Victor running back Mitchell Spindler (24) leaps over Pittsford’s Frankie Imburgia (5) in Week 3. Next for the Blue Devils is Fairport, another undefeated opponent Victor faces at home.
Thoughts linked to each team in each of the Democrat and Chronicle/Section V high school football coaches’ polls after five weeks:
Victor deserves its status as the unanimous No. 1 after big wins — both at home — versus Aquinas and Pittsford. The top test of the season is coming for undefeated Fairport on Friday night, at Victor without three defensive starters, including 6-foot-5, 305-pound senior Kyle Schreiner (knee). Must be scary to face Greece Athena’s offense because of so much firepower, starting with elusive senior quarterback Tavon Granison.
Hilton missed a chance at an attention-grab-of-a-win last week at home against Pittsford, but a victory over Rush-Henrietta would put the Cadets back on track. Pittsford’s running game is in gear, with back-to-back big games by senior Marquis Carter. A 4-1 start by Brighton gets respect, as Barons lose to Athena but move up in poll.
Canandaigua bounced back from a one-point loss at home to Brighton in Week 4. Spencerport attempts to shake up the standings at Greece Athena on Saturday. Voters noticed the scores in Webster Schroeder‘s losses to Victor and Fairport, not to mention a win over then 2-0 Rush-Henrietta. When was the last time Aquinas and McQuaid, which play Saturday, were tied in rankings?
Batavia has been the leader of the small-school (Class B, C and D combined) poll since the preseason. The Livonia Bulldogs have outscored opponents 261-26. Is Hornell back? A showdown at Livonia on Oct. 15 may hold that answer. You should have seen the look on the face of East Rochester/Gananda coach Dennis Greco as he praised junior quarterback Patrick Shanley during the preseason. Looks like the Finger Lakes West belongs to Clyde-Savannah. Difficult to tell how strong is Bishop Kearney, but a win over University Prep is nothing to dismiss. A 14-12 win over Geneva means more credibility for Wayne. Big one for the Bath Rams on Saturday, at home versus Livonia. Let’s see how the Geneva Panthers react to first loss Saturday versus Newark. Yes, it’s a combined district team, but it wasn’t that long ago when Letchworth and Warsaw took serious lumps weekly. Together, the team is 5-0.
JAMESJ@Gannett.com
Football
Large-School Coaches’ Poll
1 – Victor (4)
Record: 5-0
Points: 40
Previous rank: 1
2 – Fairport
Record: 5-0
Points: 32
Previous rank: 1
3 – Greece Athena
Record: 5-0
Points: 31
Previous rank: 3
4 – Hilton
Record: 4-1
Points: 29
Previous rank: 2
5 – Pittsford
Record: 4-1
Points: 28
Previous rank: 5
6 – Brighton
Record: 4-1
Points: 17
Previous rank: 8
7 – Canandaigua
Record: 4-1
Points: 16
Previous rank: 7
8 – Spencerport
Record: 4-1
Points: 12
Previous rank: 10
9 – Webster Schroeder
Record: 2-3
Points: 6
Previous rank: 9
T10 – Aquinas
Record: 2-3
Points: 3
Previous rank: 4
T10 – McQuaid
Record: 4-1
Points: 3
Previous rank: NR
Also received votes: East and Rush-Henrietta.
Small-School Coaches’ Poll
1 – Batavia (3)
Record: 5-0
Points: 47
Previous rank: 1
2 – Livonia (1)
Record: 5-0
Points: 46
Previous rank: 2
3 – Hornell (1)
Record: 5-0
Points: 38
Previous rank: T3
4 – East Rochester/Gananda
Record: 5-0
Points: 31
Previous rank: T3
5 – Clyde-Savannah
Record: 5-0
Points: 21
Previous rank: 7
6 – Bishop Kearney
Record: 5-0
Points: 19
Previous rank: 6
7 – Wayne
Record: 4-1
Points: 16
Previous rank: 10
8 – Bath
Record: 4-1
Points: 15
Previous rank: 8
9 – Geneva
Record: 4-1
Points: 13
Previous rank: 5
10 – Letchworth/Warsaw
Record: 5-0
Points: 12
Previous rank: NR
Also received votes: University Preparatory Charter School for Young Men (UPrep), Alexander, Cuba-Rushford, Red Jacket, Finney/Northstar.
Note: Large schools poll includes Classes AA and A; small schools includes all others, B, C and D.
