Brighton fights through bad weather to advance to third straight Section V title game

by TYLER HATHAWAY

ROCHESTER, NY– It’s hard enough to prepare for your opponent in sectionals when a trip to the championship game is on the line.

It’s a task made much more difficult when you’re preparing for a second opponent that isn’t on your schedule.

The forecast for Friday night’s Class A1 semifinal between No. 4 seed Brighton and No. 1 seed Irondequoit likely couldn’t have been worse for playing football. It was projected to be pouring rain from start to finish, the wind chill was forecast in the low 20s, and winds were supposed to near around 30 miles per hour.

Brighton head coach Stephen Lian and his team had been following the projections all week and did their best to be ready for the challenge the conditions would provide.

 “It was something we knew about, we saw all the forecasts,” Lian explained. “We were mentally preparing for this all week and once we got out here tonight we told them that we had to embrace it.”

“We knew the conditions were going to be bad,” said senior Matthew Heininger. Going into tonight we knew we just had to come together, and see who wanted it more.”

Like the weather, the Bruins came into Irondequoit and let themselves be known. Brighton (7-2) took the lead in the first three minutes of the game and never trailed to win 7-6 over the top-seeded Eagles (8-1) and clinch a spot in its third straight sectional title game. A win next Friday would be the second straight Section V title for the Bruins.

“I’m just so proud of them,” Lian said about his team. “With the elements like this, we told them that when you play in weather like this it’s because the game means something. We’re obviously very excited.”

“I’m juiced up,” said Heininger about how he felt about the win. “That was a dogfight. We just tried to stay together tonight and trust each other.”

Brighton took the lead after its defense forced a three and out on Irondequoit’s opening drive, and a bad snap on the Eagles’ punt attempt set the Bruins up on the four-yard line. Heininger took a direct snap into the endzone on the next play to give Brighton a 7-0 lead.

“It was huge,” Lian said of the start his team had. “With conditions like this, field position, ball security, possessions, that’s everything. When we were able to get that stop and take over with the ball where we did that was massive. We stole a possession and we were able to score.”

Heininger took direct snaps throughout most of the entire game for the Brighton offense and in addition to the touchdown, had two runs of at least 30 yards. He’s also the punter for the Bruins, and had a punt in the second half that was downed at Irondequoit’s one-yard line.

“It was a combination of both the weather and the gameplan,” Lian said was the reason for the frequent wildcat usage. “Obviously the weather dictated that we get it to him a little bit more than usual, but that was absolutely the gameplan. We have the utmost trust in Matthew.”

“I’m really just running for my teammates out there,” said Heininger.”They’ve put in the work all off-season, during the season, on the field and in every rep. I’m just running for them.”

“He does everything for us,” said Lian. “I think he’s the greatest football player in the history of the school. Next week will be his third sectional title game he’s played in in a row, and he has an opportunity to cement that title.”

The Bruins defense forced two fourth down stops and forced a fumble. The six points scored by Irondequoit was the first time all season the Eagles didn’t break double digits.

“Defense wins games in weather like this,” said Lian. Coach (Andrew) Fox and our defensive staff put together an incredible job. It was an unbelievable game and an unbelievable win.”

Irondequoit scored its lone touchdown early in the second quarter when Eric Torres found Cooper Moore for a seven-yard touchdown pass on fourth and goal. The Eagles opted to go for two, but Moore was tackled a foot short of the goalline and Brighton preserved its lead. Irondequoit had the chance to take the lead later in second quarter after driving deep into Brighton territory, but the drive ended without points.

Unlike most teams who are usually at their healthiest at the start of the season, Brighton is currently injury-free for the first time all year, something Lian believes will give his team an edge.

“I was telling the guys before the game that we’ve started a different lineup in every game this year, and this was the first time we went into a game with all of our guys healthy. This is as healthy as we’ve been, and to be that way in Week 9 is everything.”

Brighton will face No. 6 seed Webster Schroeder (6-3) in the Class A1 championship game. The two teams met in Webster in Week 7, with the Warriors coming out with a 31-21 win. The game is scheduled for 8:00 pm at SUNY Brockport next Friday.

“I’m very proud,”  said Heininger about his team. “This season we’ve gone through ups and downs, it hasn’t been exactly what we expected. We’ve just been persevering and working on getting better every week.