighth- graders watched the Bulldogs win the championship in the stands that season.
“We were all in the top left corner,” Batavia senior Eric Peterson said. “Ever since then we really thought that we could do it. We’ve been successful in football all through our youth years.
‘‘ It’s just crazy the journey we took to get here.”
Batavia beat Lake Zurich 21- 14 in overtime Saturday.
“We’ve been playing together so long,” said Batavia quarterback Riley Cooper, who was in that group in 2013. “We’ve built such a brotherhood, such a chemistry and we knew how we needed to end it. All of our work paid off today.”
Cooper connected with senior Tommy Stuttle for a 10- yard pass in overtime that turned out to be the game winner after the Bulldogs’ defense shut down the Bears ( 13- 1).
Cooper threw two touchdown passes to Peterson in the first half. The duo combined for nine touchdowns in the playoffs.
“We’ve been doing a lot of work in the summer and we’ve been together so long,” Cooper said. “I know exactly where he’s going to be.”
Cooper was 28- for- 42 for 295 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Peterson caught 10 passes for 154 yards. Stuttle had eight catches for 68 yards.
Lake Zurich’s defense, which only allowed nine points a game this sea- son, has been heavily praised since August. Batavia coach Dennis Piron had something to say about that.
“Let’s talk about Batavia’s defense, because our defense is sensational,” Piron said. “It has been all year long, has been one of the best if not the best in the state of Illinois.”
Batavia ( 13- 1) led 14- 7 at the half. Lake Zurich tied the game on a 39yard pass from Evan Lewandowski to Matthijs Enters with 3: 51 left in the third quarter.
Lewandowski finished 13- for- 29 for 179 yards and two touchdowns.