BY PAUL LIOTTI
Notes from around the Section after Week 4.
Record Watch
Penn Yan senior Will Rogers and Aquinas sophomore Tyler Szalkowski have set their sights on breaking the two Section V season passing records – total yards and touchdown tosses in a season.
Rogers has had a very steady season, passing for 300, 425, 284 and 370 yards in each of his 4 games.
Szalkowski had a crazy stat afternoon Saturday even by Big 12 football standards: 22-29-474 yards 7 touchdowns and 1 pick. Rogers was no slouch himself, completing 20-of-28 passes for 370 yards and 5 TDs.
Which started the thought process moving: Where do these two gunslingers stand in comparison to former AQ and state player of the year Jake Zembiec’s 2015 record-setting season?
Both are on pace to shatter the marks the Penn State recruit set.
In 2015, Zembeic completed 184-of-257 passes (68%) for 3,030 yards and 37 TDs in 13 games. That’s a whopping 233.1 yard/2.8 TD per game average and a QB Rating of 133.0
This year, Rogers is an incredible 109-for-148 (74%), for 1,379 yards and 16 touchdowns in 4 games, which averages out to 345 yards and 4 TDs per game and a QB rating of 118.6. If Penn Yan makes it to the Class C Sectional finals and he stays healthy, Rogers’ current pace would be 3,440 yards and 40 TDs. If the Mustangs make it to the state final game in Syracuse, at this pace he would finish at 4,485 yards and 52 touchdowns.
This season, Szalkowski is 57-for-76 (75%), 1078 yards and 15 touchdowns in 4 games, for an average of 269.5/3.75 per game and a QB Rating of 150.8. If AQ advances to the state finals and he stays healthy, Szalkowski’s current pace is 3,503 yards and 49 TDs.
The state single-season records are 3,677 yards and 45 TDs set in 2004 and 2002 respectively, both by Greg Paulus of Christian Brothers Academy (III).
Both teams have a long way to go to get to those many game, but it will be interesting to track the journey.
Saturday’s 474 yards puts Szalkowski 20th on the all-time NYS single-game list, just 12 yards from breaking Zembiec’s Section V record of 485 yards.
Beware of Horses dressed in Green
The Alexander Trojans continue to gallop through their schedule. The state’s 2nd ranked Class D team beat Bolivar-Richburg 52-0 after beating Geneseo 90-14 the week before. Alexander is doing it on both sides of the ball, as this was the Trojans second shutout of the season. They are outscoring their opponents 55-6 in their 4 games.
Different day, same result
When Mother Nature stopped the Marcus Whitman-Oakfield Alabama/Elba game on Friday night in the third quarter, QA/E held a 36-16 lead. When play resumed Monday night, OA/E outscored MW 28-14 to win going away 64-30
Jayden Watch
Jayden Castrechini still leads Section V in rushing after his 234 yard performance in a 30-22 win over Newark. Castrechini now has 859 yards rushing and 994 total yards and 14 total touchdowns in 4 games.
BY THE NUMBERS
Demolition Men
McQuaid travels to Aquinas next Saturday.
| Team | Div | Cl | GP | W | L | PF | Avg |
| Alexander | LC 4 | D | 4 | 4 | 0 | 220 | 55.0 |
| Wayne | FLE | B | 4 | 4 | 0 | 180 | 45.0 |
| Aquinas | IND | AA | 4 | 4 | 0 | 175 | 43.8 |
| McQuaid | RCAC | AA | 4 | 4 | 0 | 170 | 42.5 |
| ER/Gananda | FLE | C | 4 | 3 | 1 | 159 | 39.8 |
| Batavia | LC 1 | B | 4 | 4 | 0 | 155 | 51.7 |
| Penn Yan | FLE | C | 4 | 3 | 1 | 151 | 37.8 |
| Canandaigua | MC III | A | 4 | 4 | 0 | 144 | 36.0 |
| UPrep | IND | B | 4 | 4 | 0 | 136 | 34.0 |
| Red Jacket | FLW | D | 4 | 3 | 1 | 136 | 34.0 |
Shutting the Door
Livingston County IV is the division that plays the best defense, as 3 of the 4 teams in that division are in the Top 10 in points allowed.
| Team | Div | Cl | GP | W | L | PA | Avg |
| Wilson | RCAC | A | 3 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 2.3 |
| East | RCAC | A | 3 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 4.3 |
| Notre Dame | LC 4 | D | 3 | 3 | 0 | 25 | 8.3 |
| Alexander | LC 4 | D | 4 | 4 | 0 | 26 | 6.5 |
| Attica | LC 4 | C | 4 | 3 | 1 | 26 | 6.5 |
| Fairport | MC I | AA | 4 | 3 | 1 | 37 | 9.3 |
| University Prep | IND | B | 4 | 4 | 0 | 44 | 11.0 |
| Hilton | MC I | AA | 4 | 3 | 1 | 45 | 11.3 |
| Letch/Warsaw | LC 2 | C | 4 | 3 | 1 | 46 | 11.5 |
| Victor | MC II | A | 4 | 3 | 1 | 48 | 12.0 |
Longest Active Win Streaks:
7 – East (last 4 in 2017 + 3 in 2018) – pending conclusion of suspended Wilson game
Streak Buster
Greece Olympia/Odyssey finally got back in the win column, breaking its 22-game losing streak with a win over Bishop Timon (VI).
