By JOHN LIKANJE
The 2021 Section V Football tournament is set to conclude this weekend with five finals games for Class AA, B, C, D and 8-Man while Class A will send a sectional champion to regionals. Here’s the breakdown:
CLASS A NYS FAR WEST REGIONAL QUALIFIER
Class A1 champion UPREP GRIFFINS (9-1, No. 14 NYSSWA Class A) vs. Class A2 champion CANANDAIGUA BRAVES (10-0, No. 3 NYSSWA Class A)
How they got here: As the No. 2 seed, UPrep (No. 14 NYSSWA Class A) opened with a 38-0 win over No. 7 seed Penfield in the quarterfinals and advanced past No. 3 seed Webster Schroeder, 16-7, in the semifinals. The Griffins won the Class A1 title over top-seeded Brighton, 40-8. As the top seed, Canandaigua (No. 3 NYSSWA Class A) earned an automatic bid to the semifinals via forfeit and defeated No. 4 seed Greece Arcadia, 34-6. The Braves won the Class A2 title over No. 2 seed Spencerport, 41-14.
VIEW MORE CHRISTOPHER CECERE PHOTOS HERE.
Players to Watch for UPrep: Raykim Chenier Sr. RB/LB 1,414 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 24 tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, 55 interception return yards; Clyde Davis, Jr. Sr. QB 1,236 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns, 41 rushing yards; Mark McClary Sr. WR/DB 432 receiving yards, nine receiving touchdowns, 40 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, 13 tackles, two tackles for loss, two passes defended; Sharod Watkins Sr. OG/DT 69 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, one forced fumble
Canandaigua: Bryan Boldrin Sr. QB/DB 1,465 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, 88 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, three receiving yards, one receiving touchdown, four interceptions, one interception returned for a touchdown; Ryan Gavette Sr. RB/LB 692 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, 123 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns, one kickoff return touchdown; Jaxon Grant Sr. WR/LB 552 receiving yards, seven receiving touchdowns, 164 rushing yards, one interception
Coaches: Isiah Young (UPrep), Jeff Welch (Canandaigua)
History 101: UPrep is coming off its first sectional title in program history. Canandaigua is coming off its third consecutive sectional title and seeking a second straight trip to the state tournament. The Braves advanced to the state semifinals in 2019 while the 2020 tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A 7 p.m. kickoff is scheduled Friday at Webster Schroeder High School.
CLASS AA CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 seed MCQUAID JESUIT KNIGHTS (8-1, No. 4 NYSSWA Class AA) vs. No. 2 seed AQUINAS L’IL IRISH (8-2, No. 10 NYSSWA Class AA)
How they got here: McQuaid (No. 4 NYSSWA Class AA) earned a quarterfinals bye and opened with a 27-6 win over No. 5 seed Victor in the semifinals. Aquinas (No. 10 NYSSWA Class AA) defeated No. 7 seed Fairport, 40-21, in the quarterfinals and No. 3 seed Pittsford, 35-27, in the semifinals.
Players to Watch for McQuaid: Kendal Burno Sr. RB/LB 120 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, three pass break-ups, one fumble recovery; Xaye Collier Jr. WR/DB 400 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, 250 return yards, one return touchdown, 20 tackles, 10 pass break-ups, seven interceptions, one forced fumble; Joey Leuzzi Sr. WR/CB 400 receiving yards, nine receiving touchdowns, 270 return yards, two return touchdowns; John Mahar Sr. QB 1,800 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns; Sean Oberlies Sr. RB/R 600 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns; Parris Smiley Sr. WR/R 650 receiving yards, six receiving touchdowns, 85 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, five pass break-ups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery.
VIEW MORE CAROLE VOLPE PHOTOS HERE.
Aquinas: Will Benjamin Sr. RB/CB 1,175 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, 311 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns, 27 tackles, one pass defended; Eimaj Giddens Jr. RB/CB 1,026 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 211 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns, 37 tackles, one and a half tackles for loss, one and a half sacks, seven passes defended, two interceptions; Jahlil Johnson Sr. WR/LB 99 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, six and a half sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, three passes defended, one interception, two blocked punts; Terrell Richards Jr. WR/DB 621 receiving yards, nine receiving touchdowns, two tackles; Mykel White Jr. QB 1,376 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, one tackle.
Coaches: Bobby Bates (McQuaid), Derek Annechino (Aquinas)
History 101: This is the third time in the last four seasons these squads will match up in the sectional final. In 2018, the top-seeded L’il Irish defeated the No. 2 seed Knights, 49-18. In 2019, the top-seeded Knights took down the No. 2 seed L’il Irish, 30-27.
A 6 p.m. kickoff is scheduled Saturday at Hilton High School.
