By PAUL LIOTTI
When the state announced its cutoffs for each of the Classifications, they should have just renamed Section V Class A the “Monroe County League Sectional.” Fourteen of the 16 teams in the über competitive Class A sectional this year call the Monroe County League home. So the Sectional Champion that survives this class can stake claim to being king of Monroe County.
Additionally, it’s not too far-fetched to say Monroe County League could fill 13 of the 16 slots in the Class AA and A sectional fields, as all 5 Class AA Monroe County participants have a very good chance of making that sectional’s 8-team field. For Monroe County to sweep the Class A brackets, they will have to knock off reigning champ Wilson and up-and-coming East. Irondequoit and Victor could very well meet in the Class A finals.
Here is our Monroe County League Preview.
BRIGHTON
Class: A
League: Monroe County Division III
Coach: Stephen Lian (7h Year at Brighton; 28-26 career)
Last year: 4-4 (lost to Brockport in the Class A Quarterfinals)
Returning Starters (Offense): 4
Returning Starters (Defense): 4
Key Returners: Sammy Julian (sr, OL/DL 2nd team MC), Sam O’Hora (jr, OL/DL), Ammon Jordan (sr, RB/DB), Ryan Watson (sr, QB/DB), Vaughn Fetkenhour (sr RB/DB), Najeeb Awad (sr, WR/LB), Clayton Teeter (sr, FB/LB), Owen Seay (sr, OL)
Key Losses: Shea McDonald (QB/DB), Noah Shinaman (WR/DB), James Carl (OL/DL), Will Brownell (TE/DL)
Notes: Brighton is a young team, having lost a lot of key talent to graduation, including 4 players who are now playing at the D-III level. Many new players will be asked to step into the starting role for the first time. While they have the talent, adapting quickly will be the order of the day. The Barons will rely on 3-year starter Ammon Jordan for leadership.
Key Game: Week 2 at home vs. Wilson, the defending Class A Sectional champion.
VIEW MORE CHRIS CECERE PHOTOS HERE.
BROCKPORT
Class: A
League: Monroe County IV
Coach: Scott Nugent
Last year: 6-3 (lost to Wilson in the Class A Semifinals)
Key Game: Week 7 on the road at Irondequoit
CANANDAIGUA
Class: A
League: Monroe County Division III
Coach: Jeff Welch (8th year at Canadaigua)
Last year: 6-3 (Lost to Irondequoit in Class A Semifinals)
Returning Starters (Offense): 6
Returning Starters (Defense): 6
Key Returners: Jack Johnston (sr, QB), Seth Vigneri (jr, RB/LB), Mitch Pfieffer (sr, WR/DB), Dalton Boylan (jr, OL/DL), John Disalvo (sr, WR/DB)
Notes: With plenty of returning starters, the Braves will be looking to make noise in sectionals, but to do so, they will have to take care of business in a schedule that breaks in their favor.
Key Game: Week 6 on the road at perennial power Victor.
CHURCHVILLE CHILI
Class: A
League: Monroe County II
Coach: Troy Jeffers
Last year: 4-4 (lost to Pittsford in Class AA Quarterfinals)
Key Game: Week 3 at Victor.
EASTRIDGE
Class: A
League: Monroe County III
Coach: Jasson Jobson (2nd season at Eastridge; 3-5 career)
Last year: 3-5 (Lost to Wilson in Class A Quarterfinals)
Returning Starters (Offense): 5
Returning Starters (Defense): 6
Key Returners: Sher’Ron Davis (jr, QB/WR/DB), Keaton Suhr (sr, OL/DL), Brandon Lapetitto (sr, Captain, OL/LB), Isaiah Rivera (sr, WR/DB)
Notes: Coach Jobson starts his second season at the helm and, while losing some key players off last year’s squad, this year’s team will be anchored by 1st team All County pick Suhr on the line and 2nd team All County selections Davis, Lapetitto and Rivera.
Key Game: Week 1 at cross-town rival Irondequoit.
FAIRPORT
Class: AA
League: Monroe County I
Coach: Marc Vitticore
Last year: 4-5 (1-1 in Connors & Ferris Bowl)
Key Game: Week 7 to close out the season at Penfield which will impact Sectional pairings.
GATES CHILI
Class: A
League: Monroe County II
Coach: Jason Benham (17th season at Gates-Chili; 75-65 career)
Last year: 2-7 (1-1 in Connors & Ferris Bowl)
Returning Starters (Offense): 5
Returning Starters (Defense): 6
Key Returners: Legend Brown (sr, Captain, FB/LB), Marcus McFadden (sr, RB/DB), Traylan McCray (sr, WR/DB), Isaiah Parker (sr, TE/LB)
Notes: Gates-Chili has a gritty bunch of gridders and will have to be this year as it plays all its games on the road. With 11 total starters returning, the Spartans have a good base to work with as it looks to rebound from last year’s disappointing finish.
