Advertisement

Vertus football looks to make history in second season: Schedule, top players, preview

James Johnson, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·3 min read

There is a chance the Vertus Warriors will make history this fall during their second varsity high school football season.

Make it through the regular season, and the team at a charter school in Rochester will play in sectionals for the first time. There are eight spots in the Section V Class B tournament and eight teams in the classification.

But first the Warriors would like to make history before the playoffs by earning the team's first varsity win, and then stacking more victories after that accomplishment.

"We have to be resilient, stay the course," Vertus coach Ocie Bennett Jr. said.

The Warriors have seven starters back on both sides of the ball, including senior quarterback Malachi Jones, senior running back/linebacker/defensive lineman VonJoseph Praylor and senior receiver/defensive back Josiah Granville.

Vertus' Von'Joseph Praylor, right, cuts his run back against ER/Gananda's Michael Daniels during a regular season game at East Rochester High School, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.
Vertus' Von'Joseph Praylor, right, cuts his run back against ER/Gananda's Michael Daniels during a regular season game at East Rochester High School, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

The arrival of transfers Casmier Bradford-Sawyer, a senior quarterback/defensive back from Monroe, senior running back Zyishohn Mayo-Stokes (Monroe), senior tight end/defensive end Darien Thomas (Wilson) and junior receiver/linebacker Jeremiah Redden (Wilson) give Vertus coaches room to make changes to the lineups and perhaps spur improvement by everyone.

"They are bringing some talent, they are bringing a different edge, that competitive edge our guys need," Bennett said.

The return from injury by senior running back/linebacker Qui'on Morgan and two-way lineman Ney Raymos should help give the Warriors a deeper roster, always an aid for a football team, whether it is established like Canandaigua or new like the Vertus Warriors.

Vertus football at a glance

  • Head coach: Ocie Bennett Jr.

  • Classification: B

  • Last season’s record: 0-7, Class C

  • Last Section V championship: None, 2022 was first varsity season.

Vertus football schedule for 2023 season

  • Saturday, Sept. 2: Rochester Prep, 4 p.m. at Gates Chili

  • Saturday, Sept. 9: vs. Dansville/Wayland-Cohocton, 1 p.m. at Rochester Community Sports Complex

  • Friday, Sept. 15: at Wayne, 7 p.m.

  • Friday, Sept. 22: vs. Honeoye Falls-Lima, 7 p.m. at Rochester Community Sports Complex

  • Friday, Sept. 29: at Batavia, 7 p.m.

  • Saturday, Oct. 7: at Monroe, 1 p.m.

  • Saturday, Oct. 14: vs. Geneva, 1 p.m. at Rochester Community Sports Complex

  • Friday, Oct. 20: Rochester Prep, 7 p.m. at Rochester Community Sports Complex

Marquee matchups for Vertus

Vertus' E'mere Fulton (5) celebrates with Adrian Santiago after scoring against ER/Gananda during a regular season game at East Rochester High School, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.
Vertus' E'mere Fulton (5) celebrates with Adrian Santiago after scoring against ER/Gananda during a regular season game at East Rochester High School, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

The Warriors take on Rochester Prep, another newcomer to varsity Section V football, in their season opener and again in the regular-season finale. Week 2 against Dansville/Wayland-Cohocton is the first home game for Vertus.

Teams in Section V Class B travel to play, and the Warriors leave Monroe County for the first time in Week 3 for a matchup against Wayne. The Geneva Panthers come to downtown Rochester to face the Warriors in Week 7. Batavia, Monroe and Honeoye Falls-Lima - the teams to beat in Section V Class B - fill out the remainder of the Warriors' schedule.

Vertus' top returning players

ER/Gananda's Caleb Carpenter, left, tries to break free from Vertus' Willie Daniels, right, and Josiah Granville during a regular season game at East Rochester High School, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.
ER/Gananda's Caleb Carpenter, left, tries to break free from Vertus' Willie Daniels, right, and Josiah Granville during a regular season game at East Rochester High School, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022.

LB/DE Dale Benton, LB Willie Daniels, WR/DB E'mere Fulton, OL Demar Giles, WR/DB Josiah Granville, LB/DE Brian Holloway, QB Malachi Jones, RB/LB/DE VonJoseph Praylor, WR Sav'ieon Rivas, LB Quentin Stanback, OL Jaylen Thomas,

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Vertus football 2023 schedule, top players, preview for the Warriors