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Canandaigua football has a title streak on the line: Top players, schedule, what to know

james johnson, rochester democrat and chronicle
·3 min read

With four Section V championships in the last four seasons, it is clear Canandaigua is one of the best football teams around.

Those players in pads could be a decent relay team in track and field. They know how to pass a baton, a metaphorical one that moves from graduating players to the one who will take their places.

"It's just about consistency," Canandaigua coach Jeff Welch said. "It's more of a mentality of keeping the consistency, having a level of expectations.

"(The players) are the ones, they are the ones who have to lead it."

This season's Canandaigua team tries to keep its championship runs going - dreams of winning a state title also are out there - in Section V's 15-team Class A lineup with East High/World of Inquiry and Class AA UPrep on the schedule of games.

Drew Williamee became Canandaigua's starting quarterback last season as a sophomore.
Drew Williamee became Canandaigua's starting quarterback last season as a sophomore.

It is good for a team to have its starting quarterback returning when charging into that type of circumstance. It is very good for a team to have an experienced, yet still up and coming high school quarterback like junior Drew Williamee. He was a member of the 2022 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Large Schools Football Second Team.

Dom Gullace, a senior, has a history with this team of being a versatile, reliable and effective player. A running back who shifted to tight end last season, Gullace is playing more at receiver this time around.

Gullace also is one of eight starters back on the Canandaigua defense, including linebackers Jack Tanoory, Mason Depew, Lucas Delforte and Trey Comella, who can play fast and physical, Welch said.

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Canandaigua football at a glance

  • Head coach: Jeff Welch

  • Classification: A

  • Last season’s record: 9-3, Section V Class A2 champions lost to Niskayuna, state tournament quarterfinals

  • Last Section V championship: 2022

Canandaigua football schedule for 2023 season

Marquee matchups for Canandaigua

The team's fourth game, a matchup at home against East High/World of Inquiry, is again one of the season's most-anticipated games. Canandaigua has been a sectional champion each of the last four seasons, turning back East High/World of Inquiry in three tournament finals inside this window.

A game during Week 2 in downtown Rochester against UPrep, a sectional title contender in Class AA, looks to be a big matchup. If any team in Section V's 15-team Class A has wiggle room for a challenging game like this and benefit, it is Canandaigua. Week 7 at Brockport could be interesting, depending on the Blue Devils' progress.

Canandaigua's top returning players

OL Tyler Calabrese, LB Trey Comella, LB Lucas Delforte, LB Mason Depew, OL/DL Tyler DeRue, TE/WR/DE Dom Gullace, DB Mason Lloyd, LB Jack Tanoory, OL Chase Williamee, QB Drew Williamee, WR/DB Jude York

A look back: Canandaigua football

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Canandaigua football 2023 schedule, top players, preview