Rush-Henrietta quarterback Jared Gerbino, avoiding pressure applied by Pittsford’s Jimmy Wilmett (63), helped the Royal Comets convert three third downs during the team’s game-winning drive last weekend.

Jared Gerbino, Rush-Henrietta’s quarterback, threw for less than 300 yards while he completed 56 percent of his passes last weekend during the Section V Class AA football tournament first round.

An all-time great performance? No, but it was memorable. Pittsford coach Keith Molinich has seen enough to be impressed. Gerbino and the rest of the Royal Comets defeated last year’s sectional finalist, 35-28, at Pittsford Sutherland.

The Royal Comets converted five of eight third down plays in the second half. Gerbino dragged a tackler or two during a run on third-and-three at the Rush-Henrietta 34, for the first of three consecutive third down conversions on the team’s game-winning, 84-yard scoring drive.

“Gerbino is one of the finest quarterbacks I’ve seen in New York state in a long time,” Molinich said. “I know somebody else gets a lot of talk, but to me, Gerbino is my favorite. I mean he’s big-time.’’

Here is a video clip of Gerbino after Rush-Henrietta’s win over Pittsford, followed by the latest set of Section V Ontario Honda High School Football Player of the Week. Ontario Honda’s players of the year awards are presented during the Section V Championships, Nov. 7-8 at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester.

Section V High School Football Players of the Week

OFFENSE

Class AA – Jared Gerbino(Rush-Henrietta): Senior quarterback threw two touchdown passes, including a 72-yarder to Joseph Ortiz, while completing 9 of 16 attempts for 222 yards during a 35-28 playoff win over Pittsford.

Class A – Tavon Granison (Greece Athena): Junior quarterback ran for the game-winning touchdown in Athena’s 35-28 playoff win over Irondequoit. Granison completed 13 of 21 throws for 270 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for two touchdowns.

Class B – Trenton Smith (Hornell): Smith, listed at 5 foot 7 inches and 155 pounds, ran for four touchdowns during Hornell’s 42-20 sectional-win over Newark. He carried 23 times for 234 yards, plus caught five passes for 100 yards, including a touchdown.

Class C – Alex Piechocki (Attica): Senior running back gained 207 yards on 25 carries, three for touchdowns, during a 20-19 loss to Le Roy.

Class D – Graham Freeman (Avon): Last season’s Section V Class DD champions improved to 8-0 after Freeman, a senior quarterback, ran for two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass during a 33-6 win over Caledonia-Mumford. Graham finished with 162 yards on 26 carries.

DEFENSE

Class AA – Jack Hartnet (Penfield): While the Patriots are not in the Section V tournament, Hartnet continued to hustle in a consolation game. The senior linebacker made nine solo tackles and had three tackles for a loss against McQuaid.

Class A – Jason Williams (Greece Olympia): Junior linebacker made 13 tackles, five solo, and recovered two fumbles during a 42-34 loss to Brighton. Williams returned a fumble for a touchdown and also caused a fumble.

Class B – Tyler Crouch (Hornell): Senior linebacker was credited with 20 tackles, five solo, during Hornell’s win over Newark. Crouch has 104 tackles this season, while also playing running back. He averaged more than 10 yards a carry last week.

Class C – Mike Rice (Bath): Bath defeated Letchworth/Warsaw 44-0, while Rice made nine solo tackles, 12 overall, including three for losses. The senior defensive back also broke up three passes.

Class D – Jarrod Faniel (Clyde-Savannah): Senior linebacker made 15 solo tackles and assisted on another eight while Clyde-Savannah defeated Batavia Notre Dame, 41-20. Faniel also intercepted a pass and broke up another throw.

Fairport sophomore forward Claire Myers

Name: Claire Myers.

School: Fairport.

Class/age: Sophomore/15.

Sport/position: Soccer/forward.

Family: Parents, Susan and Jesse; brother, John, 12.

Academics: 97 average.

Claire Myers

Last week: This is the second consecutive year Myers has led Fairport and all players at Class AA schools in goals scored (15) during the regular season. Fairport plays Penfield in the Section V Class AA semifinal round, 2:30 p.m. on Halloween.

About me: 2014 Monroe County All-Star is in her second varsity season. … 5-foot-7. … “Last year I was really excited to be on the varsity team (as a freshman). We had fun, we had a lot of great personalities and formed relationships. The seniors were great leaders.” .. Also plays with Empire United Rochester club team. … Moved to Fairport from Midlothian, Virginia, in 2012. … High honor roll every semester since the seventh grade. “Lots of studying and making sure my homework is done. I like math and science.” … Member of the Spanish Honor Society. … Also member of Fairport’s Leo Club that is holding a food drive for the Perinton Food Shelf. … Played midfield with the JV lacrosse team and was a guard on the Fairport JV basketball squad last year. … “I love to eat chicken. My mom makes chicken tacos, which are pretty good. It’s grilled and shredded cheese.”

Boys Athlete of the Week: Jack Bittker

Penfield’s Jack Bittker, right, was both an All-Greater Rochester selection and Monroe County all-star in 2014.

Name: Jack Bittker.

School: Penfield.

Class/age: Junior/16.

Sport/position: Volleyball/outside hitter.

Family: Parents, Lori and Jim; brother, Max, 21; brother, Sam, 19.

Academics: 95 average.

Penfield junior outside hitter Jack Bittker

Last week: Finished with 15 kills during a victory in three sets over Fairport that clinched Penfield’s first Monroe County division title in six years. He also had nine kills Oct. 22 during a win in three sets over Victor.

The Patriots are 15-1 overall, 12-0 in division play, and contenders for the Section V Class A Championship. Sectionals begin Oct. 30.

About me: Team MVP in 2014 after his first varsity season, an award also won by his brother, Sam, who plays at Nazareth College. Players vote for the award. … 6-foot-3 inches and 185 pounds. … Wears uniform No. 15. “That was my brother’s number. He graduated two years ago. He’s a big role model for me.” … Also plays with Pace Bootlegger club team. The club’s 15/16-year-old team that included Bittker placed third at the 2015 nationals. … “I’m looking at going to George Mason University (Va.) or Princeton (N.J.). He plans to major in computer engineering. “I love math. I’m taking calculus BC, that’s two years accelerated. My oldest brother Max — he’s a genius. He didn’t play volleyball, but he actually won a hackathon.” … Favorite athlete is Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia.  … “I eat so much, I love food. I like sushi. There is this all-you-can-eat sushi place in Gates. You pay $20 and I’ll get $80 worth of sushi.”

Girls Athlete of the Week: Claire Myers

All of the Section V girls soccer semifinals scheduled for Wednesday were postponed based on weather forecasts, which included high winds and rain.

The Class AA semifinal matches are Saturday at Spencerport. No. 2 Victor plays No. 6 Churchville-Chili at noon. Top seed Fairport and No. 5 Penfield play at 2:30 p.m.

Webster Schroeder hosts the Class A semifinals with No. 2 Wayne vs. No. 6 Mercy at 1 p.m. and No. 4 Greece Arcadia versus No. 9 Brighton at 3:30 p.m. The finals are Nov. 3 at Schroeder, with Class A at 5 p.m., followed by Class AA at 7:30 p.m.

