One team aims to continue its perfect season with a sectional title. The other is looking for its fifth sectional title in the last six years. SUNY Brockport is the site for the Section V Class A championship between Brighton and Canandaigua. Here’s the breakdown.
No. 1 BRIGHTON BRUINS (10-0 / 9-0 in class play)
vs.
No. 3 CANANDAIGUA GREY WOLVES (9-1 / 8-1 in class play)
How they arrived here: Top-seeded Brighton beat Greece Athena (43-0) and Monroe (21-20) to reach the title game. Canandaigua took down Webster Schroeder (41-28) and Brockport (33-14) to advance to the Class A championship game.
Players to watch for Brighton: Gavin Parks Sr. RB (230 carries, 1,636 yards, 22 touchdowns, Brighton All-time leader in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns); Wes Sturrup Sr. WR/DB (10 catches, 260 yards, three touchdowns, 24 tackles, three TFL); Noah Wagner Sr. WR/DB (11 carries, 48 yards, one touchdown, seven catches, 108 yards, one touchdown, 26 tackles, two TFL, one interception); Grady Hopkin Sr. QB (41 completions, 707 yards, 8:3 TD/INT ratio, 27 carries, 77 yards, two touchdowns); Kaleb Matthews Sr. LB (46 tackles, four TFL, two sacks, 3x All-League); Matthew Heininger Jr. LB/TE (14 catches, 226 yards, two touchdowns, 70 tackles, 17 TFL, four sacks, three interceptions, one pick-six); Amari Snowden Jr. WR/LB (10 carries, 21 yards, three touchdowns, 41 tackles, three TFL, one sack).
Canandaigua: Drew Williamee Sr. QB/DB (61 completions, 948 yards, 12:4 TD/INT ratio, 77 carries, 594 yards, four touchdowns); Trey Comella Sr. RB/LB (178 carries, 1,044 yards, 13 touchdowns, 10 catches, 152 yards, two touchdowns); Jack Clark Jr. TE/DL (82 carries, 361 yards, eight touchdowns, six catches, 98 yards, one kick return touchdown); Nate Brinza Sr. TE/DE (14 catches, 242 yards, seven touchdowns); Asher Colletti Sr. WR/DB (37 rushes, 357 yards, four touchdowns).
Coaches: Stephen Lian (Brighton), Jeff Welch (Canandaigua)
History 101: This is the 37th meeting between Brighton and Canandaigua dating back to 1942. Brighton leads the all-time series 19-16-1, but Canandaigua is 9-2 since 1980. Last time these two met was in 2020, with Canandaigua picking up a 52-14 win. Canandaigua football has won 12 sectional titles since 1977 with its most recent coming in 2022. Brighton is making its fourth sectional final appearance (2016, fall 2021 and 2023) and looking for its first title.
What’s next: A spot in the Class A Far West Regional against the Section VI champion either McKinley or Sweet Home.
Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday at SUNY Brockport.
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