Defenders of the Universe
- Notre Dame Batavia defense shut down Geneseo, allowing just 56 total yards and registering 8 sacks and forcing 6 turnovers.
- Livonia throttled high-flying Attica limiting the Blue Devils to just 109 total yards offense in a battle of state-ranked teams.
- Letchworth/Warsaw held Wayland-Cohocton to just 135 total offense
- Attica’s Zachary Strzelec and Logan White combined for 27 tackles.
- Connor Fingar logged 17 tackles and 2 sacks for Penn Yan.
- Brandon Lappetito had 14 stops for Eastridge.
Just Give Me The Ball
- Ray Leach was given the ball 22 times and he gained 327 yards from scrimmage and scored 4 TDs to lead Batavia over Windsor on the road.
- ER/Ganada’s Jayden Castrechini had 272 yards total offense and 3 TDs (242 rushing)
- Ethan Fame finished with 229 yards and 2 TDs to lead Schroeder to an eventual rout of Churchville Chili.
- Desi Floyd Jr of Wilson accounted for 227 yards rushing and 2 TDs in a shutout of Monroe.
- Irondequoit QB accounted for all 4 touchdowns — 2 passing/2 rushing including the winning score with :18 left in the game — and 207 total yards in the Eagles’ 28-21 win over Victor.
- Cassius Facen of UPrep had 165 yards of total offense and 3 TDs in a win over BK/Roc Prep.
- Victor RB Joey Pezzimenti needed a lot of ice after his 34-carry, 157 yard night against Irondequoit
Arms Race
- Aquinas’ Tyler Szalkowski completed 22-29 passes for 473 yards and 7 TDs.
- Will Rogers of Penn Yan completed 20-of-28 passes for 370 yards and 5 TDs.
Better to Receive
- 3 Aquinas receivers topped the century mark — Ulysees Russell (5-182-3 TDs), Kobe McNair (5-133-1 TD) and James Jones (8-113-1 TD)
- 2 Penn Yan receivers topped the century mark – Kyle Berna (8-190 yards-2 TDs) and Connor Fingar (8-124 yards).
- Red Jacket’s Chase Rizzo had 184 yards on 3 catches, including an 84-yard score.
Must See Games
Not a lot of ‘big’ games this week, however here are some of the more intriguing matchups.
Friday
- Wilson @ McQuaid, 7 pm. Where to: both teams are undefeated, state-ranked, RCAC co-leaders, in the Top 10 in points scored for Section V. Can Wilson contain the balanced Knights’ attack? Will McQuaid stop Desi Floyd Jr?
- Le Roy @ Letchworth/Warsaw, 7:30 pm. Both teams are stingy with the points.
- East @ University Prep, 5 pm, @ Marina Auto Stadium. Both teams undefeated. Can UPrep continue its magical season?
Saturday
- Friendship Collegiate @ Aquinas, 12 pm. Perhaps the farthest visitor to ever come to Section V: Friendship is from Washington DC.
- Greece Athena @ Greece Arcadia, 2 pm. Athena puts its undefeated record on the line in this rivalry game.
Full Slate
Friday (9/28)
Monroe County
Rush-Henrietta @ Irondequoit, 6 pm
Hilton @ Brockport, 7 pm
Penfield @ Pittsford, 7 pm
Spencerport @ Brighton, 7 pm
Victor @ Webster Schroeder, 7 pm
Canandaigua @ Gates-Chili, 7:30 pm, St. John Fisher
RCAC
Wilson @ McQuaid, 7 pm
Livingston County
Attica @ Batavia, 7:30 pm
Cal-Mum/Byron-Bergen @ Avon, 7:30 pm
Canisteo-Greenwood @ Perry/Mt. Morris, 7:30 pm
Cuba-Rushford @ York/Pavilion, 7:30 pm
Geneseo @ Bolivar-Richburg, 7:30 pm
Le Roy @ Letchworth/Warsaw, 7:30 pm
Wayland-Cohocton @ Wellsville, 7:30 pm
Finger Lakes
Lyons @ Mynderse, 7 pm
Midlakes @ Palmyra-Macedon, 7 pm
Penn Yan @ Newark, 7 pm
Waterloo @ Wayne, 7 pm
Clyde-Savannah @ Dryden, 8 pm
Non-Conference
Honeoye Falls-Lima @ Odessa Montour (III), 7 pm
Bishop Timon (VI) @ Alexander, 7:30 pm
BK/Rochester Prep @ Hornell, 7:30 pm
S.Seneca/Romulus/Trumansburg @ Dansville, 7:30 pm
8-Man
Finney/Northstar@ Marcus Whitman, 7 pm
Saturday (9/29)
Monroe County
Greece Athena @ Greece Arcadia, 2 pm
Greece Olympia/Odyssey @ Churchville-Chili, 2 pm
Webster Thomas @ Fairport, 3 pm
RCAC
East @ University Prep, 1 pm, @ Marina Auto Stadium
Monroe @ Leadership, 2 pm
Livingston County
Bath-Haverling @ Livonia, 1:30 pm
Pembroke @ Notre Dame-Batavia, 1:30 pm
Finger Lakes
Red Jacket @ Dundee, 1 pm
Geneva @ East Rochester-Gananda, 7 pm
Non-Conference
Friendship Collegiate (Wash DC) @ Aquinas, 12 pm
Edison Tech @ Eastridge, 2 pm
8-Man
Oakfield-Alabama/Elba @ Holley, 1:30 pm
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