By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Kieran Stenzel may be staying in shape for spring sports, but that’s not going to keep the Irondequoit junior from making an impact on the gridiron this fall.
Stenzel scored a pair of touchdowns Friday night, and his performance on the other side of the ball including one play in particular helped pave the way to a 43-21 Eagles’ victory Gates Chili.
With Gates driving late in the second quarter, Stenzel forced a fumble that helped Dan Fichter’s squad keep a lead heading into halftime.
“That was just a fantastic play,” the 14th-year head coach said. “It was instrumental to us winning the game.”
Gates had the ball at the Irondequoit 12-yard line with 14.1 seconds remaining in the first half. On third and six, senior quarterback Nate McKinney stepped up in the pocket with space in front of him to make a run.
Stenzel shed his blocker along the right side of the line and came from behind to knock the ball free as he wrapped up McKinney.
“We knew they were going to pass,” Stenzel said. “It was late in the half and we needed a big stop. I was playing defensive end, and I was told just come off the edge hard and fast. I did what I could.”
Teammate Myles Kedley grabbed the fumble, and Irondequoit went into halftime with a 27-14 lead.
Big swing of momentum: With Gates driving and looking to make it a one-score game, Kieran Stenzel forces a fumble inside the 20. Myles Kedley is there for the recovery. Irondequoit takes a 27-14 lead into halftime. pic.twitter.com/XYbFPLCp6H
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 4, 2026
For Gates, which had the kickoff to open the second half, it was a chance to capitalize and get the ball back to start the third. The Spartans scored on that next drive and should have taken their first lead of the game.
Stenzel had other ideas.
Fichter understood the impact the play had on his team.
“Plays like that make a younger group go, Oh wow. We’re still in this. We can do this.”
Irondequoit quarterback Ryan Jiang found Stenzel on third and goal from the seven for a touchdown with 3:27 left in the third quarter. The Eagles went on to score 16 unanswered to end the game.
Third and goal from the 7, Ryan Jiang hits Kieran Stenzel, who does the rest. Irondequoit 33 Gates 21 with 3:26 left in the third. pic.twitter.com/VYh8IxJnoT
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 5, 2026
Stenzel finished with three carries for 30 yards and two receptions. He had seven tackles including two sacks.
“He played some last year as a sophomore, got his feet wet,” Fichter said. “He’s a great lacrosse player, but he’s a kid who wants to play two sports. He’s a blessing for us.”
Josh Barr and Jayden Nelson combined for four touchdowns to lead the Irondequoit offense.
“They’re our dynamic duo,” Fichter said. “They’re pretty good.”
Nelson rushed for 185 yards on 17 carries. The sophomore running back scored his first of two touchdowns on a 14-yard rush to cap the first drive of the game.
“I don’t think many people know about Jayden because he got hurt at the end of last year. He’s got that breaking speed. You miss him, he’s gonna go.”
Barr, a Syracuse University commit, had six carries for 51 yards and a score. The 6-foot-3 senior also had four catches for 27 yards and another six points.
“Everyone’s talking that we’re young and that they don’t know how we’re gonna be,” Stenzel said. “I think we proved ourselves pretty well tonight.”
For Gates, it was a case of missed chances.
The Spartans scored on their first drive of the game. After Ty Emanuele returned a kickoff to the five-yard line, McKinney found paydirt from two yards out to tie the game at seven.
The drive at the end of the first half started at the Spartans’ seven-yard line.
McKinney connected with Trevion Talbert on third down for 28 yards. Two plays later, McKinney hit Ethan LaJuett for 20 yards.
McKinney and Talbert combined for another 16 yards. Then a passing play to Eddie Jackson IV set up the Spartans at the Irondequoit seven.
Instead of being deflated after not scoring to close the second, Gates put together a 10-play, 79-yard drive to make it a 27-21 game with 6:27 remaining in the third quarter.
“They’re all heart, man,” Gates head coach Andre Fontenette said of his team. “That’s what we’ve talked about this off-season, the team playing together and staying together, even when things get hard.
“We talk about adversity, and we let them know, not everything’s going to go right in the game. Let’s stay together, let’s try and finish the game. I just told him at the end, I think that we’re a lot better than 43-21. I think they know that too.”
Irondequoit travels to Brighton to face the reigning Section V Class A champions next Thursday. Gates will host Greece Athena on Friday.
Ryan Jiang rolls out and hits Josh Barr who finds the end zone for the second time. Two-point conversion is no good. 7:37 remaining in the half, Irondequoit 27 Gates Chili 7. pic.twitter.com/cEpNL0RgFC
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 4, 2026
After Ty Emanuel returns the ensuing kickoff to the Irondequoit 5, Nate McKinney, on the keeper, converts on 4th and 2. Gates 7 Irondequoit 7 pic.twitter.com/t9ozfwFgKa
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 4, 2026
Pick-6 Rashawn Blue, pulls Gates within 13 at 27-14 with 5:57 left in the half. pic.twitter.com/RSx6SGQs07
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 4, 2026
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