Hilton locks down against Rush-Henrietta to stay undefeated: Section V football's top games Friday

A matchup between two Class AA hopefuls lived up to the billing, but it was a senior-heavy Hilton team that emerged over an up-and-coming Rush-Henrietta squad, 21-14, on Friday night.

Rush-Henrietta held multiple leads in the first half, going ahead 7-0 and 14-7. A trick play, one that Hilton coach Rich Lipani said has been "in my playbook for 35 years," helped knot the score before halftime, when flanker Tyler Reger took the handoff and delivered a 21-yard pass to tight end Braydon Pike for a touchdown.

JJ DiBattisto, scored the go-ahead touchdown late in the third quarter, and Hilton's defense did the rest. The Cadets denied a fourth-and-goal try from Rush-Henrietta with seven minutes to go, then sealed the win in the final seconds on an interception by DiBattisto.

"We didn't play a great first half, but made some adjustments at halftime," Lipani said. "We moved some guys around to some different spots. (Rush-Henrietta) was hurting us on bubble screens, so we moved a few of our linebackers and got some different guys out there, and did a better job with that.

"We controlled the ball pretty well offensively and the defense was able to make a couple of stops."

Stops will be at a premium next week when two undefeated teams, Hilton and McQuaid, meet to decide who owns one of the top spots in Class AA.

The teams' last meeting in 2023 was a barn-burner, with eventual section champion McQuaid earning a 24-21 win.

"We're still learning. We're a team that's half seniors, half sophomores for the most part," Lipani said. "We've got guys still trying to figure out where they belong and where they're best suited. Luckily, we've been able to win the first three games while we figure things out, but McQuaid is gonna be a big game. That's a great team and a great program."

While Rush-Henrietta drops to 1-2, the Royal Comets have proven a formidable foe over the last two weeks, dropping one-score games to the Cadets and, before them, McQuaid. That's a team that could be heard from again down the road.

"They're doing a really good job. They've got some good players at quarterback and the tailback is excellent, and their lines did a great job," Lipani said. "They've got a lot of athletic kids and they'll be right in the mix come sectional time."

Football: Section V scores for 2024 season

McQuaid 38, Penfield 26

Allen Nesmith, a dynamic senior running back for McQuaid (3-0), rushed for five touchdowns and 212 yards on just 15 carries during the Knights' home opener at Tom Seymour Field. It was Nesmith's offensive linemen — Brysen Terry, Joe DiMarco, Bryce Weber, Cooper Kondas and Devon Herrema — who stole the show, though, opening gaping holes for Nesmith, who was barely touched on each of his touchdown runs.

"I give them a 10 of out 10 every time. I don't have to worry about getting tackled because I know they're going to do their job," said Nesmith, whose Knights are tied with rival Aquinas for the top spot on the Democrat and Chronicle's initial large school football poll.

"He's a great running back, and he displayed that. But he's a really good kid. He's a leader on this team, in school and the community," Bates said.

Penfield senior running back AJ Theodorakakos was just as good. The Army lacrosse commit rushed 25 times for 160 yards and three touchdowns. His third score gave the Patriots a 26-24 lead with 9:33 remaining. Theodorakakos was the catalyst of coach Anthony Bianchi's Patriots' (1-2, 0-2) exhausting scoring drives. Penfield burned over nine minutes of clock on its first touchdown.

Coach Bobby Bates' five-time Section V Class AA champion Knights responded quickly, burning less than two minutes on four touchdown drives. McQuaid ran just 14 plays when they trailed 20-14 at halftime. Nesmith's fourth touchdown was a 57-yard scamper for a 32-26 lead with 9:12 remaining. AJ Quagrello caught an interception, then Paul Rizzo recovered a fumble the next two drives as the Patriots never threatened to score again.

"There really was no panic. ... It was a really good job of putting together a game plan by our coaching staff, and our kids executing," Bates said.

Victor 34, Gates Chili 6

Victor's offense was largely stagnant through its first two games suffering consecutive shutouts, but the Blue Devils found their groove in Game No. 3.

It was evident from the game's first play that this night belonged to host Victor. Gates Chili fumbled the opening kickoff, and within a handful of plays Victor was in the end zone for the first time on Dre Yeomas' 6-yard run.

Yeomas broke off a 63-yard run in Victor's second possession. He finished with 170 yards and four touchdowns on 17 totes. Nathan Harris had the Blue Devils' other touchdown, a short-yardage plunge before halftime.

The Spartans' fumble was one of four consequential turnovers. Victor came up with three more turnovers, interceptions from Eric Young, Robbie Green and Nick Kriegelstein.

Victor (1-2), the No. 1 seed in last season's Class A tournament, can return to .500 next week at Webster Thomas. Gates Chili (0-3) is home against Brighton.

Webster Thomas 42, Spencerport 28

The Titans trailed 21-7 at halftime before scoring 35 straight points.

Levi Kulik's 60-yard touchdown pass to Sean Marlin sparked the comeback. Kulik then fed Ashton Thomas a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.

Irondequoit 26, Webster Schroeder 7

Two touchdowns in the first and second quarters led the Eagles to pull away from the Warriors.

Cam Freeman reached the end zone on a 33-yard run to finish the very first Irondequoit possession. Eagles quarterback Taiden Makubire scored on a 1-yard run on the team's second drive.

The next two Webster Schroeder drives ended on an interception by Irondequoit junior Cooper Moore and a turnover on downs inside the Irondequoit 20-yard line.

Irondequoit defensive lineman Austin Stewart then set up the next Irondequoit score when he intercepted a pass tipped near the line of scrimmage.

Makubire threw a 22-yard pass into the end zone that Brien Walker caught while on his way to the ground on fourth down-and-seven yards to go with 1:23 seconds remaining in the first half. The Eagles were back in the end zone with 45 seconds to play in the second quarter on a five-yard run by Myles Wynn.

Wayne 24, Newark/Marion 19

A quick reaction by Wayne senior David Barnhart delivered the game-winning score with 30 seconds remaining for the Eagles, who played their home opener on a new field.

Wayne trailed when it lined up to attempt a 27-yard field goal with half of a minute on the scoreboard clock. The snap was no good for a kick, but Barnhart the holder picked up the ball and made it to the end zone.

The Eagles stayed in front after two passes by Newark/Marion fell incomplete in the end zone. Wayne improved its record to 1-1.

Both teams are in the Wayne-Finger Lakes Independent League. Newark/Marion is 0-2.

— Marquel Slaughter, James Johnson and Justin Ritzel are journalists for the Democrat and Chronicle, specializing in high school sports. You can email the sports department at sports@democratandchronicle.com.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V football: Top games from Friday Sept. 20, 2024