Rush-Henrietta quarterback Jared Gerbino, avoiding pressure applied by Pittsford’s Jimmy Wilmett (63), helped the Royal Comets convert three third downs during the team’s game-winning drive last weekend.
Jared Gerbino, Rush-Henrietta’s quarterback, threw for less than 300 yards while he completed 56 percent of his passes last weekend during the Section V Class AA football tournament first round.
An all-time great performance? No, but it was memorable. Pittsford coach Keith Molinich has seen enough to be impressed. Gerbino and the rest of the Royal Comets defeated last year’s sectional finalist, 35-28, at Pittsford Sutherland.
The Royal Comets converted five of eight third down plays in the second half. Gerbino dragged a tackler or two during a run on third-and-three at the Rush-Henrietta 34, for the first of three consecutive third down conversions on the team’s game-winning, 84-yard scoring drive.
“Gerbino is one of the finest quarterbacks I’ve seen in New York state in a long time,” Molinich said. “I know somebody else gets a lot of talk, but to me, Gerbino is my favorite. I mean he’s big-time.’’
Here is a video clip of Gerbino after Rush-Henrietta’s win over Pittsford, followed by the latest set of Section V Ontario Honda High School Football Player of the Week. Ontario Honda’s players of the year awards are presented during the Section V Championships, Nov. 7-8 at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester.
Section V High School Football Players of the Week
OFFENSE
Class AA – Jared Gerbino(Rush-Henrietta): Senior quarterback threw two touchdown passes, including a 72-yarder to Joseph Ortiz, while completing 9 of 16 attempts for 222 yards during a 35-28 playoff win over Pittsford.
Class A – Tavon Granison (Greece Athena): Junior quarterback ran for the game-winning touchdown in Athena’s 35-28 playoff win over Irondequoit. Granison completed 13 of 21 throws for 270 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for two touchdowns.
Class B – Trenton Smith (Hornell): Smith, listed at 5 foot 7 inches and 155 pounds, ran for four touchdowns during Hornell’s 42-20 sectional-win over Newark. He carried 23 times for 234 yards, plus caught five passes for 100 yards, including a touchdown.
Class C – Alex Piechocki (Attica): Senior running back gained 207 yards on 25 carries, three for touchdowns, during a 20-19 loss to Le Roy.
Class D – Graham Freeman (Avon): Last season’s Section V Class DD champions improved to 8-0 after Freeman, a senior quarterback, ran for two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass during a 33-6 win over Caledonia-Mumford. Graham finished with 162 yards on 26 carries.
DEFENSE
Class AA – Jack Hartnet (Penfield): While the Patriots are not in the Section V tournament, Hartnet continued to hustle in a consolation game. The senior linebacker made nine solo tackles and had three tackles for a loss against McQuaid.
Class A – Jason Williams (Greece Olympia): Junior linebacker made 13 tackles, five solo, and recovered two fumbles during a 42-34 loss to Brighton. Williams returned a fumble for a touchdown and also caused a fumble.
Class B – Tyler Crouch (Hornell): Senior linebacker was credited with 20 tackles, five solo, during Hornell’s win over Newark. Crouch has 104 tackles this season, while also playing running back. He averaged more than 10 yards a carry last week.
Class C – Mike Rice (Bath): Bath defeated Letchworth/Warsaw 44-0, while Rice made nine solo tackles, 12 overall, including three for losses. The senior defensive back also broke up three passes.
Class D – Jarrod Faniel (Clyde-Savannah): Senior linebacker made 15 solo tackles and assisted on another eight while Clyde-Savannah defeated Batavia Notre Dame, 41-20. Faniel also intercepted a pass and broke up another throw.