The four postponed Class D semifinals take place at four locations Friday. Warsaw is the site of the D1 semi between No. 5 York and No. 8 Wheatland-Chili at 6 p.m. No. 2 Naples and No. 6 Alfred-Almond play their D1 semifinal at 5 p.m. at Perry.

Whitesville, the No. 1 seed in Class D2, plays No. 2 Belfast at Wellsville at 6 p.m. No. 2 Finney and No. 6 Andover meet 5 p.m. at Cohocton Sports Complex in the second D2 semifinal.

The Section V girls soccer semifinals for Victor and Penfield take place on Halloween at Spencerport.

Brocport’s Austin Myers (3) forces Arcadia QB Tyler Dalle to dump a pass and duck under pressure.

Canandaigua’s Coron Broomfield (21) follows his blocker to run past Athena’s Thai Avies.

Arcadia defensive laineman Anthony Finucane sacks Brockport’s Ashton Scott in a 16-7 Blue Devils win.

Brocport’s Austin Myers (3) forces Arcadia QB Tyler Dalle to dump a pass and duck under pressure.

Football

Brockport’s Jeremy Michels (10) makes on of his two interceptions on this pass intended for Arcadia’a Brandon Barnhart. Brockport beat Arcadia 16-7 in the Class A semifinal matchup.

Brockport turned two of the shortest touchdown runs possible and four turnovers by Greece Arcadia on Saturday, into a 16-7 win and its first appearance in a Section V football final for the Blue Devils.

Brandon Lamere, a senior at Brockport, kicked a 29-yard field goal at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester with three minutes remaining to give the Blue Devils’  a nine-point lead in the Class A tournament semifinal.

The Brockport Blue Devils (8-1), No. 1 seed in the Class A tournament, play No. 2 Canandaigua (7-2) in the final, 6 p.m. next Saturday back at Sahlen’s Stadium.

Canandaigua’s last football championship came in 2007. Brockport has reached a sectional semifinal round the last six seasons.

“We’re glad it’s us,” Brockport coach Scott Nugent said. “We’ve been here enough times, and finally got over the hump for the first time.”

Arcadia scored first, three plays after a 14-yard reception by Brandon Barnhart. Xavier McGee took a handoff to his right, stopped and flung a 31-yard pass to a double-covered Reggie Clark with 3:20 remaining in the first quarter.

Brockport had to beat the clock in the second quarter to even the score with 11 seconds left, a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Ashton Scott on 4th-and-goal.

The Blue Devils took the lead with 3:24 to play in the third quarter. Again, it had to happen on fourth down, as Brockport was at the Arcadia 1 after  a timeout. Scott took the snap and ran with sophomore running back Cory Gross trailing to the quarterback’s left. When an Arcadia defender made the decision to go after the quarterback, Scott pitched the ball with his left hand to Gross, who carried it into the end zone.

JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM 

Canandaigua’s Coron Broomfield (21) follows his blocker to run past Athena’s Thai Avies.

The Section V Class A Football final is set.

It is a Canandaigua team with a high-scoring high school offense, against the self-named “grinders” from Brockport.

Canandaigua swept into position Saturday for its first Section V Championship in eight years with junior running back Coron Broomfield, who scored all four of the team’s touchdowns in a 28-21 win over Greece Athena.

Brockport defeated Greece Arcadia 16-7 in the first semifinal Saturday at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, after the Blue Devils scored two touchdowns and a field goal which went unanswered by the Titans.

The Brockport Blue Devils (8-1), the tournament’s No. 1 seed, and No. 2 Canandaigua (7-2) meet in the final at Sahlen’s, 6 p.m. next Saturday. This is the first berth into a sectional football final for Brockport.

“It’s a great team to do it with,’’ Brockport senior defensive back Jeremy Michels said. “We have never done that, it’s a great thing that we did.

“I can’t wait to move on.”

Brockport has reached a sectional semifinal round the last six seasons, and was turned back the last five years. Two of the appearances came with the late Greg Pelletier as Brockport’s coach. Pelletier died in February 2012 of cancer at the age of 39.

“We’re glad it’s us,” Brockport coach Scott Nugent said. “We’ve been here enough times, and finally got over the hump for the first time.”

The Blue Devils got over the hump with two of the shortest touchdown runs possible and four turnovers committed by No. 4 seed Greece Arcadia (6-3).

“This was a special win for a special team,’’ Nugent said.

Arcadia scored first, when senior Xavier McGee took a handoff to his right, stopped and flung a 31-yard pass to a double-covered Reggie Clark with 3:20 remaining in the first quarter.

Brockport beat the clock in the second quarter to even the score with 11 seconds left on a 1-yard quarterback sneak by sophomore Ashton Scott on fourth-and-goal.

The Blue Devils took the lead with 3:24 to play in the third quarter. Again, it happened on fourth-and-goal. Brockport was at the Arcadia 1, and after a timeout, Scott took the snap and ran left with sophomore running back Cory Gross.

When an Arcadia defender made the decision to go after the quarterback, Scott pitched the ball with his left hand to Gross, who carried it into the end zone.

“We have a lot of confidence in our offensive linemen,’’ Scott said. “Our seniors, Cam Caldarelli and Chris Sodoma – both on the left side – coaches told me to follow them, they’ll give us the push we need to score.

“It was a designed pitch, so the linebacker came up and kind of sat on (waited for) the pitch. I kept running at him and then I pitched it right before he tackled me.’’

Brockport’s Jeremy Michels (10) makes one of his two interceptions on this pass intended for Arcadia’a Brandon Barnhart.

Brockport senior Brandon Lamere kicked a 29-yard field goal with three minutes remaining to give the Blue Devils a nine-point lead.

“It’s pretty cool,’’ Scott said. “I love my teammates, they are my brothers, you know.

“It’s great to help these seniors, who have not gotten over the semifinal hump over the last couple of years. It was cool to help them do something that’s never been done before.’’

The Blue Devils probably will need a plan for Broomfield, a junior at Canandaigua listed at 5 foot-7 and 170 pounds. Brockport did defeat Canandaigua, 33-28, during Week 2 of the regular season.

Broomfield ran for 258 yards against No. 3 Athena (6-3) on 42 carries, a workload that tied a Section V tournament record set by Le Roy’s Ryan Novak in 1994.

“We knew we had to win the line of scrimmage and put the ball into Coron’s hands,’’ Canandaigua coach Jeff Welch said. “How many times? I have no idea, but it was a lot.

“He shouldered the load and came through, but you have to give a lot of credit, and I’m sure Coron would too, to the guys up front.’’

Canandaigua never trailed, as Broomfield had touchdown runs of 20, 28, 3 and 1 yards.

Broomfield’s shortest and final touchdown came on the final play of the third quarter, and gave Canandaigua a 28-14 lead. Athena gave itself hope past the midway point of the fourth quarter.

Schedule & results: Section V football playoffs

Junior quarterback Tavon Granison, who ran for a score and threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Vince Soeffing in the first half, dropped back to pass. Granison pulled down the ball instead and scored on a 15-yard run with 5:03 remaining.

“We pretty much put two people on him (AJ Clifford and Mike Zimmerman), spied him,’’ Canandaigua defensive back/receiver Leamon Casteen said. “We didn’t really let him get out of the pocket, or tried not to let him get out of the pocket.

“He’s explosive, he’s fast, powerful, a good athlete.”

Athena attempted onside kick that was recovered at midfield by Canandaigua. The call went to Broomfield and the team’s offensive line to run out time on the clock to end the game.

