When the Monroe Red Jackets had an opportunity for the first touchdown during the Tree Bowl, chances were high that it would be a receiver who scored the six points.
Monroe had the ball at the East High/World of Inquiry 35-yard line, where it was first down and 10 yards to go.
Terrell Cunningham Jr. had more talented receivers than most quarterbacks in Section V to throw the ball to. But Section V football is producing more high-level receiving talent than it has in years, with college prospects spread across multiple classifications.
This play for the Monroe offense at East High, included four receivers.
"It's just the brand of football that we play," Monroe football coach Terrell Cunningham said. "We believe that putting the football in the air
is something that you can do, when you've got guys who train and do that year-round."
On the left side of the Monroe formation, nearest to the East High/World of Inquiry sideline, was James Brumfield, a junior. Brumfield is a better defensive back than receiver, but he has received at least 20 Division 1 scholarship offers.
Lined up in-between Brumfield and the left side of the Monroe offensive lineman, in that slot, was Ray Garcia. A player very motivated to produce big-yardage plays like former Monroe receivers, Garcia has returned kickoffs and punts for touchdowns.
Brien Walker, a senior who is 6-foot-3 and about 180 pounds, was on the right side of Monroe's offensive formation, near the team's sidelines. Walker was a member of a Monroe relay team and named the Most Valuable Player of a Section V Boys Basketball championship game won by the Red Jackets last winter. Eight colleges offered scholarships to Walker, who has committed to University at Buffalo.
Jason White-Perry, the Monroe receiver in the right slot, draws much less attention than Brumfield, Walker and Garcia. White-Perry has attracted less recruiting attention than his three receiver teammates, but guess who caught the winning touchdown pass later in this game, the Tree Bowl? White-Perry, a senior.
The Monroe Red Jackets were still working on their first trip to the end zone with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter against East High/World of Inquiry. After Cunningham Jr. took the snap and took a couple of steps, he threw the ball to Brumfield.
"My name was called, I had to make the play," Brumfield said after Monroe's 12-7 win at East High. "I think there were two (defenders) or maybe it was one on one, either way, I had to make the play."
Receivers like Irondequoit senior Josh Barr or the Pittsford pair - Jesse Jablonsky and Dayshawn Preston, can turn jump balls or even prayer-like passes into substantial yardage gains or even more, as in touchdowns. Rush-Henrietta senior receiver Noah Collins-Howard was the player Brendan Mangone would turn to on third downs in 2025, before the quarterback was injured.
University Prep senior Gavin White is among the players who have moved to receiver in order to make their team's offense more of a threat to score.
"Going into college football, I want to play wide receiver, for sure," Pittsford's Preston said. "Colleges want to see very explosive plays and what you can do. Especially at the collegiate level, they want playmakers, they want people who will go up and high-point (catch) the ball, people who will break 10 tackles and go score.
"That's what I need to show. I'm showcasing my film this year, for sure."
Here is a list of the best receivers in Section V, a group that could include more playmakers by the end of the season:
Section V football's top receivers: Class AA
Noah Collins-Howard, Rush-Henrietta: Senior speedster plans to compete in both football and track & field at Syracuse University. Started final varsity season with 71 career receptions for 1,336 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Jesse Jablonsky, Pittsford: Junior compiled a whopping 22 receptions for 379 yards and seven touchdowns through three games. Breakout season is underway after finishing sophomore campaign with 32 catches and four touchdowns.
Thomas Levans III, University Prep: Senior is one of several standout playmakers for the Griffins. Logged 21 catches for 279 yards through three games.
Jake Maurer, Penfield: Senior showcased his big-play potential when he broke a 76-yard touchdown reception in season opener. Made 12 receptions for 223 yards and two touchdowns through three games.
Dayshawn Preston, Pittsford: Started senior season with 16 catches for 167 yards and three touchdowns in three games. Led the Panthers in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns as a junior.
Denzel Sanchez, Rush-Henrietta: Senior doubles as a dangerous kick returner for the Royal Comets. Caught 13 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown in first two games.
Ryan Sullivan, Fairport: Senior tight end playing his third varsity season for the Red Raiders. One of several veterans who anchor Fairport's line, Sullivan doubles as a threat in the passing game.
Gavin White, University Prep: Position-less athlete who can run, catch and throw with the area's best. Senior is committed to the University at Buffalo.
