Sept. 18--Canaan Coffey recalls sitting in the stands in 2006 and watching his older brother Jordan lead the Batavia offense in the Class 6A state championship game.
Tyler Holl also remembers cheering on his older brothers Brandon and Shane during Batavia's run to a runner-up finish that season.
Nine years later, Coffey and Holl are senior captains for Batavia. Naturally, both have an in-depth knowledge of Batavia's program, including the expectations.
"I remember going to that 2006 title game," Canaan Coffey said. "At that point, you look up to those guys like they are NFL players. It was so fun to see them perform, especially at the highest level."
In 2013, quarterback Micah Coffey led the Bulldogs to the Class 6A state championship. Batavia has made the playoffs 13 of the last 15 seasons and is undefeated in the Upstate Eight River since October 2010. The Bulldogs have not lost on the road during that stretch.
"We have a new group of kids, but they have stepped up to the plate to a tough challenge," Batavia coach Dennis Piron said. "We haven't had our level of play dip in the last five or six years. It's really tough and a lot of pressure. I'm really proud how they've handled it."
Although not a quarterback like his brothers, Canaan Coffey has found his niche for the No. 20 Bulldogs (3-0, 1-0). As a receiver, he heads the team with 17 receptions for 272 yards and three receiving TDs. He also is the Bulldogs' punter.
"There's not as much pressure, but an expectation," Canaan Coffey said. "Batavia is already known to be a great football program. Each year we want to keep that title going."
Batavia has lost only two regular-season games since 2011 and avenged one of those losses by defeating Richards in the 2013 6A title game. Last year, they lost at home to Mount Carmel in the first round of the 7A playoffs.
"I think we're a lot different from last year, but kind of the same as two years ago when we had a fast defense and powerful offense," Holl said. "We know the tradition at Batavia, and we are doing our part to keep it going this year."
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