“Once you get to the varsity level (winning a sectional title) is that first goal,’’ Broomfield said. “You always want to do a good job, of course that’s always there, but that one goal it to make it to the finals and win it.’’

Canandaigua scored an average of 40 points per game through the regular season and first round of the playoffs. It is a team that has scored through the air, with 20 touchdown throws by senior Mitch Schaefer, and the ground.

Both Schaefer and Broomfield have produced more than 1,000 yards. Canandaigua’s generally balanced attack has given the team a chance to win an eighth sectional title since the inception of the Section V tournaments in 1977.

“It’s super-exciting,’’ Casteen said. “We haven’t played at PAETEC/Sahlen’s in a while, and we were coming in for a fight, expected it.

“We’re looking forward to the finals. We know who we are playing and we know what they are going to do.’’

JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM

Aquinas quarterback Jake Zembiec throws a touchdown to Jalen Pickett.

Rush-Henrietta QB Jared Gerbino scores on a touchdown run in the first quarter against Victor at Sahlen’s Stadium on Nov. 1, 2015.

Resiliency it appears, or some kind of stubborn streak, was required for admission into the Section V Class AA football final.

When the area high school football playoffs began, the Rush-Henrietta Royal Comets had three losses, not exactly the mark of a title contender.

The three losses cannot be wiped away, but neither can the Royal Comets it seems, who are in the tournament final after knocking off two undefeated teams.

Rush-Henrietta, a 20-19 winner over Victor during the semifinals Sunday at Sahlen’s Stadium, faces another unbeaten team for the Section V Class AA championship next Sunday, No. 1 seed Aquinas (9-0).

“Everybody thinks that AQ is just going to beat us around, like they do (to other teams),’’ Rush-Henrietta senior receiver/defensive back Jashaun Smith said. “We’re going to practice hard, play hard and we’re going to see what happens.’’

Aquinas players may not be among those who expect their team to just beat around the Royal Comets when the final is played 4 p.m. on Nov. 8, back inside Rochester’s soccer stadium.

No. 4 Hilton (7-2) led Aquinas, tied for No. 1 in the state rankings, by seven points late in the third quarter. Then the bid for the upset bounced away and became a 21-14 win for Aquinas.

“They were big, physical and ran the ball at us,’’ Aquinas junior Jason Hawkes said. “The fourth quarter came around and we stepped it up, played hard.

“We played just as physical as them, we came up and made plays.’’

Hilton was on top 14-7 after a 1-yard quarterback sneak into the end zone by Johnathan Letta with 2:42 to play in the third quarter. Letta was 8 of 16 passing for 79 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown throw to Bailey Pittman in the second quarter.

Conditions were windy, but there were throws that Hilton receivers should have held held on to.

Schedule & results: Section V football playoffs

Shemar Hayes of Aquinas hugs Hilton’s Bailey Pittman after Hilton was intercepted late in the fourth. "Keep your head up, you’re a great player,” Hayes told Pittman.

Jake Zembiec, an Aquinas senior who committed to play at Penn State last fall, threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Pickett to help Aquinas even the score with 18 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

A fumble at the Hilton 40 with 11:36 remaining set up the go-ahead score by Aquinas. Zembiec used his feet to move Aquinas inside the Hilton 20, and then scored on a 2-yard run with 8:18 to play.

Zembiec finished with 61 yards rushing on 10 carries, in part, because senior running back Taylor Riggins left the game with an injury. The Aquinas quarterback also was 9 of 16 passing for 101 yards with a touchdown and interception, in part, because because scoring-threat Earnest Edwards left the game with an injury.

It was the Hilton Cadets who needed to figure out a way to score with more than four minutes remaining. They moved to the Aquinas 46, when Anthony Flegler intercepted a pass that bounced off a receiver.

Rush-Henrietta quarterback Jared Gerbino and Reggie Robinson, both seniors, had a better connection against Victor, with the score 13-13.

A play-call came in that put Rush-Henrietta in the wrong formation, according to Gerbino. Adjustments were made, Gerbino dodged pressure from Victor’s defense and threw a pass to a spot in the middle of the field he expected Robinson to occupy.

Robinson made the catch and sped off to the end zone for a 36-yard touchdown that gave Rush-Henrietta the lead with 4:06 remaining. Victor’s power-run game offense beat the clock however, and scored a touchdown on a 17-yard run by Patrick Barrow with 53 seconds remaining. Rush-Henrietta’s lead was 20-19.

Blue Devils coach Geoff Mandile decided Victor would go for two points. Barrow carried again, this time to his left, but fell to the turf short of the end zone. Victor junior Zack Estabrooks recovered an onside kick however, and that allowed the Blue Devils to reach the R-H 32.

R-H’s Joseph Ortiz intercepted a pass with no time remaining.

JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM

Victor’s Natalie Zaravella swims the 500 yard freestyle during the Hilton Invitational held at Merton Williams Middle School on Saturday, September 12, 2015.

Victor swimmer Natalie Zaravella.

Name: Natalie Zaravella

School: Victor

Age/class: 17/senior.

Sports/events: Swimming/200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke.

Family: Mother, Megan Terwilliger.

Academics: 97 average.

Last week: Swam the fastest qualifying time at the Section V Class A Girls Swimming Championship preliminaries Wednesday in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke. Zaravella also swam cut times for four events in the state championships during the season. She will swim in her fourth state meet.

About me: Member of PACK Swim Team of Pittsford. … “I will swim in college, I know that much, but I don’t know where.’’ She is undecided on a major. “The future is kind of up for grabs at the moment.’’ …  Helped set the school 200 IM relay when she swam the butterfly Wednesday during sectional preliminaries. Zaravella swam with the relay that set the old mark as a sophomore. … President of Tri-M, Victor’s chapter of the National Music Society. … Also member of National Honor Society, National French Honor Society, Victor’s French and Key (volunteer program) Clubs.

Boys Athlete of the Week: Coron Broomfield

Aquinas quarterback Jake Zembiec throws a pass rolling out of the pocket during a regular season game played at McQuaid Jesuit.

Hilton varsity football coach Rich Lipani reminded fans of local high school football that Aquinas senior quarterback Jake Zembiec is more advanced than most quarterbacks his age.

There were people who were impressed with Rush-Henrietta senior quarterback Jared Gerbino, too, last week during the Section V Class AA semifinals.

Zembiec, who committed to play at Penn State University last November, probably is the most accurate passer in Section V. In a twist, the 2013 Class AA state player of the year helped Aquinas defeat Hilton in the Class AA sectional semifinals with 61 rushing yards on 10 carries, including the go-ahead touchdown, a two-yard run, in a 21-14 win for Aquinas.

Jake Zembiec’s 2015 statistics

Gerbino, who sprained both ankles this season and played on despite the injuries, was 9 of 12 passing for 127 yards against defending champion Victor. He ran 55 yards to score Rush-Henrietta’s first touchdown and threw a 36-yard scoring pass to Reggie Robinson in the fourth quarter of R-H’s 20-19 win.

Rush-Henrietta quarterback Jared Gerbino has helped the Royal Comets beat two undefeated teams during the Section V Class AA tournament. .

Aquinas (9-0) and Rush-Henrietta (6-3) meet in the Section V Class AA Championship, 4 p.m. Nov. 8 at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester. Below, just for fun, are the statistics for Gerbino and Zembiec this season.

