BY PAUL LIOTTI
In the Pantheon of football rivalries a few come to mind:
Army-Navy.
Oklahoma-Texas.
Michigan-Ohio State.
And then there’s Aquinas-McQuaid.
A rivalry like no other in Section V, it’s been played annually for decades, pitting two Catholic institutions that have 
no love lost for one another. It’s black-and-gold versus maroon-and-white. And it will be renewed 3 pm Saturday at Aquinas Stadium.
“If you can’t get up for a game like this, I have to question why you are playing football in the first place,” AQ coach Derek Annechino says.
Students, faculty, alumni and those just wanting to see good football will trek to Dewey Avenue this weekend. It’s expected to be a sellout with more than 2,000 people in standing room only attendance. There are a few tickets left, so if you don’t have tickets already, get there early.
But it’s also been a one-sided series as of late, with the Irish owning the series. So much so, that the current AQ starting quarterback was barely out of diapers the last time the Knights took home the annual trophy. The last win for the Knights was in 2006 and the last 12 games regular season games since – and a couple more in sectional play over that time – had Aquinas on the left-hand side of the final score.
But this year may be different.
McQuaid (5-0), ranked 12th in the latest Class AA NYS Sportswriters Association poll, features a group of experienced starters in all the key positions, are playing extremely well of late and are sitting atop Class AA in Section V. Knights’ QB Hunter Walsh is a 3-year starter as is all purpose RB Mark Passero, WR Ben Beauchamp and TE Connor Zamiara are all weapons that can score from any place on the field.
The Knights’ rally against Wilson last week, driving 72 yards in 2 minutes to score with :25 left in the game to win 38-34, showed that they play with poise and confidence.
The Irish (4-1), ranked 8th in the NYSSWA Class AA poll, are young and a little banged up. It starts with QB Tyler Szalkowski and WR Ulysees Russell as the sophomore playmakers, and an the middle of the defense anchored by sophomores and juniors, including junior captain DE Joe Debonis. Then there is freshman Will Benjamin, who starts in the defensive secondary and leads the team in tackles (48) and stops behind the line of scrimmage (8) and will see plenty of action as a running back. Toss in the fact both top running backs are out with injury – Caron Robinson and Reuben Torres — and the Irish will have their work cut out for them.
“I know it sounds cliché, but we play with the ‘next-man-up’ mentality,” said Annechino, in his second year at the Irish helm. “We’re going to run our offense, and hopefully our young guys will step up. I certainly believe they are capable of it.”
After an uncharacteristic game against Friendship, Szalkowski (72-for-105 with 1,325 yards and 18 TDs passing on the season) has bounced back with a very good week of practice, according to Annechino. Kobe McNair (25 catches for 518 yards and 6 TDs) and Russell (13 catches 384 yards and 6 TDs) will have to stay sharp, and senior RB Damon Montgomery (39-221 2 TDs) will get the lion share of carries in the game.
“Tyler is poised and bounced back this week,” Annechino said. “I mean he still threw for 250 yards and 3 TDs last week. He’s a sophomore and will make mistakes like every kid does, but he’s a mentally tough kid. In fact, Saturday in the locker room (after the loss) he was fine and ready to get to work.”
As for the balance of must see games this week, there are big ones across the Section.
Wayne (5-0) at Penn Yan (4-1), 1 pm Saturday
It’s student versus the teacher when these two teams clash for Finger Lakes supremacy. To read more, CLICK HERE.
University Prep (4-1) vs Wilson Magnet (3-2), 5 pm Friday, Marina Auto Stadium
This game becomes a must-win for Wilson, the defending Class A champions. A loss would the the third-straight for the Wildcats and could put them in jeopardy of being on the outside of the Class A playoffs. Desi Floyd Jr will be the main threat UPrep needs to be aware of, who rushed for more than 350 yards against McQuaid last week. UPrep lost for the first time this season last week against East, but also needs this game for Sectional positioning.
Victor (4-1) @ Canandaigua (5-0), 7 pm Friday
Canandaigua puts its undefeated season on the line. A win by Victor gives the Blue Devils the Monroe County II crown. A win by Canandaigua keeps pace in the Monroe County III title race. Game will go a long way to determining Class A seeding.
Greece Arcadia (5-0) @ Honeoye Falls-Lima (4-1), 7 pm Friday
Greece Arcadia is led by freshman QB Brian Shonitsky who continues to impress and is a big reason why the Titans are undefeated and poised to make the Class A playoffs. The Cougars needed a miracle on the last play of the game last week to win on the road and has won 4-straight games. HF-L needs to worry about a let down on
Dundee (3-2) @ Mynderse Academy (4-1), 7 pm Friday
The hot Scots have won 3 in a row and this game is for the Finger Lakes West title.
Notre Dame-Batavia (3-1) @ Alexander (5-0), 7:30 pm Friday
Notre Dame lost last week which takes a little of the luster off this week’s game against the NYSSWA #2 state-ranked Trojans. But there still is a lot on the line as the winner seals up the Livingston County IV title and will virtually clinch a home game in the first round of the Class D Sectionals. The Irish would love to spoil Alexander’s homecoming, but to do so, they will have to stop Clint McClinic when he has the pigskin.
Leave a Reply