Section V football's top receivers: Class A
Luca Aurioso, Hilton: Cadets feature several receiving threats for standout quarterback Matt Kosiorek, including Aurioso, a senior. Jha'Zae Desources and Jared Wade also rank among highly among Hilton's receiving core.
Josh Barr, Irondequoit: Syracuse University commit can catch jump balls with the area's best. Started final high school season with 15 catches for 222 yards and two touchdowns through three games after junior campaign was cut short by injury.
Declan Cooney, Canandaigua: Junior provides a perimeter threat in Gray Wolves' run-based offense. Caught six passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns in first two games.
Leo Hopkins, Brighton: Senior led the defending Section V champions with nine receptions for 160 yards and three touchdowns through three games. Hopkins has a habit of having the ball in his hands in big moments for the Bruins.
Drake Sapp, Greece Arcadia: Shifty senior headlines receiving threats in Titans' pass-happy offense. Sapp recorded 15 receptions for 389 yards and four touchdowns through three games.
Justin Weathers, Eastridge: Senior is perhaps the top top threat in the Lancers' offense which surpassed 30 points scored in two of its first three games. Weathers caught 14 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns between them.
Section V football's top receivers: Class B
Jah’mere Doyle-Spearman, Rochester Prep: Senior is one of four returning starters for the Tigers and earned a Section V Class B all-star nod last fall.
Ray Garcia, Monroe: Senior receiver doubles as a return specialist, as shown by his two punt return touchdowns against McQuaid. Also returned a punt for a score the week prior against Edison/SWW/Padilla Franklin.
Grady Goodberlet, Honeoye Falls-Lima: Go-to senior posted 13 receptions for 180 yards and a touchdown through the Cougars' first two games.
Dezmon Jackson, East High/World of Inquiry: Led the Section V Class A2 champions in 2025 with 28 receptions for 571 yards and six touchdowns.
Brien Walker, Monroe: University at Buffalo commit and elite vertical threat headlines a Monroe group of skill players who seek to repeat as Section V and Class B state champions. Caught three first quarter touchdowns in opener at Edison.
Jahzire White, Geneva: Junior caught two passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in opener versus Letchworth/Warsaw/Perry. He and Andrew Green, a senior, headline a talented receiving core.
Section V football's top receivers: Class C
Pierce Dinkins, Alexander/Pembroke: Though he primarily totes the ball on the ground, Dinkins provides a senior target for the Defenders' run-based offense. He caught a touchdown pass last week against Livonia.
Donovan Gaillard, LeRoy/Caledonia-Mumford: Caught four touchdowns last season before starting senior year with three catches for 53 yards. Austin Metzger, Jude Christ and Brennan Weber rank among the other receiving options in the Rivals' run-based offense.
Jah’Zyree “Jah Jah” Smith, Lyons/Sodus: Junior made five receptions for 86 yards and three touchdowns in season opener against Palmyra-Macedon before catching five passes for 70 yards and a score against Waterloo.
Section V football's top receivers: Class D
Finn Davies, Batavia Notre Dame/Byron-Bergen: Returns for senior season after catching a game-winning touchdown which sent the Irish to last year’s Section V Class D final. Made three receptions in 2026 opener.
Yeriel Diaz-Pena, York/Pavilion: Senior doubles as a rushing and receiving threat but could prove more important in the passing game this year after senior Trent Englert moved to the backfield. Diaz-Pena made 22 receptions last year and owns six catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns through two games this season.
Shay Hepler, Geneseo/Mount Morris: Blue Devils shocked Section V with their Week 3 victory over Avon, and Hepler was a large reason why. He made 28 catches for 287 yards and five touchdowns through three games, headlining a receiving corps which also includes senior Bryce Patterson and junior Alec Milne.
Mason Jackson, Attica: Senior returns as one of Blue Devils’ top receiving threats after recording 18 catches for 150 yards last season.
Eli Rex, Avon: Senior speedster adds versatility to the Riverhawks’ powerful rushing attack. Do-it-all athlete scored a rushing touchdown in each of his first two games.
Will Schweitzer, Avon: Junior caught two touchdown passes totaling 61 yards in season opener. Could become go-to target for senior quarterback Hunter Secker.
Brady Werth, Oakfield-Alabama/Elba: Go-to senior target amidst an Aggies offense packed with athletes. Recorded 13 receptions for 267 yards and five touchdowns through first three games.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Monroe's playmakers headline Section V's top receivers: See the list