CLASS B CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 seed HONEOYE FALLS-LIMA COUGARS (9-0, No. 3 NYSSWA Class B) vs. No. 2 seed BATAVIA BLUE DEVILS (9-1, No. 5 NYSSWA Class B)
How they got here: Honeoye Falls-Lima (No. 3 NYSSWA Class B) opened with a 31-12 win over No. 8 seed Bishop Kearney/Rochester Prep/Rochester Academy in the quarterfinals and advanced past No. 4 seed Dansville/Wayland-Cohocton, 41-18, in the semifinals. Batavia (No. 5 NYSSWA Class B) defeated No. 7 seed Newark/Marion, 35-0, in the quarterfinals and No. 3 seed Wayne, 60-21, in the semifinals.
VIEW MORE DENNIS JOYCE PHOTOS HERE.
Players to Watch for Honeoye Falls-Lima: Benjamin Carson Sr. WR/DB 348 receiving yards, five receiving touchdowns, eight rushing yards; Rhyan Garey Jr. OL/LB 29 tackles, one sack, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery; Zachary Meacham Sr. RB/LB 1,033 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns, 57 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns, 14 tackles, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, one defensive touchdown; Brody Young Sr. QB 1,097 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, 23 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns.
Batavia: Aidan Anderson Jr. RB/LB 894 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 181 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown; Kaden Marucci Sr. TE/LB 80 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three interceptions, one defensive touchdown; Cameron McClinic Jr. ATH/DB 446 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns; Carter McFollins Jr. WR/LB 324 receiving yards, seven receiving touchdowns, 184 rushing yards, one rushing touchdown, four interceptions; Ja’Vin McFollins Jr. WR/DB 414 receiving yards, seven receiving touchdowns; Matthew McWethy Jr. OL/LB 41 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, one interception; Jesse Reinhart Sr. QB/DB 1,282 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, 247 rushing yards, four rushing touchdowns.
Coaches: John Russ (Honeoye Falls-Lima), Brennan Briggs (Batavia)
History 101: This is the second time this year these squads will match up in the sectional final. In the spring, the top-seeded Cougars defeated the No. 2 seed Blue Devils, 49-28. Honeoye Falls-Lima is making its third consecutive sectional final appearance as well. In 2019, as the No. 3 seed, the Cougars fell to No. 4 seed Livonia, 12-0.
A 6 p.m. kickoff is scheduled Saturday at Pittsford Sutherland High School.
CLASS C CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 seed EAST ROCHESTER/GANANDA BOMBERS (10-0, No. 5 NYSSWA Class C) vs. No. 3 seed BATH-HAVERLING RAMS (8-1, No. 12 NYSSWA Class C)
How they got here: East Rochester/Gananda (No. 5 NYSSWA Class C) opened with a 46-8 win over No. 8 seed Marcus Whitman/Bloomfield in the quarterfinals and advanced past No. 5 seed Letchworth/Warsaw/Perry, 28-13, in the semifinals. Bath-Haverling (No. 12 NYSSWA Class C) defeated No. 6 seed Penn Yan/Dundee, 28-0, in the quarterfinals and No. 2 seed Le Roy, 14-7, in the semifinals.
Players to Watch for East Rochester/Gananda: Jeremy Blanchard Jr. TE/DE 38 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks; Caleb Carpenter So. RB/DE 32 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack; Miles Caviness So. WR/LB 304 receiving yards, six receiving touchdowns; Michael Daniels Jr. RB/LB 47 tackles, five tackles for loss; Chaunsey Gilbert Sr. RB/DB 983 rushing yards, 15 rushing touchdowns, 148 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns, 26 tackles, two interceptions; Carter Lathrop Sr. QB/DB 1,430 passing yards, 23 passing touchdowns, 208 rushing yards, three rushing touchdowns; Nicholas Ricci Sr. OL/DL 65 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception returned for a touchdown; Manny Sepulveda Jr. WR/DB 862 receiving yards, 14 receiving touchdowns, 17 tackles, five interceptions.
VIEW MORE JOE TERRITO PHOTOS HERE.
Bath-Haverling: AJ Brotz Sr. WR/DB 561 receiving yards, 10 receiving touchdowns, 365 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, 66 passing yards, one passing touchdown, 14 tackles, three interceptions, three tipped passes; Keian McRae Sr. FB/LB 778 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, 282 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns, 26 tackles, one tackle for loss, two tipped passes; Ethan Narby Jr. TE/LB 44 tackles, four tackles for loss, one interception, one defensive touchdown, one tipped pass; Justin Yehl Jr. QB/DB 1,089 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 70 rushing yards, 61 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown, five tackles, two interceptions, two tipped passes.
