One team has won five straight games. The other has scored over 40 points six times this season. Canandaigua and Hilton have already each won sectional titles and will meet Friday night for a spot in the state playoffs. Here’s the breakdown:
CANANDAIGUA GRAY WOLVES (9-1)
vs.
HILTON CADETS (8-2)
Friday, St. John Fisher University, 8:00 pm
How they arrived here: Canandaigua (No. 25 NYSSWA Class A) defeated Greece Olympia/Odyssey in the opening round 49-13 before beating Vertus 34-0 in the semifinals. In the Class A2 title game, the Gray Wolves won 35-6 against Greece Athena. Hilton (No. 5 NYSSWA Class A) took down Webster Schroeder 28-27 in the A1 quarterfinals and Churchville-Chili 42-14 in the semifinals. In the championship game, the Cadets outlasted Brighton in a 49-42 thriller.
Players to watch for Canandaigua: Aleks Hawryschuk Jr. RB (943 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, 90 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown, 47 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles), Brady Davern So. QB (192 passing yards, two passing touchdowns), Isaac Dolph Jr. RB (311 rushing yards, five touchdowns, 80 receiving yards, 19 tackles, two pass deflections, one interception), Declan Cooney Jr. WR (19 catches, 289 yards, three touchdowns, 20 tackles, two forced fumbles, four pass deflections, three interceptions), Max Foster So. LB (73 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, two sacks), Lucas Wyand Sr. DL (37 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, two forced fumbles)
Players to watch for Hilton: Tyler Reger Sr. RB (1,345 rushing yards, 20 rushing touchdowns, 18 receptions, 353 receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns, one passing touchdown, 29 tackles, one punt return touchdown, one fumble return touchdown), Matt Kosiorek Sr. QB (942 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 431 rushing yards, five rushing tackles), Calvin Starwald Sr. FB/TB (447 rushing yards, nine rushing touchdowns, 78 tackles, sack, interception), Luca Aurioso Sr. WR/LB (19 receptions for 265 yards, four touchdowns, 52 tackles), Jared Wade Sr. WR (11 receptions, 219 yards, four touchdowns), Jha’Zae Dessources Sr. TE/LB (five receptions, 96 yards, one touchdown, 45 tackles)
Coaches: Jeff Welch (Canandaigua), Rich Lipani (Hilton)
History 101: Canandaigua is coming off of its 13th sectional title and fifth since 2019. A win would put the Gray Wolves into regionals for the first time since 2021. For Hilton, it was a fourth championship in program history. The Cadets were last in the state playoffs in 2022. Hilton and Canandaigua squared off in 2022, with Hilton getting the win. The Gray Wolves lead the all-time series 2-1.
What’s at stake: A spot in the NYS Class A Far West Regional against the winner of West Seneca West (VI) and Grand Island (VI).
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