Jake Zembiec’s 2015 statistics

Jake Zembiec – Aquinas 

Completions: 113

Attempts: 167

Yards: 1,882

Touchdowns: 26 TDs

Interceptions: 5

Completion percentage: 67.7.

Yards per completion:, 16.6

Jared Gerbino – Rush-Henrietta

Completions: 58

Attempts: 130

Yards: 1,237

Touchdowns: 17

Interceptions: 2

Completion percentage: 44.6.

Yards per completion: 22.3

*Note: Second among the Royal Comets with 643 rushing yards with seven touchdowns.

Pittsford swimmers celebrate their sectional championship following the 2014 Class A meet at Webster Aquatic Center.

Pittsford relay swimmers Lindsay Stone, left, Emma Corby and Becca Evans celebrate their win in the 2014 finals of the 400 yard freestyle relay during the state meet at Ithaca College.

Lindsay Stone, an All-Greater Rochester swimmer in Pittsford, remembers that Marty Keating declared the 2014 Panthers as the best girls team Keating has coached.

But Keating, who has received national recognition during his 42 years as a swimming coach, changed his mind last August.

“We just won states as a team, we had 14 girls qualify to go to states,” Stone said. “Then we walked through the doors this year and he was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I was mistaken, this is it.’

“You know, I can’t speak on all the way back into the 1980s, when he was coaching, I don’t know what those teams were like, but I definitely have to agree though. We have a pretty killer team this year.”

Call it the best team in Section V.

“It’s weird, but they are the biggest secret in Section V,” Keating said.

Pittsford’s Lindsay Stone during the 500-yard freestyle at the Hilton Invitational in September.

Pittsford is likely to win the sectional Class A team championship for the 14th consecutive year tonight, outside of some massive eligibility issue no one seen coming or a unprecedented collapse in performance at Webster Aquatic Center.

“They are the best in the country, not just the state,” Victor ooach Stephanie Gunesch said. “Pittsford has an amazing team.

“There are some Olympic Trial(-caliber) swimmers on it.”

Back among the leaders of this year’s surge to a sectional title are senior Katie Smith and Stone, who earned six All-America slots between them last year. They have teamed again with sophomore Becca Evans and junior Emma Corby after they won state titles in last year’s 400-. and in record-fashion, the 200-yard freestyle relays.

“I don’t think anyone else in in New York state has a team with six All-Americans,” Keating said. “They set a pool record (in the 200 free relay). Ithaca College has had it’s conference meet at that pool.”

There’s more.

“We’re solid,” Keating said. “This team has four girls under two minutes in the 200 free (Molly Brennan, Annie Birmingham, Kelly Knickerbocker and Stone). This team has four girls under 2:20 in the 200 individual medley (Stephie Riley, Sarah Minnigh, Anna Dawson and Evans). This team has two returning flyers under a minute in the 100. (Anne Marie Mozrall and Corby, plus Megan Deuel).”

Bianca Lopez, a senior, swam the 100 fly in 1:00.04 during the preliminaries of the Section V Class A Championships on Wednesday to also advance.

“One of our goals is for all of us (18) to make states,” Stone said. “So far we’ve got all but two girls going into finals, which is huge, plus three of our divers. It’s really great, everyone is really positive this year, and I think that speaks for itself.

Pittsford swimmers celebrate their sectional championship, the schools’ 13th straight win, following the 2014 Section V Class A meet at the Webster Aquatic Center.

“It really helps everyone get going. We’re all really excited to see finals, and hopefully get all 18 there.”

Pittsford had the fastest medley, 200 and 400 free relays in the state before this week. No one was faster than Stone, a junior who appears to be team captain-material next fall, in the 200 free (1:52.29) and 500 free (4:55.01). Smith, who will sign a letter of intent to swim at University of Notre Dame next week, was No. 2 statewide in the 50 (23.60) and 100 free (51.83).

Brennan and Deuel have put their names among notable performances this fall, as eighth-graders.

“They are great, super hard-working,’’ Smith said. “Coming in as young, they can see our traditions, see that we are a serious, intense team and they have to decide whether or not they are willing to do it, and both have worked super-hard.

“Both made states today, so that’s great.”

The words “hard” and “work” certainly come up in high school swimming. Watch one of your favorite team’s practice sessions, either the morning or the late afternoon workout. Maybe because of the results, “hard” and “work” seem to be a part of the suit uniform when the Pittsford team swims for practice at Mendon High.

“People think kids come out of the womb in Pittsford and swim,” Keating said.

Not true, Keating added, There is the PACK Swim Team of Pittsford, a club team he created and a tool of sorts, swimmers can use to improve. There are the Southeast YMCA Sharks, a group swimmers ranging in age from high-schoolers down to 6-year olds, where kids can get their feet wet in the sport or different levels of competition.

“It’s a whole effort, a community with a culture of excellence,” Keating said. “You see it in the board of education, in support by parents.”

Norm Schueckler, the Section V girls swimming coordinator, met Keating years ago, as a meet official.

“It’s always been top-shelf,” Shueckler said. “The kids excelling, winning state championships. Look at the number of (Section V) Hall of Famers he has up there (at Webster Aquatic Center). He’s just done it over and over.

“You can talk about the two schools and one team (Pittsford’s team includes students at Sutherland and Mendon), but so is Webster. How about Greece? It’s three schools (and one team) in that district. He’s created a system that works.”

JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM

Section V Class A – A loose ball between Brockport’s Shane Hogan and Canandaigua’s Mike Zimmerman in the first quarter at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. on Saturday, November 7 2015.

Since Brockport had Canandaigua’s number this season, the Blue Devils can now say they are No. 1.

Brockport, a first-time finalist in the Section V playoffs, defeated Canandaigua 28-7 Saturday night during the Class A final at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester.

Cory Gross ran for two touchdowns and Ashton Scott threw a touchdown pass in the first half for the Blue Devils (9-1), who were the No. 1 seed in the Class A tournament and defeated Canandaigua during the regular season.

“It’s a great feeling to get over the hump and be the champions for once,” Gross said. “It’s a credit to these guys for working so hard.”

Section V Class A – Brockport’s Antonio Alvarez catches a pass for a touchdown chased by Canandaigua’s Leamon Casteen in the second quarter at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. on Saturday, November 7 2015.

Now a first-time state quarterfinalist, Brockport faces Section VI champion South Park of the Buffalo region, 6 p.m. Nov. 14 in Rochester. The Blue Devils had seen their season end during sectional semifinal rounds the previous five years.

“You know, every year you think it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen and we get to semifinals six years in a row and then we get over the hump,” Brockport coach Scott Nugent said. “We just had a great performance. We had an awesome week of practice, so I thought it was possible.

“You always second-guess yourself in everything that you do, but we had a great week. It’s just an awesome season for us.”

Section V Class A – Canandaigua’s Mike Zimmerman contributes to bring down Brockport’s Cory Gross in the second quarter.

Gross, a sophomore, was named the most valuable player of the game. He finished with 88 yards on 20 carries and intercepted a pass, one of five turnovers by No. 2 seed Canandaigua (7-3).

Canandaigua committed three turnovers during the first half, including a fumble. Shane Hogan intercepted a deflected pass with 4:14 remaining in the first quarter that set up Brockport’s first score.

