Travis Lecher accounted for four scores and was named Football Homecoming King as the Batesville Bulldogs downed the Rushville Lions 44-0 Friday night at the Dog Pound. The senior quarterback ran for two touchdowns, threw a 50-yard TD pass and returned a punt 38 yards for another score according to our own Tom Snape who filed this edited report.
After both teams moved the ball upfield but didn’t score for much of the first quarter, Batesville got on the board first when Evan Williamson ran in from 2 yards out with 1.2 seconds left in the period to give Batesville a 7-0 lead following Braiden Foster’s extra point.
Foster added a 27-yard field goal with 3:52 to go in the second quarter to put the Bulldogs on top 10-0.
With 1:53 before halftime, Lecher tossed a 50-yarder down the middle of the field to Brad Westerfeld to make it 17-0.
A pass from Lecher to Cade Kaiser down to the Lions 4-yard line set up the senior signal caller’s TD run with 5.4 second before intermission to put the Dogs up 24-0.
After an expanded halftime to allow for Homecoming festivities, Batesville picked up where they left in the second half. The newly-minted Homecoming King ran 24 yards for his second scoring gallop of the night to put Batesville up 31-0 with 9:24 remaining in the third period.
The Bulldog defense, which played a brilliant game, forced Rushville to punt. Lecher fielded the low line drive and sprinted up the middle of the field, cut it outside and took it 38 yards to give BHS a commanding 38-0 lead (after Foster’s extra point). The game was played under the running clock rule starting at the 6:42 mark of the third.
The Batesville second team offense – made up mainly of freshmen and sophomores – got into the scoring act when quarterback Will Jaisle punched the ball into the end zone from four yards out with 2:47 left in the game. A missed PAT made the final score 44-0.
Batesville improves to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in EIAC 3A Division play, while Rushville falls to 0-4 and 0-1. Next week, the Bulldogs welcome the East Central Trojans into the Dog Pound. Coverage next Friday on 103.9 WRBI, wrbiradio.com and the TuneIn app begins at 6:40 pm with kickoff at 7 pm.
Rushville takes on Connersville in their annual “War on 44” rivalry game. Kickoff for that contest is also at 7 pm.
We thank Tom Snape for this edited report.