By Chris Chaney
Sun staff

The Batavia Bulldogs banner season was raised another notch with the Southern Buckeye Conference National Division All-Stars being announced and the Bulldogs dominating the list.

Batavia took home both of the individual awards for Player and Coach of the Year with Don Sizer being honored as the top head man in the league and Gabe Archer taking home the hardware for the Player of the Year.

Sizer led his Bulldogs to a historic 11-win season that saw the team set records in wins as well as capture the school’s first playoff victory.

Archer, a senior tight end and linebacker, led the team on the defensive side of the ball, recording 33 solo tackles and assisting on 14 others. He led the team in forced fumbles with three as well as fumble recoveries with five. Archer added two interceptions as well.

On the offensive side of the ball, Archer was the Bulldog’s leading receiver, catching 12 balls and racking up 258 yards and two touchdowns.

Archer rounded out his year by acting as the team’s punter and field goal kicker, going 27-39 on extra points and boasting an average punt of 37.3 yards per kick.

With such a successful season taking place, Archer had plenty of company on the First Team All-League list with Brody Browning, KeShawn Foley, Ryan Gormley, Zainn Ison and Mike Posey also receiving First Team honors.

Foley, the sophomore quarterback, racked up 585 passing yards and five touchdowns through the air while also amassing 1,315 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns.

Foley’s rushing stats were second only to Ison’s 1,324 yards. He had 13 touchdowns as well. Gormley had 661 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.

Posey led the team with 55 tackles and Browning was a consistent offensive and defensive lineman.

Joining the Bulldogs on the First Team were Blace Haviland, Austin Iker and Brandon Lewis of Bethel, Clay Cousino and Dallas Miracle of CNE and Andrew Dean, Josh Gerlock, Mason Hall and Jordan Wright of the Williamsburg Wildcats.

On the Second Team in the National Division, Batavia had five more team members honored. Seniors Nate Johnson and Dakotah Norman were buoyed by the junior trio of Levi Sellers, Wyatt Jackson and Patrick Bryant.

Also on the Second Team were Bethel’s Kian Mollette, BJ Roa and Jon Ward along with CNE’s Derick Schmidt and Austin Thompson and Williamsburg’s Ryan Boggs, Lane Edminsten and Nick Felts.