The Blue Devils turned to Gross to carry during the drive and he scored from three yards out after taking the snap in a “Wildcat” formation.

Brockport’s lead went to 14 points after an 18-yard reception by Antonio Alvarez with 15 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The Blue Devils’ offense went three and out in their first possession of the second half.

Canandaigua, meanwhile, seemed to get in gear, as it scored on the team’s first possession of the second half. Joe Post, after a 27-yard reception earlier in the short drive, scored at the end of an 11-yard pass from Mitch Schaefer.

Gross helped extend Brockport’s lead to 14 points again with a 2-yard touchdown run with 2:17 remaining in the third quarter.

“He’s a very athletic running back,” Brockport two-way lineman Tyler Johnson said. “He runs hard every play, one cut and go.”

The Blue Devils already were in firm control when Jon Yaeger sprinted to the end zone during an 8-yard touchdown run with 6:55 remaining in the fourth quarter.

JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM

Section V Class D – Bishop Kearney’s Justin Davis avoids a tackle from Clyde-Savannah’s Derrick Chance bellow and No.20 Joseph Dapolito in the third quarter at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. on Saturday, November 7 2015.

Section V Class D – After a kick from Bishop Kearney’s Todd LaRocca the ball bounces off Clyde-Savannah’s Dereck Cobb in the third quarter at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. on Saturday, November 7 2015.

Section V Class D – Bishop Kearney’s Dahmir Pross is tackled by Clyde-Savannah’s Jaret Murray in the third quarter at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. on Saturday, November 7 2015.

Bishop Kearney’s Justin Davis intercepts a pass intended for Clyde-Savannah’s Derrick Chance in the third quarter.

Section V Class D – Bishop Kearney’s Justin Davis tries to get ahold of the ball before Clyde-Savannah’s Clayton Paddock but they both would drop it in the third quarter at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. on Saturday, November 7 2015.

More than two-and-a-half decades passed before Bishop Kearney won its second Section V Football Championship.

A disjointed Clyde-Savannah offense helped hand the Kings the long-awaited title Saturday afternoon.

Bishop Kearney’s defense came up with six turnovers by Clyde-Savannah in the Class D final, a 46-21 win for the Kings at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester.

The Kings (8-2), the tournament’s No. 5 seed, are sectional champions for the first time since 1989. After 26 years, a new championship banner for football will go up with all of the flags for basketball at the private school in Irondequoit.

Next for Bishop Kearney, is the Far West Regional on Nov. 14 at Sahlen’s Stadium. The Kings face Franklinville/Ellicottville/West Valley, the greater Buffalo-region champion.

“We came out here and didn’t think about a 26-year drought, or whatever it was,” Bishop Kearney senior quarterback Todd LaRocca said. “It was another game, we had to win each quarter.

“We came out here and played Bishop Kearney football.”

It is a style that produces a good amount of throws, yards and most importantly, points.

LaRocca had four touchdown passes during a day in which he completed 18 of 36 attempts for 219 yards. Justin Davis, a senior, was Bishop Kearney’s top receiver with eight catches for 133 yards and touchdown.

It was a game the Bishop Kearney offense could also run effectively.

Dahmir Pross, a 170-pound junior, ran for 204 yards on 23 carries, including a 14-yard run that mushroomed Bishop Kearney’s lead to 32-14 with 8:09 remaining in the third quarter.

The No. 3 Golden Eagles (8-2) found it difficult to keep up.

“We lost our tailback last week, Tyler Rattray,” Clyde-Savannah coach Nick DerCola said. “In the first half, we lost Jarrod Faniel. So we lost out top two players, but the bottom line was that we gave them early scores and we never really recovered.

“I don’t believe that we’ve turned the ball over that much all year, so it was very uncharacteristic of us, but that’s the way the game goes sometimes.’

Devin Green intercepted an underthrown pass during Clyde-Savannah’s first possession to set up an 8-yard touchdown reception by him. The Golden Eagles did make it to the end zone to take a 7-6 after a 19-yard run by Faniel, a touchdown set up by a fumble recovery.

Section V Class D – Bishop Kearney’s Ricky Lopez and Clyde-Savannah’s Dylan Ufholz jump on a loose ball in the third quarter at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester, N.Y. on Saturday, November 7 2015.

Clyde-Savannah’s defense came up with another turnover on Kearney’s next drive, an interception in the end zone by Tre Kanaley. The relief for the Golden Eagles was temporary.

A high snap led to a big hit by a Bishop Kearney defender and a fumble that bounced into the end zone during a scramble for recovery. Bishop Kearney senior defensive lineman Aaron Pilgrim ended up on top of the ball for a touchdown and a 12-7 lead for his team.

The Kings’s lead never was smaller, in part because Bishop Kearney’s Anthony Maxwell recovered a fumble and senior linebacker Freddie Jackson intercepted a pass during Clyde-Savannah’s next two drives.

JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM

Coaches Who Care: When Eddie Long speaks, they listen

Name: Megan D’Angelo.

School/class: East Rochester/senior.

Sport/position: Field Hockey/midfield.

Family: Parents, Elizabeth and Phil; sister, Natalie, 23; sister, Alexis, 20.

Academics: 89 average.

Megan D’Angelo.

Last week: Scored a goal that sparked the East Rochester Bombers to a 2-1 win over Akron during the Class C state regional. The Bombers move on to the state semifinals, where they face reigning state champion Whitney Point of Section IV (Binghamton region) at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Maine-Endwell High School.

About me: Team captain during her third varsity season. … Played more as a defender during her first two seasons with the Bombers, who also advanced to the state semifinals last season. … “She loves defense, you can see it,” East Rochester coach Nicole Caruso said. … Also plays basketball (shooting guard) and lacrosse (defender). … East Rochester Crew Leader helps mentor freshmen. … Also member of the high school’s Foreign Language Club. “I take French right now. I really want to go to Paris. When I’m older, I’ll go.” … Played Amateur Athletic Union basketball. … Undecided on college. … “I eat (pasta) every day.” … “I’m an open book, people know me very well.”

Boys Athlete of the Week: Benjamin De La Cruz

Brighton outside hitter Benjamin De La Cruz

Name: Benjamin De La Cruz.

School/class: Brighton/senior.

Sport/position: Volleyball/outside hitter.

Family: Parents, Donna and Simon Sr.; brother, Simon Jr., 20.

Academics: 2.8 GPA.

Brighton senior outside hitter Benjamin De La Cruz.

Last week: Named MVP of the Section V Class BB Tournament after he produced 19 kills in the final to help Brighton win its second sectional championship. The Barons (19-4) face Midlakes (18-5), Section V’s Class B champion, for a slot in the Division II state tournament Thursday at Webster Schroeder.

About me: Wears jersey No. 12. “Growing up in middle school and watching Etan Bennett, I had to wear it once I played for the varsity. I looked up to him so much.” … Six-foot, 155 pounds. … Also plays with Victor Volleyball Club. …  “It takes a lot of everything to be really good at it. It’s a sport you can’t perfect, so constantly trying to get better is addicting.” … Plans to spend one year at Monroe Community College. “I’m undecided on what I want to do, so I’ll save as much money as I can and see what I like most.” … Part of Brighton’s Link Leader program, that helps guide freshman at the school. … Also has spent time with students with special needs.

