By JOHN LIKANJE
The Section V Football Class A1 and A2 tournaments begin with seven games on Friday and one game on Saturday. The title matches are scheduled for Friday, November 5th. Here’s the breakdown:
CLASS A1
No. 1 seed BRIGHTON BRUINS (7-0, No. 10 NYSSWA Class A) vs. No. 8 seed CHURCHVILLE-CHILI SAINTS (0-7)
This is a rematch of the season opener in which Brighton stomped Churchville-Chili, 44-0 – their largest margin of victory. From there, the Bruins pulled off back-to-back narrow wins over UPrep and Webster Thomas before dominating the rest of their schedule. This was the Bruins’ first undefeated regular season since 1999.
The Saints are seeking their first victory since Week Five of the spring season, which would snap an eight-game skid.
Players to Watch for Brighton: Brennan Clasgens Sr. QB/LB 314 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns, 780 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns; Tahj Jackson Sr. RB/DB 710 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, 96 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns; Daniel Johnson Jr. WR/DB 34 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery; Elijah LaMonaco Sr. RB/LB 38 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovered for a touchdown, one interception; Shane Strazdins Sr. FB/LB 36 tackles, five sacks, two forced fumbles
Coaches: Stephen Lian (Brighton), Troy Jeffers (Churchville-Chili)
Details: Brighton is seeking its first sectionals victory since the 2016 Class A sectional semifinals when the Bruins defeated Eastridge, 50-36. Churchville-Chili is making its first sectionals appearance since 2013.
Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Brighton High School.
No. 2 seed UPREP GRIFFINS (6-1, No. 23 NYSSWA Class A) vs. No. 7 seed PENFIELD PATRIOTS (1-6)
This is a rematch of the season opener in which UPrep won, 27-7. The following week, the Griffins were stunned by a Brighton squad that rode the wave to an undefeated regular season. The Griffins quickly recovered and won out their remaining schedule, including three victories by 30-plus points (36-0 over Webster Thomas, 42-12 over Gates-Chili and 30-0 over Churchville-Chili).
Penfield got off to a rough start, having to face Irondequoit and UPrep in its first two games. The Patriots then had to match up with Brighton, Webster Schroeder and Webster Thomas in the last three games. The Patriots’ lone win came in Week Four over Churchville-Chili, 34-12.
Players to Watch for UPrep: Raykim Chenier Sr. RB/LB 1,094 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, 18 tackles, one interception; Clyde Davis, Jr. Sr. QB 1,025 passing yards, 13 passing touchdowns, 26 rushing yards; Mark McClary Sr. WR/DB 298 receiving yards, six receiving touchdowns, nine tackles; Sharod Watkins Sr. OG/DT 54 tackles, 12.5 sacks
Penfield: Austin Dillenbeck Jr. FB/LB 11 tackles per game; Alexander Young Jr. QB/DB 12 touchdowns
Coaches: Isiah Young (UPrep), Anthony Bianchi (Penfield)
Details: UPrep is making its third sectionals appearance in the last four seasons. Penfield is in the postseason for the first time since 2018.
Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Marina Auto Stadium.
VIEW MORE SCOTT CORDARO PHOTOS HERE.
No. 3 seed WEBSTER SCHROEDER WARRIORS (5-2) vs. No. 6 seed GATES-CHILI SPARTANS (2-5)
Webster Schroeder surged out of the gates with three straight wins, including a 35-25 victory over Gates-Chili in Week Two. Although the Warriors split the last four contests, they concluded the regular season with a 24-14 win at Penfield, last Friday night.
Gates-Chili opened with setbacks to Webster Schroeder and Webster Thomas before notching its first win over Penfield. After blowing a 16-point, fourth-quarter lead to Irondequoit in an eventual overtime loss, the Spartans fell to UPrep, defeated Churchville-Chili and lost at Brighton, last Thursday night.