Key Game: Week 5 vs Canandaigua at St. John Fisher, a game both teams may need to stay in contention.
GREECE ATHENA
Class: A
League: Monroe County IV
Coach: Rob Cerone (23rd season at Athena; 139-70-1 career)
Last year: 3-5 (lost to Irondequoit in Class A Quarterfinals)
Returning Starters (Offense): 3
Returning Starters (Defense): 5
Key Returners: Johnny Salone (sr, WR/DE), Nate Bogoniewski (jr, QB/LB), Jayson Russell (Captain, sr, OL/DL), Jason Bakke (sr, OL/DL), Lorcen Miller (jr, QB/DB)
Key Losses: Highly decorated quarterback Patrick Meisenzahl.
Notes: Coach Cerone will look to make some noise in the competitive Class A, but will have his work cut out for him and his speedy and enthusiastic squad. Sporting a retooled offense, the Trojans will be relying on sure-handed Salone who earned first team All-County last year. Russell and Bakke will be counted on to open up some holes and protect Bogoniewski.
Key Game: Week 5 on the road against town rival Greece Arcadia.
GREECE ARCADIA
Class: A
League: Monroe County III
Coach: Anthony Streb
Last year: 3-6 (1-1 in Connors & Ferris Bowl)
Key Game: Week 4 on the road at Spencerport, who defeated the Titans 28-27 last year.
GREECE OLYMPIA/GREECE ODYSSEY
Class: A
League: Monroe County IV
Coach: Eddie Long
Last year: 0-8 (0-1 in Connors & Ferris Bowl)
Key Game: Week 3 on the road against Greece Olympia/Greece Odyssey.
HILTON
Class: AA
League: Monroe County I
Coach: Rich Lipani (30th season at Hilton; 177-101-4 career)
Last year: 4-4 (lost to Aquinas in Class AA Quarterfinals)
Returning Starters (Offense): 3
Returning Starters (Defense): 4
Key Returners: Ryan Butts (sr, QB/DB), Joe Tuohey (sr, OL/DL), Jason Iorio (sr, OL/DL), Justin Tahara (sr, FB/LB), Jake Kelsey (sr, TE/LB), Alan Lawson (sr, WR/DB)
Notes: There will be a lot of new faces starting on both sides of the ball, but as Coach Lipani starts his 4th decade at the Cadets’ helm and this year’s squad will mirror those of past years in their all-for-one/one-for-all mindset and hard-nosed approach.
Key Game: Week 5 hosting Rush Henrietta which will have seeding implications in Class AA
IRONDEQUOIT
Class: A
League: Monroe County III
Coach: Dan Fichter (6th season at Irondequoit)
Last year: 9-1 (Lost to Wilson in Class A Finals)
Returning Starters (Offense): 8
Returning Starters (Defense): 8
Key Returners: Freddy June Jr (Captain, sr, QB), Nick Serce (Captain, sr, OL/DL), Jimmy Clements (Captain, sr, LB), Quinn Simonson (sr, WR/LB), MaGuire Criag (sr, OL/DL), Josh Colon (sr, WR/DB)
Top Newcomers: Jadon Turner (sr, RB/DB), Patrick Thomas (sr, WR/FS), Ronnie Garrow (so, DL)
Notes: Ask any other coach in Monroe County who is the team to beat in Class A with most of the playmakers and anchors returning from last year’s runner up squad.
Key Game: Week 4 on the road at Victor. An inside track for a Class A playoff home game could be on the line.
PENFIELD
Class: AA
League: Monroe County Division I
Coach: Jason Johnson (3rd Year at Penfield; 7-10 career)
Last year: 5-4 (2-0 In AA Connors & Ferris Bowl Bowl champs)
Returning Starters (Offense): 5
Returning Starters (Defense): 3
Key Returners: Max Hoadley (sr, RB/LB), Jed Gibbons (sr, RB/LB), Jay Jenkins (sr, WR/LB), Javion Monroe (sr, QB/DB), Ryan Novy (sr, WR/DB)
Top Newcomers: Darren Enright (jr, RB/LB), Luke Condon (jr, RB/LB), Sully Carreira (jr, OL/DL)
Notes: The Patriots finished strong last years, sweeping Connors & Ferris bowl to end up with a winning record. Penfield also returns its top playmakers in QB Monroe who will be looking for Novy and Jenkins downfield when not handing off to Hoadley or Gibbons. But the defense will have to grow up quickly with only three returning starters coming back. Penfield will be tested early with an opening game at East.
Key Game: Week 7 to close out the season vs. Fairport that could decide a playoff berth.
