Preseason Rankings: Section 5 Top Three Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Section Five has produced some impressive teams and players over the last few years. In this article we predict the top three teams across Section Two. Only three teams will be featured in this article, as I believe multiple are tied for the #4 and #5 slot on this list.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3. <strong>Monroe</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach: <strong>Terrell Cunningham/Jason Muhammad </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Monroe coaching staff led the Red Jackets to a <strong>7-3</strong> record in 2024. Key wins for Monroe included <strong>Clarence, Brockport and Irondequoit</strong> in the playoffs. The three loses were to Brighton in the playoffs and East, and Canandaiuga Academy. The Red Jackets lose <strong>DB Styhles McKenzie-Baker, RB Tajmir Mullins, and OL Anthony Davis Jr</strong>. The Red Jackets return the number one player in the 2026 class for the state in <strong>Oregon commit [player_tooltip player_id='505856' first='Messiah' last='Hampton']. WR [player_tooltip player_id='1583439' first='Anthony' last='Omebe'] and QB [player_tooltip player_id='668381' first='Pooty' last='Cunningham']</strong> are other key returns for the 2025 season. The Red Jackets have a rugged schedule ahead of them with matches against <strong>Rochester Prep, East, Brockport, and Bishop Timon St. Jude</strong>. The Schedule for Monroe lists two games against BTSJ and 8 total games. I see the Red Jackets finishing with a record of <strong>6-2</strong> with East and BTSJ being the two loses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/rochester/monroe-red-jackets/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/rochester/monroe-red-jackets/football/schedule</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2. <strong>Aquinas Institute </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach: <strong>Chris Battaglia</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Battaglia</strong> led his Aquinas roster to an <strong>11-3</strong> record in 20024. Key wins for Irish included <strong>Bishop Timon St. Jude, Rush Henrietta, University Prep, Pittsford, and Lancaster</strong>. The three loses for the Irish included <strong>CBA-Syracuse in the playoffs and Fairport and McQuaid Jesuit</strong> in the regular season. Aquinas loses key players like <strong>DL <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/quante-gillians/">Quante Gillians</a>, RB <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/derrion-battle/">Derrion Battle</a>, DB <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/joshua-ernst/">Joshua Ernst</a>, and LB <a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/lucas-leone/">Lucas Leon</a>e.</strong> Returners for the Irish include <strong>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1144300' first='Noah' last='Collins-Howard'], WR, [player_tooltip player_id='1649192' first='Robert' last='Carter'], RB [player_tooltip player_id='1621904' first='Jeffery' last='Logan III'], LB [player_tooltip player_id='505862' first='Tano' last='Auriuso'], and DB [player_tooltip player_id='606249' first='Amere' last='Brewer']. </strong>The schedule for Aquinas includes <strong>Pittsford, University Prep, McQuaid Jesuit, Fairport, and Rush-Henrietta</strong>. With a star studded record, I see the Irish finishing with a <strong>6-2</strong> record with a loss to <strong>McQuaid Jesuit and Rush-Henrietta</strong>. Key wins include <strong>University Prep, Fairport, and Pittsford</strong> to end the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/rochester/aquinas-institute-little-irish/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/rochester/aquinas-institute-little-irish/football/schedule</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1.<strong>McQuaid Jesuit</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach: <strong>Bobby Bates</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Coach Bates</strong> led his Knights to a <strong>7-3</strong> season in 2024. Key wins for McQuaid Jesuit included <strong>Lancaster, Rush-Henrietta, Pittsford, and Aquinas Institute</strong> before losing to them in the playoffs. The three loses included <strong>Fairport, University Prep, and Aquinas Institute </strong>in the playoffs. Key loses for McQuaid include <strong>QB William DiMarco, LB Zachary Couch, OL Cooper Kondas, and LB Paul Rizzo</strong>. Key returners for the Knights include <strong>OL Bryan Terry, QB [player_tooltip player_id='1212726' first='Gavin' last='Vander Wal'], ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1213180' first='Max' last='Mauro'], and DB [player_tooltip player_id='726203' first='Xavier' last='Cox']</strong>. Seven games are listed on the schedule with a trip to face <strong>Section 9 Newburgh Free Academy</strong> to kick off the season. I see the Knights finishing with a <strong>6-1</strong> record with <strong>Fairport</strong> as their only loss. Key wins include <strong>Newburgh Free Academy, University Prep, Rush-Henrietta, and Aquinas Institute</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/rochester/mcquaid-jesuit-knights/football/schedule">https://www.maxpreps.com/ny/rochester/mcquaid-jesuit-knights/football/schedule</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->