Coaches: Brian Touranjoe (East Rochester/Gananda), Matthew Ford (Bath-Haverling)
History 101: East Rochester/Gananda is making its first sectional final appearance since 2017 when the Bombers made three consecutive trips to the big game. The Bombers were the top seed in all three appearances. In 2015, the Bombers lost to Bath-Haverling, 40-30. In 2016, the Bombers came up short to Bishop Kearney, 36-34. In 2017, the Bombers were on the wrong end of a 27-26 decision to Caledonia-Mumford/Byron-Bergen. Bath-Haverling is making its second straight sectional final appearance. In the spring, the No. 2 seed Rams fell to top-seeded Livonia, 44-0.
A 7 p.m. kickoff is scheduled Saturday at Caledonia-Mumford High School.
CLASS D CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 seed OAKFIELD-ALABAMA/ELBA AGGIES (10-0, No. 3 NYSSWA Class D) vs. No. 2 seed AVON BRAVES (9-1, No. 7 NYSSWA Class D)
How they got here: Oakfield-Alabama/Elba (No. 3 NYSSWA Class D) opened with a 68-8 win over No. 8 seed Clyde-Savannah in the quarterfinals and advanced past No. 5 seed Caledonia-Mumford/Byron-Bergen, 54-20, in the semifinals. Avon (No. 7 NYSSWA Class D) defeated No. 7 seed Notre Dame Batavia, 22-0, in the quarterfinals and No. 3 seed Alexander, 13-7, in the semifinals.
Players to Watch for Oakfield-Alabama/Elba: Gaige Armbrewster Sr. RB/DB 1,258 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns; Noah Currier Jr. RB/DB 575 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, 177 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown, two kickoff return touchdowns, one punt return touchdown; Charles Gottler Sr. OL/DL 87 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, three sacks, three fumble recoveries; Bodie Hyde So. QB/LB 562 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, 535 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns, 70 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, one forced fumble.
Avon: Andrew Rowland Sr. QB/DB 1,028 passing yards, nine passing touchdowns, 892 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, 40.5 tackles, one and a half tackles for loss, eight pass break-ups; Dylan Smith Sr. WR/DE 240 receiving yards, two receiving touchdowns, 12 tackles, six and a half tackles for loss, three sacks, one pass break-up; Thomas Welch Sr. RB/DB 1,093 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 217 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns, 47.5 tackles, six tackles for loss.
Coaches: Tyler Winter (Oakfield-Alabama/Elba), Andy Englert (Avon)
History 101: Oakfield-Alabama/Elba is seeking its second sectional title in the last three seasons. In 2019, the Aggies rolled to an undefeated season en route to the 8-Man championship. Avon is seeking its second straight sectional title. In the spring, the No. 2 seed Braves defeated No. 4 seed Alexander, 42-7, to win Class D.
A 7 p.m. kickoff is scheduled Friday at VanDetta Stadium in Batavia.
8-MAN CHAMPIONSHIP
No. 1 seed FREWSBURG BEARS (7-0, No. 6 NYSSWA Class 8-Man) vs. No. 2 seed RED JACKET INDIANS (8-0, No. 1 NYSSWA Class 8-Man)
How they got here: Frewsburg (No. 6 NYSSWA Class 8-Man) earned an automatic bid to the semifinals via forfeit by No. 8 seed South Seneca and advanced past No. 4 seed Canisteo-Greenwood, 47-16. Red Jacket (No. 1 NYSSWA Class 8-Man) defeated No. 7 seed Charles G. Finney/Northstar Christian, 54-6, in the quarterfinals and No. 3 seed Pembroke, 52-12, in the semifinals.
Players to Watch for Frewsburg: Patrick Spencer Jr. WR/DB 40 tackles, two interceptions, one sack; Zack Winters Sr. RB 1,558 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns, 31 tackles.
Red Jacket: Kyle DaMore Sr. QB/DB 714 passing yards, 17 passing touchdowns, 1,095 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns; Daltyn Hanline Sr. WR/DB 416 receiving yards, nine receiving touchdowns; Parker Moore Sr. RB/LB 614 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns; Mason Pollot Sr. RB/LB 420 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns; James Sibeto Jr. WR/DB 120 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns.
Coaches: Terry Gray (Frewsburg), Joshua Henninger (Red Jacket)
History 101: Frewsburg is seeking its third sectional title in program history. The Bears’ championships came in 1994 and 2013. In 2013, the Bears defeated Cattaraugus/Little Valley (VI) to win Class DD. Red Jacket is seeking its second straight sectional title and eighth in program history. In the spring, the top-seeded Indians defeated No. 2 seed Pembroke, 82-6, to win 8-Man.
A noon kickoff is scheduled Saturday at Caledonia-Mumford High School.
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