Players to Watch for Webster Schroeder: Alex DeRosa Sr. QB/DB 1,299 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns, 412 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, 42 tackles, one sack, two interceptions; Kaleb Juliano Jr. RB/LB 381 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 68 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown, 20 tackles, one sack; Zain Khan Jr. OL/DL 50 tackles, four sacks, one fumble recovery; Torance Washington Jr. WR/DB 551 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns, 15 tackles, one interception, one fumble recovery
Gates-Chili: De’marion Mewborn Sr. RB/LB 1,379 rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns
Coaches: Michael Stumpf (Webster Schroeder), Jason Benham (Gates-Chili)
Details: Webster Schroeder is seeking its first sectionals win since the 2010 Class AA sectional semifinals when the Warriors defeated McQuaid, 27-25. Gates-Chili is making its first sectionals appearance since 2011.
Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Webster Schroeder High School.
No. 4 seed WEBSTER THOMAS TITANS (4-3) vs. No. 5 seed IRONDEQUOIT EAGLES (3-4)
Webster Thomas broke a three-game funk with back-to-back wins to end the regular season, including a 21-0, rain-shortened victory at Irondequoit to clinch the No. 4 seed. The Titans won their first two games of the campaign over Churchville-Chili and Gates-Chili.
Irondequoit struggled out of the gate, losing two of its first three games, before putting together a pair of victories over Gates-Chili and Churchville-Chili.
Players to Watch for Webster Thomas: Eli Adams Sr. QB/P 1,113 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns, 297 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, two tackles; Dillon English Sr. RB/LB 215 rushing yards, 52.5 tackles; David Petz Sr. WR/RB/DB 379 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, 17 tackles
Irondequoit: Erik Barr Jr. QB 1,081 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, 164 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns; Corey Freeman Sr. WR/DB 448 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns, 42 tackles, one sack; Joshua Luciano Jr. OL/LB 51 tackles; Lamere Smith Jr. RB/LB 325 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns
Coaches: Scott Deuschle (Webster Thomas), Daniel Fichter (Irondequoit)
Details: Webster Thomas is making its first sectionals appearance since 2015. Irondequoit is seeking a second straight trip to the sectional semifinals.
Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday at 7 p.m. at Webster Thomas High School.
VIEW MORE DENNIS JOYCE PHOTOS HERE.
CLASS A2
No. 1 seed CANANDAIGUA BRAVES (7-0, No. 3 NYSSWA Class A) vs. No. 8 seed GREECE OLYMPIA/ODYSSEY SPARTANS (1-6)
Canandaigua was the most dominant squad in the entire classification. Not only did the Braves win all their games by double-digits, they won by an average of 28.3 points per game. Their largest victory of the season was a 54-14 no-doubter over Greece Olympia/Odyssey in Week Four.
The lone win for Greece Olympia/Odyssey this season was a 42-6 victory over Newark/Marion in Week Six.
Players to Watch for Canandaigua: Bryan Boldrin Sr. QB/DB 1,239 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, 64 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown; Ryan Gavette Sr. WR/LB 421 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, 123 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns; Jaxon Grant Sr. RB/LB 417 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, 122 rushing yards, 37 passing yards, one passing touchdown
Greece Olympia/Odyssey: Nicholas Callaghan Jr. RB/LB 29 tackles, two fumble recoveries; Jahod Faison Sr. WR/QB/DB 122 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown, 21 tackles; Zymier Jackson So. QB/DB 321 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, 10 tackles; Xavier Jones Sr. RB/OLB 541 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 15 tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery
Coaches: Jeff Welch (Canandaigua), Eddie Long (Greece Olympia/Odyssey)
Details: Canandaigua is seeking its 15th consecutive victory and third straight sectionals win. Greece Olympia/Odyssey has advanced to sectionals for the first time since the two schools combined into one football program. Greece Olympia made it to sectionals in 2010 as a No. 6 seed in Class A.
Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Canandaigua Academy.
