The Fairport Red Raiders are one of the more interesting teams to size up entering the 2026 Section V football season.
The Red Raiders have a chance to improve on last season despite losing two 2025 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester players to graduation.
"We’ve had a really good off-season in the weight room," Fairport co-coach Rob Consaul said. "The new kids coming in have brought great energy and our leaders are starting to figure out how to lead.
"We’ve seen a lot of excitement.”
The 2025 Red Raiders resembled a Section V title contender last September. Fairport won its first three games, then sagged into a six-game losing streak.
Part of the plan for 2026 is to go with junior Marco Provenzano or sophomore Lucas Duso at quarterback,
replacing AGR quarterback Sam Roselli. This shifts how the Fairport offense expects to roll along.
The engine is now the offensive line, where multi-year starters Brenner Patterson, Brody McDonald, Anthony Rause and tight end Ryan Sullivan play. Jonah Twomey, another starter in 2025, has willingly moved from fullback to guard at 5-foot-10 and 215 pounds, according to Consaul.
Danny Roessel, a senior in his third varsity season, could benefit the most among the Red Raiders in the team's backfield this season.
"He's been dedicated in the weight room, up to 190 pounds right now and runs a 4.4 (40-yard dash)," Consaul said. "We’re looking for him to have a big year."
Sullivan at defensive end, Patterson at nose guard, Roessel at linebacker and Twomey at linebacker probably hold the keys to success when it comes to stopping opponents. That also goes for senior Elijah McDouglas, if he can establish himself as an above average defensive back in Section V.
Fairport football at a glance
- Co-head coaches: Mike Wayne, seventh season and Robert Consaul, third season.
- Classification: AA
- League/division: Monroe County Division 1
- Last season's record: 3-6, lost to Pittsford, Section V Class AA quarterfinals.
- Last Section V championship: 1998
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Fairport football schedule for 2026 season
- Friday, Sept. 4: at Hilton, 7 p.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 10: vs. Webster Schroeder, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 18: Pittsford, 7 p.m. at Sutherland
- Saturday, Sept. 26: vs. Rush-Henrietta, 3 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 2: at Canandaigua, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 9: at Penfield, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 16: vs. Victor, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 23: vs. McQuaid, 7 p.m.
Fairport's top returning players
LB Josh Ippolito, OT Brody McDonald, DB Elijah McDouglas, OT/NG Brenner Patterson, OG Anthony Rause, RB/LB Danny Roessel, TE/DE Ryan Sullivan, FB/OL/LB Jonah Twomey, C Zandar Vetrov
Marquee matchups for Fairport
On paper, there are three games which set the bar for Fairport. These matchups provide clues to where the Red Raiders stand compared to the rest of Section V Class AA and Monroe County Division I.
The season-opener is an upgrade compared to the 2025 opener. It is doubtful that the Hilton Cadets are overwhelmed, like Ithaca of Section IV was last fall.
Week 3 the Red Raiders head to Sutherland to take on the Pittsford Panthers, who say they are determined to make it back to the Section V Class AA final.
The following week, the Rush-Henrietta Royal Comets come to Fairport. R-H could have a high-scoring offense, so the Red Raiders either must keep up or find answers to stop the Royal Comets.
Fairport football: A look back
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Veteran line gives Fairport football a chance to climb Class AA race
