One way or another, this will be a memorable season for the Hilton Cadets.
Win four games, and the Cadets move Rich Lipani into a tie at No. 1 on the all-time Section V coaches wins list with Dave Whitcomb, who has 230.
Expectations should be high at Hilton. Seven offensive starters and eight defensive starters return from last season's five-win team. Senior quarterback Matt Kosiorek is among these veterans, like running backs Tyler Reger and Calvin Starwald who are also third-year starters and two-way players.
"(Kosiorek) has had a great off-season," Lipani said. "He's constantly improving, doing whatever he can to get better and make the team better.
"I have high hopes for him, I hope he has a great year."
If Hilton's new starting offensive linemen
can establish themselves, the Cadets should score plenty of points.
"We can do a lot of things," Lipani said. "We can throw it, we have receivers. Reger and Starwald are back (to carry the ball).
"We can come at you in many different ways."
The Hilton Cadets top linebackers - Jha'Zae Dessources, Luca Auriuso, Starwald and Reger - should be able to come at opposing offenses in different ways and for good results. It's not uncommon for linebackers to be playmakers in a team's defense. All of these Cadets are third-year varsity starters.
"I hope to have the most wins this year, that's all I care about," Lipani said. "We have some really good kids. I hope we have a really good year, for them.”
Hilton football at a glance
- Head coach: Rich Lipani (38th season), 41 overall
- Classification: A1
- League/division: Monroe County Division 1
- Last season's record: 5-3, lost to Webster Schroeder, Section V Class A1 quarterfinals
- Last Section V championship: 2022
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Hilton football schedule for 2026 season
- Fri., Sept. 4: vs. Fairport, 7 p.m.
- Thurs., Sept. 10: at Penfield, 7 p.m.
- Fri., Sept. 18: vs. Victor, 7 p.m.
- Fri., Sept. 25: vs. Irondequoit, 7 p.m.
- Fri., Oct. 2: at Webster Schroeder, 7 p.m.
- Fri., Oct. 9: vs. Pittsford, 7 p.m.
- Fri., Oct. 16: at Rush-Henrietta, 6:30 p.m.
Hilton's top returning players
WR/LB Luca Auriuso, OL Zach DeMarte, LB Jha'Zae Dessources, DB Troy DiBattisto, QB/S Matt Kosiorek, DB Jayden Marker, DE Brayden Petrosky, RB/DB Tyler Reger, OL Barry Slatter Jr., RB/LB Calvin Starwald, WR Jared Wade
Hilton football a look back
Marquee matchups for Hilton
When it comes to the Section V Class A1 Tournament, the Hilton Cadets should be ready for the postseason. The team's regular season is built around its membership in Monroe County Division 1, a group that includes four Class AA teams at larger schools.
Webster Schroeder also plays in the division, and the Warriors host the Hilton Cadets for another interesting showdown, this time in Week 5. Schroeder put the Cadets out of the 2025 postseason. The Cadets play another away division game in their regular season finale, Oct. 16 at Rush-Henrietta. The two teams faced each other at least twice during the offseason.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Four wins could put Hilton's coach in Section V football history
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