UPrep explodes for 33 straight points at Aquinas: Section V's top games from Friday

So just how good is UPrep?

The Griffins were one of Section V's preseason favorites, and their 33-7 win over Aquinas in Friday's season opener was proof in the pudding. UPrep (1-0) scored 33 straight points in their Class AA bout against Aquinas coach Maurice Jackson, the program's first Black coach making his debut at Wegmans Stadium.

An 86-yard touchdown run by UPrep's Tavion Byrd proved why coaches were so high on the junior quarterback. It was his third touchdown. Junior running back CJ Robinson had one called back, but eventually scored on his former team behind Dallas Harris' offensive line that plowed a 200-yard rushing night.

Simmons caught two touchdowns and joined a dominant defensive line for the Griffins. He pressured Aquinas quarterback Trent Buttles into shoveling Jaylen Singleton a 40-yard pick-six. Aquinas' (0-1) lone score was when freshmen Buttles and Noah Collins-Howard gave the hosts a 7-0 first quarter lead.

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Mental errors still bothered Young postgame. His special teams gave Aquinas short field position prior to its lone touchdown drive, and fell for a fake punt. UPrep was ridden with penalties, muffed multiple PATs, and missed a few home run plays on offense.

"To hold a team to seven points, I'm very proud of my defense," UPrep coach Isiah Young said. "Top to bottom we have to be better disciplined. A lot of unforced errors. It's Week 1, so you're going to have some of that, but it's not what I expect from this team."

Hilton 21, Pittsford 3

Senior running back Robert Lowry came out in high gear, scoring the first of three touchdown runs on Hilton's first offensive play from scrimmage.

Lowry's touchdown runs in the third quarter - a 78-yarder - and fourth quarter (14 yards) also came on carries off-tackle.

"He had a little crease and he was gone," Hilton coach Rich Lipani said.

Hilton, back in Class AA after advancing to last season's Class A state tournament semifinals, take its season-opening win to Fairport next Friday night.

"Not pretty but we're happy to win," Lipani said. "It was a tough, very physical game. Defensively, we played fantastic."

Canandaigua 27, Spencerport 3

The Spencerport Rangers scored first, and then it was Canandaigua producing all of the points in this matchup of teams in Class A.

Joshua Winton kicked a 16-yard field goal with 2:32 remaining in the second quarter, giving host Spencerport a 3-0 lead over last season's Section V Class A2 champion.

Canandaigua took the lead with just seven seconds remaining in the first half, when quarterback Drew Williamee threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Sean Olvany.

A 5-yard run by Sam Clark and a 75-yard punt return by Dominic Gullace added to Canandaigua's cushion during the third quarter.

Canisteo-Greenwood 12, Avon 7

A 23-yard touchdown pass from Collin Cox to JJ Reese with 18 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter gave Canisteo-Greenwood the win in Class D.

Palton Davis gave Canisteo-Greenwood a 6-0 lead late in the third quarter on a 15-yard run. Avon took a 7-6 lead with a touchdown and point after conversion with 57 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.

Reese finished with 61 yards on three catches, while Beau Zeh powered Canisteo-Greenwood's offense with 156 rushing yards on 26 carries.

Fairport 21, Penfield 17

The Fairport Red Raiders climbed out of a 17-7 hole to join the 1-0 teams in Class AA.

"We had a really bad (start to the) third quarter," Fairport coach Mike Wayne said.

Fairport led 7-3 at halftime but Penfield's Elijah Sanchez returned the second-half kickoff for a touchdown. The Patriots then pushed their lead to 10 points when their defense returned an interception for another score.

The Red Raiders' comeback began on about a 30-yard touchdown run by Bailey Frank. Fairport then went ahead on a touchdown reception by Marques Garrett set up by a play-action or a faked hand-off

"We put the ball into the hands of our playmakers," Wayne said. "They battled back.

"In the fourth quarter, we played good defense and held on."

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V football: Top games from Friday Sept. 1 2023