Girls Athlete of the Week: Megan D’Angelo

Winning sectionals last night was an awesome feeling. Also winning all tournament team MVP was so gnarly. 🎉👍🇺🇸

—
Ben Delacruz (@swirl69_ben) November 11, 2015

Hilton’s Simon Garno, right, and teammates Brian Wilkin, center, and Michael Provost celebrate after the final whistle of the Section V Class AA Championship played at Spencerport High School on Tuesday, November 3, 2015. Hilton won the title 1-0 over Fairport.

There are three boys soccer teams from Section V still in contention for state championships: Hilton in Class AA, Geneseo (Class C) and Alfred-Almond Class D).

Hilton plays Walt Whitman of Section XI on Long Island in a AA state semifinal, 4:15 p.m. Saturday at Middletown High School. The state final is 3 p.m. Nov. 15, and will include either Ballston Spa-II from the capital region or Ithaca-IV.

Geneseo faces Schechter of Section I, located downstate in the Dutchess, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties region, at 11 a.m. Saturday at Middletown. Elmira Notre Dame-IV and Greenville-II meet in the first semifinal at 8:30 a.m. The final is 10:30 a.m. Nov. 15.

Alfred-Almond, a team that advanced to the state semifinals on penalty kicks, plays Fort Ann-II at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. The state final is 10 a.m., and the winner will face either Elizabethtown-Lewis-VII of the Champlain Lake region or Cincinnatus-III from the Syracuse-region.

Video: A season of celebration in Hilton

Section V Boys Soccer All-Tournament teams

Class AA: Simon Garno (MVP/Hilton), Pete Critchlow (MVP/Fairport), Dilan Campbell (Rush-Henrietta), Brady Dickens (Victor), Matt Gasbarre (Fairport), Coltan Goodwine (Webster Thomas), Nick Guida (Fairport), Brett Healey (Hilton), Jeff Hibbard (Hilton), Spencer Ryczek (Victor), Brian Wilkin (Hilton).

Class A1: Zack Koons (MVP/Greece Athena), Alex Ricci (MVP/Brockport), Jonathon Brown (Canandaigua), Nick Burns (Greece Athena), Anthony Cupello (Greece Arcadia), Zachary Langelotti (Brockport), Ryan Lindeman (Greece Athena), Joe McNulty (Brockport), Michael Nguyen (Brighton), Anthony Paris (Greece Athena), Victor Pascucci (Spencerport), Joe Riggio (Spencerport), Rafael Rodriguez (Greece Arcadia), Koby Wallman (Pittsford Mendon).

Class A2: Bryan Wager (MVP/Honeoye Falls-Lima), Matthew Kaiser (MVP/Pittsford Sutherland), Matthew Fiorella (Pittsford Sutherland), Jack Ramsager (Pittsford Sutherland), Robby Salisbury (East Irondequoit Eastridge), Kyle Sents (Wayne), Stevaughn Service (East Irondequoit Eastridge),

Class B1: Matthew Freeman (MVP/Livonia), Emerson Block (MVP/Palmyra-Macedon), Morgan Brown (Livonia), Matthew Faulkenberry (Livonia), Scott Fingar (Penn Yan), Kasey Gallina (Palmrya-Macedon), Tommy George (Bath), Casey Hyer (Bath), Troy Rossborough (Livonia), Owen Wahl (Palmyra-Macedon).

Class B2: Liam Ebert (MVP/Wellsville), Jake Kowalewski (MVP/Attica), Elijah Durham (North Rose-Wolcott), Colden George (Attica), Dylan Griffiths (Wellsville), Mike Giopulos (Wellsville), Jacob Jones (Mynderse), Lucian Kaikhof (Wellsville), Kieran O’Halloran (LeRoy), Connor Pendleton (North Rose-Wolcott), Nick Perry (Attica), Ethan Witkowski (LeRoy),

Class C1: Toyi Hakizimana (MVP/World of Inquiry), TJ McIntyre (MVP/Red Creek), Justin Eaton (Williamson), Christian Eveleigh (Bloomfield), Michael Hunter (World of Inquiry), Alphonso Joe (World of Inquiry), Miguel Lopez (World of Inquiry), Tristan McIntyre (Red Creek), Mason Muoio (Byron-Bergen/Elba), Dalton Phillips (Bloomfield), Ryan Richardson (Byron-Bergen/Elba), Dylan Wood (Red Creek),

Class C2: Danny Cannon (Geneseo), Sean Kelly (Geneseo), Brian Linton (Geneseo), Kyle Rollins (Geneseo).

Class D1: Cory Olix (MVP/Alfred-Almond), Cooper Weinman (MVP/Genesee Valley), Christopher Baker (Genesee Valley), Levi Baynes (Alfred-Almond), Parker Cady (Jasper-Troupsburg), Noah Holmok (Alfred-Almond), Jake Johnston (Alfred-Almond), Jon Morse (Genesee Valley), Joshua McDaniel (Arkport/Canaseraga), Canrad Rathburn (Naples), Tucker Simons (Jasper-Troupsburg),

Class D2: Brandon Valentin (MVP/Andover), Dean Bogart (Friendship), Matt Borden (Belfast ), Dakota Gavin (Andover), Bradley Owens (Prattsburgh) Ben Snoreck (Andover), Aleric Stewart (Friendship), Gary Whitney (Prattsburgh), Kylen Zengerle (Andover).

Class A football State quarterfinals – Brockport’s Cory Gross is taken down at the sideline by South Park’s Tony Robinson in the first quarter at Sahlen’s Stadium.

Class A football State quarterfinals – Brockport’s Josh Keenan runs the ball down the sideline before a tackle from South Park’s Coleman Leeland in the first quarter at Sahlen’s Stadium.

Class A football State quarterfinals – Brockport’s Austin Myers is tackled by South Park’s Neal Austin in the first quarter at Sahlen’s Stadium.

That line, the high-water mark of Brockport High’s football program, should be clear, maybe it is a blue and black stripe.

The best team in school history? All of those division champions at Brockport should remain proud, but the answer is the 2015 Blue Devils, who played on longer than past versions this fall.

Buffalo South Park put the season’s stop sign in the state regional round Saturday, as the Section VI champion defeated Brockport 20-7 at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester.

It is the same stadium where Brockport became a Section V champion for the first time, the same arena where the Blue Devils earned the chance to even play for a sectional title for the first time.

“I’ve been a four-year starter at Brockport and our teams have always been successful,” Brockport lineman Cam Caldarelli said. “If you were to ask me at the beginning of the year if we would make it this far, I would’ve said no way.

“But after we went through the first couple of games, that changed my whole mindset. This team is a great team, and we ‘grinded’ it out as best as we could.”

The Blue Devils ended up one win away from the state final four, or semifinal round, next week at Cicero-North Syracuse. The South Park Sparks from the Buffalo Public Schools system will go on instead, after senior David Thomas scored two touchdowns.

Thomas put on a show during his two sprints to the goal line. The 185-pound senior gave South Park a 14-0 lead when he returned a punt 89 yards with 2:47 remaining in the first quarter. Thomas struck again, as he ran under a long pass by strong-armed and elusive quarterback Tyree Brown for a 64-yard scoring connection late in the second quarter.

Class A football State quarterfinals – Brockport’s Cory Gross runs around South Park players at the sideline in the second quarter at Sahlen’s Stadium.