PITTFORD
Class: AA
League: Monroe County Division II
Coach: Keith Molinich (12th Year at Pittsford; 74-27 career)
Last year: 8-2 (Lost to Aquinas in Class AA Finals)
Returning Starters (Offense): 4
Returning Starters (Defense): 4
Key Returners: Matt LaRocca (Captain, sr, QB), Wyatt Molinich (Captain, sr, FB/DL), Kevin Ryan (sr, TE), Jake Cole (Captain, sr, OL), Matt Kelly (sr, OL), Adrian Brown (Captain, sr RB/LB)
Key Losses: (Chris Cox RB/LB), Jared Petrichick (FS/WR), Matt Klenk (OL), Cal Rivera (OL), Eric Vesosky (DL)
Notes: Pittsford knows how to win, as the Panthers have made a lot of noise in Sectionals over the last few years, including dropping a heart-breaking 6-point loss to Aquinas last year in the AA finals. But it starts at quarterback, where returning starter LaRocca is once again calling signals. When not passing, he’ll be handing off to the bruising 255-lb fullback Molinich.
Key Game: Week 1 A neutral site game vs. Victor at St. John Fisher in Teddy Bowl III
RUSH HENRIETTA
Class: AA
League: Monroe County Division I
Coach: Jason Collins (3rd Year at Rush Henrietta)
Last year: 2-6
Returning Starters (Offense): 4
Returning Starters (Defense): 6
Key Returners: Rayshod Walker (jr, RB/LB), Jack Kander (jr, OL/LB), Rylan Francis (jr, OL/DL), Cliff Genge (jr, OL/LB), Josh Ortiz (sr, OL/DL), Ben Hulbert (sr, WR/DB), Tanner Clark (jr WR/DB)
Notes: The Royal Comets are looking to rebound from a 2-6 season a year ago, but are positioned very well with speed and experience and a huge offensive line. Walker is already caught the eye of D-I coaches, while Hulbert is also showing signs of playing at the next level. Francis, a two-way starter on the line, anchors line that could boast 3-4 players topping 280 pounds. RH finishes the season with four-consecutive road games.
Key Game: Week 5 on the road against a scrappy Hilton squad.
SPENCERPORT
Class: A
League: Monroe County III
Coach: John Dowd
Last year: 4-3 (lost to Canandaigua in the Class A Quarterfinals)
Key Game: Week 5 at Brighton may knock the loser out of playoff contention.
VICTOR
Class: A
League: Monroe County II
Coach: Geoff Mandile (9th season at Victor; 55-14 career)
Last year: 7-2 (Lost to Aquinas in Class AA Semifinals)
Returning Starters (Offense): 5
Returning Starters (Defense): 3
Key Returners: CJ Williams (sr, Captain, OL/DL), Justin Bai-Rossi (sr, OL/DL), Jon Crowley (sr, Captain, TE/DL), Dell Jackson (sr, Captain, WR/DB), Hudson Alread (sr, Captain, QB/CB)
Key Losses: Lost several highly decorated, and multi-year starters.
Notes: Victor seems to be the key game on many teams’ schedules. It’s not a coincidence: To be the best you have to beat the best. The Blue Devils have established themselves as a powerhouse in Monroe County over the last few years. Victor has been re-classified in Class A this year, which increases the uber competitiveness of the sectional. With only 3 starters returning from a defense that gave up just 21 points over the last 5 games of the regular season, Coach Mandile will be counting on new players to fill the void. Helping matters is Alread’s return as the starting signal caller.
Key Game: Week 1, a neutral site game vs. Pittsford at St. John Fisher in Teddy Bowl III.
WEBSTER SCHROEDER
Class: A
League: Monroe County Division I
Coach: Mike Stumpf (1ST Year at Webster Schroeder; 0-0 career)
Last year: 6-2 (Lost in 2018 Class A Quarterfinals)
Returning Starters (Offense): 3
Returning Starters (Defense): 0
Key Returners: Matteo Sementa (sr, OL/DL), Giacomo Lo Re (sr, OL/DL), Luke Lupisella (sr, RB/DB), Anthony Grimshaw (sr, OL/LB), Ryan Bellavia (sr, QB/DB),
Dom Ferrante,
Key Losses: All 11 starters on defense; top playmakers on offense
Notes: Coach Strumpf has his work cut out for him in his first year as a head coach: Piloting a team that returns just 3 of 22 starters, none on defense. With so many unknowns due to inexperience, the team has responded by putting their nose to the grindstone.
Key Game: Week 6 hosting cross-town rival Webster Thomas
WEBSTER THOMAS
Class: A
League: Monroe County II
Coach: Scott Deuschle
Last year: 1-7 (0-1 in Connors & Ferris Bowl)
Returning Starters (Offense): 4
Returning Starters (Defense): 4
Key Returners: Collin Hill (sr, WR/DB/KR), Anthony Oca (sr, OL/DL), Joey Meyers (sr, WR/DB/P)
Notes: The Titans have to regroup this year as they lost three-year starting QB Kelsey Carter for the season to an offseason noncontact injury. But the seniors have set the tone for the squad, providing great leadership to overcome adversity and turn their fortunes around.
Key Game: Week 6 on the road against cross-town rival Webster Schroeder
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