No. 2 seed SPENCERPORT RANGERS (6-1, No. 20 NYSSWA Class A) vs. No. 7 seed BROCKPORT BLUE DEVILS (1-6)
With back-to-back dominant seasons under its belt, Spencerport has won 12 of its past 14 games dating back to the spring. The Rangers outscored their opponents, 222-102, and won by an average of 17.3 points per game.
Brockport’s lone win this season came over Greece Olympia/Odyssey last Saturday afternoon.
The Rangers defeated the Blue Devils, 40-27, in both teams’ head-to-head matchup on Week Four.
Players to Watch for Spencerport: Joseph Marcello Sr. TE/LB 535 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, one kickoff return touchdown, 50 tackles, three fumble recoveries, one interception; Cameron Mesh Jr. QB/DB 760 rushing yards, 11 rushing touchdowns, 30 tackles, three interceptions, one fumble recovery; Brenten Sheffield Jr. RB/LB 501 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, three sacks
Coaches: John Dowd (Spencerport), Scott Nugent (Brockport)
Details: Spencerport is seeking its third straight trip to the sectional semifinals. Brockport is making its first sectionals appearance since 2017.
Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m. at Spencerport High School.
No. 3 seed EAST/WORLD OF INQUIRY EAGLES (5-2) vs. No. 6 seed EASTRIDGE LANCERS (2-5)
Despite the loss of Justus Ross-Simmons (transferred to Inglewood High School in California for his senior year), East/World Of Inquiry didn’t skip a beat. All five of the Eagles’ wins were by double figures, including a 19-8 road win at Eastridge in Week Four. Overall, The Eagles outscored their opponents, 230-104, and won by an average of 18 points per game.
Eastridge dropped its first four decisions of the season before notching back-to-back wins over Brockport and Greece Olympia/Odyssey.
Players to Watch for East/World Of Inquiry: Kenneth Edwards Jr. WR/DB 166 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, one rushing touchdown; Camryn Higgins So. RB/LB 168 all-purpose yards, two touchdowns; Dion Mather QB 709 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown
Eastridge: Jayden Gamble Jr. RB/OLB 512 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns; A’mir Proctor Sr. WR/DB 371 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, 266 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns; Malon Reid Sr. FB/LB 54 tackles, one sack; Caquan Wester Sr. QB/WR/DB 357 passing yards, five passing touchdowns
Coaches: Steve Flager/James Vann (East/World Of Inquiry), Jasson Jobson (Eastridge)
Details: East/World Of Inquiry is seeking a fourth consecutive trip to the sectional semifinals. Eastridge is making its second sectionals appearance in the last three seasons.
Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 6 p.m. at East High School.
No. 4 seed GREECE ARCADIA TITANS (3-3) vs. No. 5 seed GREECE ATHENA TROJANS (3-4)
After going winless in the spring, Greece Arcadia appeared to be one of the surprise squads of the fall campaign. The Titans dropped their first decision to East/World Of Inquiry, then rolled to three consecutive victories, including a 14-12 win over Greece Athena in Week Four. The Titans couldn’t replicate that success in their final two contests against Class A juggernauts, Canandaigua and Spencerport.
Greece Athena was on the same trajectory. The Trojans opened with wins over Brockport and Greece Olympia/Odyssey before losing four straight. The Trojans righted the ship in the regular season finale with a 40-32 victory over Eastridge, last Thursday evening.
Players to Watch for Greece Athena: Andrew Hill So. RB/LB 325 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns, 55 receiving yards, 12 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble; Matthew Ranalletta Jr. WR/LB 264 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, 34 tackles, two forced fumbles, one interception; Jayden Rapp So. QB/LB 724 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns, 223 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns, two tackles, one interception
Coaches: Brian Shonitsky (Greece Arcadia), Michael Husdan (Greece Athena)
Details: Greece Arcadia is making its third sectionals appearance in the last four seasons. Greece Athena has advanced to the tournament for the first time since 2017.
Kickoff is scheduled for Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Greece Arcadia High School.
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