Perhaps the most spectacular play by Thomas came when he was tackled before he could the goal line, an overthrown pass that Thomas somehow caught up to and corralled.

“They were so explosive, and they can throw the ball,” Brockport coach Scott Nugent said. “That quarterback has an amazing arm. No. 1 (Thomas) is just phenomenal, his speed, his ability to adjust to a ball. He’s amazing.

“We were hoping that we would get to the quarterback, but he such a great runner, too. When you get to a state tournament, you’re playing some outstanding people, so we weren’t really surprised. We were just respectful, I guess is the word.”

Brown, a 175-pound senior, ran for 126 yards on 16 carries, including a 7-yard touchdown run on South Park’s opening drive. Tony Robinson caught a pass from Brown, who found his target after faking an option pitch while on the move to his right.

Brown completed just six of his 21 pass attempts, but there was a wind to deal with for two quarters and the completions added up to 141 yards, including the 64-yarder to Thomas that gave South Park its 20-point lead.

Brockport sophomore Cory Gross ran for 91 yards on 15 attempts, one of which he turned into the Blue Devils’ touchdown with 4:18 remaining. Gross also made highlight-clip catch for an interception. Josh Keenan, another sophomore Brockport football fans can be excited about, finished with 73 yards on 17 carries.

The Blue Devils were doomed however, by at least three drives inside the South Park 15 and no points. South Park’s defense managed to turn back Brockport at the Sparks’ 1 during a quarterback sneak early in the second quarter.

JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM

Aquinas QB Jake Zembiec throws downfield.

Aquinas receiver Jamir Jones tries to break a tackle by Orcard Park’s Josh Dahl (28).

Jake Zembiec and Jamir Jones, two of the biggest names in Rochester-area high school football, shook hands Sunday night as they each held a plaque for another outstanding performance.

Their final game in Section V was a laugher, in part, because Jones, the defensive star headed to the University of Notre Dame, and Zembiec, the quarterback who has committed to Penn State, were dominant on an Aquinas team that looked strong again during the postseason.

Zembiec threw four touchdown passes, while Jones led Aquinas in tackles and intercepted a pass during a 42-7 win over Orchard Park that sent the Section V champions into the Class AA state tournament semifinals.

Jones was named the most valuable defensive player of the game, while the award for offense went to Zembiec, the 2013 Class AA state player of the year as a sophomore.

“Winning the sectional championship, that’s all we were worried about,” Jones said. “So when we come into this game, we’re just calm and relaxed.

“This is for us, not for bragging rights or anything. Everyone just plays relaxed and we play like we normally play.”

That would be well, as Aquinas improved to 11-0 before it takes on Liverpool (10-1) of Section III, or Syracuse region, during the state semifinals, 6 p.m. Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse.

“It’s good that we left our last game (in Rochester) with a big win like this,” Zembiec said. “We left a good image.”

Aquinas quarterback Jake Zembiec (12) rolls away from pressure in a 42-7 win over Orchard Park. Zembiec threw for 230 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Zembiec connected with classmate Earnest Edwards for touchdown throws of 52 and 24 yards. He also sent a 4-yard scoring throw to Jones and threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to 6-foot-5 junior Jason Hawkes. Zembiec was 15 of 21 passing for 230 yards with no interceptions.

Jones finished with 78 receiving yards on five catches. He has moved around to a few positions on the field for Aquinas, including to quarterback while filling in for an injured Zembiec last season. The future of Jones is on defense, as at 6-4 and 235 pounds he will play linebacker or maybe grow into a defensive lineman’s body at Notre Dame. Jones finished with eight tackles and also broke up a pass.

“The biggest thing for us was getting guys healthy,” Zembiec said. “Earnest finally came back and he had a big catch, but when you get Earnest on the field it opens other things up, and Jamir is a great athlete.

“He knows how to make plays when he needs to.”

Aquinas had its first touchdown a minute into the game. Orchard Park actually had the ball first and punted, a kick Edwards returned 33 yards. Tyler Olbrich, a junior at running back in place of injured senior Tyler Riggins, scored the touchdown from the Orchard Park 4.

Aquinas RB Tyler Olbrich dives of a pile of players near the line of scrimmage.

Orchard Park evened the score late in the first quarter after a 4-yard run for a touchdown by Josh Dahl. The answer by Aquinas was swift and it came before the end of the opening quarter, the 52-yard connection between Edwards and Zembiec that was the end of a two-play possession.

Aquinas squeezed in another touchdown, the scoring reception by Jones, with 27 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

The Quakers seemed to be doomed after the Section VI, or Buffalo region, champions were turned away with no points after two drives that reached inside the Aquinas 15 during the first half.

“It’s a terrific way to go out,” Aquinas senior Bishop Simmons said. “It’s been a great honor to play here, with these teammates, my brothers. This means everything to us, it’s what we’ve been working for.”

Bishop Kearney’s Dahmir Pross carries the ball during the Class D state semifinal game at Cicero-North Syracuse High School on Friday, November 20, 2015.

Tioga’s Austin Payne celebrates Jesse Manuel’s touchdown during the Class D state semifinal game at Cicero-North Syracuse High School on Friday, November 20, 2015.

Bishop Kearney’s Duante Sims reacts following the last play of the Class D state semifinal game at Cicero-North Syracuse High School on Friday, November 20, 2015. Tioga beat Bishop Kearney 38-36.

Bishop Kearney’s Dahmir Pross takes a moment on the field after losing the Class D state semifinal game to Tioga at Cicero-North Syracuse High School on Friday, November 20, 2015.

Bishop Kearney quarterback Todd LaRocca eludes a defender during the first quarter against Tioga in the Class D state playoff semifinals at Cicero-North in Syracuse on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015.

Bishop Kearney running back Dahmir Pross rushes for a touchdown during the second quarter against Tioga in the Class D state playoff semifinals at Cicero-North in Syracuse on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015.

Bishop Kearney’s Todd LaRocca passes to Justin Davis during the Class D state semifinal game at Cicero-North Syracuse High School on Friday, November 20, 2015.

CICERO – The Bishop Kearney Kings had a chance to perform magic, turn catch-up into a comeback.

The trick was too difficult to pull off however at the end of the Class D high school football state semifinal.

Tioga turned back Bishop Kearney to win the West semifinal 38-36 Friday night at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

Bishop Kearney trailed by 19 points in the third quarter and 18 in the fourth before senior quarterback Todd LaRocca threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score during the final period. A two-point conversion run by Dahmir Pross moved the Kings to within two points of the Section IV champions from the Binghamton-region, who built their lead on five touchdown runs by Jesse Manuel.

“You know, they gave us problems all day but we had the ball with a chance to get it done and they came up with a big stop,” Bishop Kearney coach Eddie Long said.

The Kings faced fourth-and-5 at Tioga’s 30 with 2:58 remaining. LaRocca once again hooked away from pressure applied by Tioga’s defense, but Tigers linebacker Adam Zwierlein came out of pass coverage to cut down the senior quarterback at the knees, short of a first down.

Bishop Kearney’s Matt LaRocca comforts his brother, Todd LaRocca, following the Class D state semifinal game at Cicero-North Syracuse High School on Friday, November 20, 2015.

Tioga, in this game for the fifth consecutive year, ran out the clock to move into the tournament final at noon next Friday inside the Carrier Dome at Syracuse University. The Tigers face Ticonderoga of Section VII.

