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Victor RB scores 3 first-quarter TDs: How they beat Rush-Henrietta in season opener

marquel slaughter, rochester democrat and chronicle
·2 min read

Could the season begin any better for Victor's Blue Devils?

Expected to be a contender for the Section V Class A crown, Victor looked the part after Drevariis Yeomas' three-touchdown performance — each in the first quarter — in defeating former Class AA foe Rush-Henrietta 41-14 in Thursday's season opener.

Jake Loughlin threw three touchdowns and Adam Ruffalo, Jameson Ricigliano and Eric Young had memorable Teddi Bowl performances — a good sign for a Blue Devils team seeking to contend in Class A once their league schedule begins next week.

The Victor Blue Devils race onto the field to face Rush-Henrietta during their Section V season opener.
The Victor Blue Devils race onto the field to face Rush-Henrietta during their Section V season opener.

What it means

Victor (1-0) appears to be a team on a mission. Coach Geoff Mandile's Blue Devils' 9-2 record in 2022 included a nine-game winning streak sandwiched between a season opening setback and a Class AA semifinals exit. Thursday's 27-point victory in Week 1 may raise eyebrows of Class A opponents.

Rush-Henrietta coach Joe Montesano's Royal Comets fell to 0-1. Quarterback Jackson Koppers and playmakers like Nasir Patton and Justin Medina were limited on offense.

Gary Mervis, founder of Camp Good Days, handles the ceremonial coin toss during the Victor vs Rush-Henrietta Section V season opener. The matchup was the annual Teddi Bowl, a game played each season to celebrate and assist his organization, which helps families impacted by cancer and sickle cell anemia. Mervis' daughter Elizabeth "Teddi" Mervis died of cancer in 1982.

Teddi Bowl proceeds helps Camp Good Days and families impacted by cancer and sickle cell anemia. Founder Gary Mervis was at midfield handling the ceremonial pregame coin toss.

Player of the game

Drevariis Yeomas

Victor's Drevariis Yeomas sprints away from Rush-Henrietta's Jihad Perry Jr. to score one of his three first half rushing touchdowns.
Victor's Drevariis Yeomas sprints away from Rush-Henrietta's Jihad Perry Jr. to score one of his three first half rushing touchdowns.

Victor's junior running back got things started for Victor. Yeomas scored a trio of touchdowns, rushing for all three in the game's first six minutes. His first came within the first minute. Lineman Connor Doran and company led the charge.

Game balls

Victor running back Eric Young celebrates his first half touchdown with teammates Jacob Loughlin and Connor Doran. Victor won the contest 41-14.
Victor running back Eric Young celebrates his first half touchdown with teammates Jacob Loughlin and Connor Doran. Victor won the contest 41-14.

Jacob Loughlin

The senior quarterback threw three touchdown passes in his debut. One of those Loughlin passes went to Victor freshman Eric Young.

Rush-Henrietta race onto the field to face Victor during their Section V season opener.
Rush-Henrietta race onto the field to face Victor during their Section V season opener.

Justin Medina

Rush-Henrietta's freshman running back broke several would-be tacklers during a second-half touchdown rumble.

Jameson Ricigliano

The Victor senior scored two touchdowns. Ricigliano reached the end zone on a rush and a reception.

Victor's Adam Ruffalo dives for the end zone marker but is pushed out of bounds by a trio of Rush-Henrietta defenders, Brendan Mangone (11), Ronin Walker (52) and Nasir Patton (4), setting up first in goal.
Victor's Adam Ruffalo dives for the end zone marker but is pushed out of bounds by a trio of Rush-Henrietta defenders, Brendan Mangone (11), Ronin Walker (52) and Nasir Patton (4), setting up first in goal.

Adam Ruffalo

The senior receiver caught two touchdown receptions in Victor's season opener.

What's next

Victor will hit the road for its Class A bout with a trip to Webster Thomas at 7:45 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Rush-Henrietta will host Penfield at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9 in a Class AA clash.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Victor beats Rush-Henrietta in Section V football opener