Pittsford football gets another shot at Section V Class AA title

There can be a big difference between saying you want to do something and making it happen, especially in sports.

Who knows which way the ball will bounce from one week to the next, let alone one season to another? Who suffers an injury and when?

Almost a year ago, the Pittsford Panthers held a three-point lead early in the fourth quarter of the Section V Class AA championship game but lost to Penfield. Since then, the Panthers have talked about making it back for a second chance at a title.

"Definitely, the expectation is to get to the section final, at least," Panthers receiver Jesse Jablonsky said in August during the preseason.

"We're definitely looking to win that, since we fell a little bit short last year, but we're also looking to fill some of the holes that some of the graduated seniors left. We're doing a great job of developing some of these younger players, and I'm super excited to see what this team's got."

Pittsford football gets another shot at Section V Class AA title

After losing just once during the regular season, the Panthers earned that return trip to the Section V Class AA final by defeating Fairport 23-7 in a semifinal Nov. 6.

"Fairport has always been a longtime rival, and I thought we came out incredibly fired up, defense especially," Panthers linebacker Max Ciavarri said after he made 11 tackles with two sacks while Pittsford shut out the Red Raiders the final three quarters.

"I loved how my guys played, all over the place, not letting up on any plays, keeping a good energy even when things were looking good and we had the advantage."

The Panthers (9-1) knew before they walked off Ordiway Field at Pittsford Sutherland that they would face Rush-Henrietta in the Section V Class AA final at 6 p.m. Nov. 14 at St. John Fisher University.

Rush-Henrietta is the team that beat Pittsford this fall, 26-19, on Sept. 10. The Panthers, since then, have won eight games in a row.

"We're bringing it, we're all hungry from losing in the finals last year," Panthers receiver/defensive back Dayshawn Preston said after the team's 36-6 victory over Victor on Oct. 2.

How Pittsford beat Fairport in the Class AA semifinal

It was Preston on the end of a 24-yard pass by Brody Pusateri to score Pittsford's first touchdown in the tournament semifinal against Fairport with 7:46 remaining in the first quarter.

The Red Raiders evened the score. Daniel Roessel went around most of the Pittsford defense during a 32-yard run for a touchdown with 4:35 remaining in the opening quarter.

After Pittsford punted on its next possession, the Panthers blocked Fairport's ensuing punt and took over. The Panthers had the ball on the Fairport 8-yard line, and failed to score

But the Red Raiders were still in a tough spot, so a fumble turned into a safety, two points for Pittsford, with 9:32 to play in the second quarter. The Panthers never trailed again.

Jack Schild later intercepted a pass. A catch and carry for 22 yards to the end zone by Cole Goetz pushed Pittsford's lead to 16-7 with 3:16 remaining in the third quarter.

Preston muffed a punt back to the Red Raiders, who failed to capitalize early in the fourth quarter. The Fairport offense made it to the Pittsford 37 after that turnover, but Jablonsky, who was receiving credit on the team's sideline for the safety earlier, picked off a pass.

The interception turned into a 52-yard run for a touchdown by Preston.

"Man, it was physical, Fairport is a great team, a physical team," Pusateri said. "I have a lot of respect for that team.

"It's going to be the same next weekend with Rush-Henrietta. We're ready, we're a physical team, too."

James Johnson, who grew up in the city of Rochester, has worked as a full-time journalist covering high school sports for the Democrat and Chronicle since 1996.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Pittsford football gets another shot at Section V Class AA title