“Very excited,” Manuel said. “We’ve been here for four years (with him on the team) and finally punching the ticket is definitely a great feeling.”

Tioga’s offense has the same resilient approach. The Tigers line up in the I-formation, Power-I formation and even the T-formation, a popular alignment in the 1940s, and move forward down after down.

“Definitely a ground game,” Manuel said. “We try to get the linemen to get off the ball (snap) faster than the defensive line to blow some holes, to get three or four yards a carry.”

Josh Jackson was named Bishop Kearney’s most valuable defensive player of the game. LaRocca, Kearney’s most valuable offensive player, and Pross were productive in Bishop Kearney’s spread offense. Pross ran for 131 yards on 26 carries, two of which were touchdowns. LaRocca was under pressure most of the game, but completed 17 of 24 attempts for 264 yards and two touchdowns. He also picked up first downs with short runs.

Tioga running back Jesse Manuel breaks away for a 47-yard run during the second quarter against Bishop Kearney in the Class D state playoff semifinals at Cicero-North in Syracuse on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015.

The Kings scored first and quickly on the first offensive possession to take their only lead.

LaRocca rolled to his right and left to fling passes downfield, including a throw to Devin Green in the back of the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown.

The Tioga Tigers had a swift answer. Manuel sped off 63 yards to the end zone for the first time on Tioga’s second play from scrimmage with the ball.

Bishop Kearney picked up a first down on its next drive, but LaRocca’s pass on fourth-and-5 at his team’s 40 was too high and incomplete. Tioga took the turnover on downs and turned it into another touchdown by Manuel in five plays, a 21-yard run with 4:51 remaining in the first quarter. The Kings, down 14-6, were in catch up mode the remainder of the game.

The Kings looked as if they were going to keep pace, as they drove to the Tioga 1 on their next drive. Another mistake kept the Kings out of the end zone however, a fumble recovered by the Tigers early in the second quarter.

Bishop Kearney quarterback Todd LaRocca rushes for a first down during the second quarter against Tioga in the Class D state playoff semifinals at Cicero-North in Syracuse on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015.

Manuel added a 5-yard touchdown run and Tanner Folk kicked a 28-yard field goal to help Tioga establish a 24-12 lead by halftime. The Tigers were ahead by 19 after a 30-yard touchdown run by Manuel during the third quarter.

Manuel’s final touchdown, a 15-yard run early in the fourth quarter, and a conversion kick gave the Tigers a 38-20 lead early in the fourth quarter. Kearney’s rally began seconds after Manuel’s easy touchdown run.

The first strike was quick, as LaRocca found Green, the quarterback’s most reliable target on this night, for a 63-yard touchdown. A conversion run by Pross cut Tioga’s lead to 10.

Tioga ran time off the clock but Kearney’s comeback continued after the Tigers punted with 6:33 remaining. The Kings, specifically LaRocca, were in the end zone again 2:06 later after a 1-yard run to his left after a fake handoff.

After another two-point conversion, the Kings were in position to pull off quite a stunt.

JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM

Boys Athlete of the Week: Dahmir Pross

State semifinals: Aquinas celebrates their 17-16 win over Liverpool at North Syracuse High School.

State semifinals: Aquinas’ Tyler Olbrich jumps with the ball over Liverpool’s Donovan Card in the fourth quarter at North Syracuse High School.

State semifinals: Aquinas celebrates their 17-16 win over Liverpool at North Syracuse High School.

State semifinals: Aquinas’ Tyler Olbrich celebrates with teammates his touchdown for a play that would end in a 14-10 lead against Liverpool in the second quarter at North Syracuse High School.

State semifinals: Aquinas’ Shemar Hayes tackles Liverpool’s Jaydakis Scott in the first quarter at North Syracuse High School.

State semifinals: Aquinas’ Jamir Jones is tackled by Liverpool’s Daryl Nixon jr. as he tries to gain yards in the second quarter at North Syracuse High School.

State semifinals: Aquinas’ Tyler Olbrich jumps with the ball over Liverpool’s Donovan Card in the fourth quarter at North Syracuse High School.

CICERO – Maybe before the Aquinas football team practices on Thanksgiving, teammates should rub the belly of Earnest Edwards.

It is because of the foot speed of Edwards that the senior was able to sort of block a key kick with his stomach and preserve a lead that Aquinas held until the end of the Class AA West state semifinal Saturday.

So the Section V champions, No. 23 in USA Today’s national rankings, will have to practice on Thursday to prepare for the state final after they held off Liverpool 17-16 at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

“Extremely excited, more happy for my teammates,” Aquinas senior Jamir Jones said. “We just battled the whole game, never gave up, played our best the whole game.

“I’m proud of all of them, every single one of them. Even the people on the sideline never gave up.”

The Liverpool Warriors put a scare into Aquinas and their fans when senior quarterback Jordan Caviness scored on a 10-yard bootleg run with 3:53 remaining. Liverpool was in position to tie the score, perhaps move the state playoff into overtime depending on what the Warriors defense did against the Aquinas offense.

All that was needed was a point after touchdown kick, but Edwards said he sped past the line of scrimmage, dove and felt the ball go across his stomach. The contact was enough to keep the ball from going over the crossbar. Liverpool’s offense never possessed the ball again.

Aquinas (12-0), the 2013 Class AA state champion, plays Saratoga Springs of Section II in the final, 3 p.m. Nov. 29 inside Syracuse University’s’ Carrier Dome. Saratoga Springs defeated New Rochelle-I 32-29 in the East state semifinal Saturday night.

“This is our goal at the beginning of the year and it is every year,” Aquinas senior quarterback Jake Zembiec said. “So now we got the opportunity to do it.

“We get to practice on Thanksgiving, play in the Dome and get out of the cold, so we’re real happy.”

AQ’s Jake Zembiec ready for the big time

Zembiec, the 2013 Class AA state player of the year who is headed to Penn State, completed his first five passes during the playoff, and was named the most valuable offensive player for Aquinas. No statistics were kept by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, which sanctions the tournaments.

The Syracuse Post-Standard calculated that Zembiec was 19 of 28 for 266 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. A 10-yard pass to Jones during the first offensive series of the game was the first touchdown of the game.

Liverpool (10-1) drove to a 28-yard field goal by Patrick Delgobbo during its first series on offense. Matt Rioux of the Warriors intercepted a pass by Zembiec midway through the second quarter and returned the ball to the Aquinas 13. The turnover became points when Rashon Scott scored on a 10-yard run.

Aquinas took back the lead with a five-play, 85-yard drive that took 59 seconds. Completions on back-to-back plays by Jones moved the ball from the Aquinas 20 to the Liverpool 35 during the drive. Tyler Olbrich took a screen pass 32 yards to get the Little Irish in the end zone and in the lead, 14-10.

“I think I made one cut to the right at end of the play and there was no one in front of me,” Olbrich said.

A 24-yard field goal by Collin Cup on the first Aquinas drive of the second half made it a seven-point lead. Liverpool later moved 90 yards, with a handful of key, strong runs by Jaydakiss Scott to get in position to tie the game.

“He was a great running back, the first hit never brought him down,” Jones said. “He always kept his feet moving. We had to adjust, wrap up.

“We came out on top, that’s all I’m worried about.”

JAMESJ@DemocratandChronicle.com