For the first time in the program’s history, the Red Jacket football team will play a game at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester. After going 8-0, the top-seeded Indians have earned the chance to play for a Section 5 Class DD championship against second-seeded Avon (7-1) at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
At the first official football practice in August, center Matthew Skinner talked about the ultimate goal of bringing a championship home to the Manchester and Shortsville communities.
“Obviously it’s hard to go 8-0,” the senior said. “We knew we had the potential, it was just a matter of putting this all together every single week and we have.”
Red Jacket went 2-5 in 2011, but first-year coach Marc Vitticore and his staff turned the Indians into a Finger Lakes West League champion.
It hasn’t just been one player who has led the Indians’ offense this year. Sometimes quarterback Tyler Liberty has had the big game, while other times it’s been running backs Cyrus Baker or Kory Fogarty.
“That’s been the hallmark of this team from the beginning,” Vitticore said. “They’re unselfish players, they’ll battle for each other, they’ll run hard. They’re not looking for the glory or to get into the newspaper.”
Liberty has completed 29 of 40 passes on the season for 661 yards, 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Fogarty has run 110 times for 655 yards and seven touchdowns and Baker has run 31 times for 400 yards and six touchdowns. Michael Giaconia, Dominic Vasquez, Baker and Fogarty are all reliable receivers.
The Braves’ attack is led by senior quarterback T.J. Crye, who is 59 of 130 with 1,026 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. Crye also has 515 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Dan Welch and Jake Martinez are both strong ball carriers for Avon.
“They look able, they look fit, but we’re able and we’re fit,” Red Jacket linebacker Shane Coyne said. “I have faith in us, I think we can stop them. We all need to do our jobs.”
Sophomore linebacker Andrew Ogrodowski has been the Indians’ defensive playmaker with 78 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Torrance Coleman has 19 tackles and five sacks and Denver Hansen and Michael Giaconia each have four sacks.
Vitticore said the Braves are the most complete opponent he has seen on tape this year.
“They’ve scored an extraordinary amount of points in the last two seasons,” Vitticore said. “They put up a lot of yards in the air and on the ground. They’re probably one of the most diverse offenses in the area.”
Red Jacket’s last sectional title came in 2000, a 36-13 win over Elba. Skinner, Coyne and senior offensive lineman Michael Stringer all said it’s going to take “heart” to come out with a win this weekend.
“Heart and hard hitting,” Stringer said. “It’s all about being smart on the field, doing your jobs and not getting on each others’ backs.”
For the first time in the program’s history, the Red Jacket football team will play a game at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester. After going 8-0, the top-seeded Indians have earned the chance to play for a Section 5 Class DD championship against second-seeded Avon (7-1) at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
At the first official football practice in August, center Matthew Skinner talked about the ultimate goal of bringing a championship home to the Manchester and Shortsville communities.
“Obviously it’s hard to go 8-0,” the senior said. “We knew we had the potential, it was just a matter of putting this all together every single week and we have.”
Red Jacket went 2-5 in 2011, but first-year coach Marc Vitticore and his staff turned the Indians into a Finger Lakes West League champion.
It hasn’t just been one player who has led the Indians’ offense this year. Sometimes quarterback Tyler Liberty has had the big game, while other times it’s been running backs Cyrus Baker or Kory Fogarty.
“That’s been the hallmark of this team from the beginning,” Vitticore said. “They’re unselfish players, they’ll battle for each other, they’ll run hard. They’re not looking for the glory or to get into the newspaper.”
Liberty has completed 29 of 40 passes on the season for 661 yards, 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Fogarty has run 110 times for 655 yards and seven touchdowns and Baker has run 31 times for 400 yards and six touchdowns. Michael Giaconia, Dominic Vasquez, Baker and Fogarty are all reliable receivers.
The Braves’ attack is led by senior quarterback T.J. Crye, who is 59 of 130 with 1,026 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. Crye also has 515 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. Dan Welch and Jake Martinez are both strong ball carriers for Avon.
“They look able, they look fit, but we’re able and we’re fit,” Red Jacket linebacker Shane Coyne said. “I have faith in us, I think we can stop them. We all need to do our jobs.”
Sophomore linebacker Andrew Ogrodowski has been the Indians’ defensive playmaker with 78 tackles, seven sacks, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Torrance Coleman has 19 tackles and five sacks and Denver Hansen and Michael Giaconia each have four sacks.
Vitticore said the Braves are the most complete opponent he has seen on tape this year.
“They’ve scored an extraordinary amount of points in the last two seasons,” Vitticore said. “They put up a lot of yards in the air and on the ground. They’re probably one of the most diverse offenses in the area.”
Red Jacket’s last sectional title came in 2000, a 36-13 win over Elba. Skinner, Coyne and senior offensive lineman Michael Stringer all said it’s going to take “heart” to come out with a win this weekend.
“Heart and hard hitting,” Stringer said. “It’s all about being smart on the field, doing your jobs and not getting on each others’ backs.”
