Ages vary.
Experience does not.
That’s the scouting report for this year’s Oakfield-Alabama/Elba football roster.
Widespread injuries in 2025 summoned many young Aggies into varsity action. Seeing the task at hand, they took the offseason seriously.
“We feel experienced at practice even though, if you looked at our roster, you’d think we’re young again,” said coach Tyler Winter. “A number of underclassmen are stepping into roles for which they’re prepared.”
The senior tandem of Brayden Jachimowicz and Brady Werth, standout athletes who will play primarily at wide receiver and the defensive secondary, headlines the group. Jachimowicz can play quarterback, too, but sophomore Carson Shetler returns with varsity experience.
Two sophomore running backs
– Alex Ohlson and Jayden Blew – will join the backfield. Like Shetler, they scored multiple touchdowns as freshmen.
“It’s great to see the older guys picking up the younger guys,” Winter said. “Our practices and locker room have been very collaborative. We have to take a much better cognitive approach to the game.”
Playing together, Winter said, will be key. Growing pains will likely still be a reality but not compared to last year’s 1-8 campaign.
“(Our sophomores) will be on the football field for this program in 2028,” Winter said. “If we can continue to build with that group, it will be a very exciting time.”
Oakfield-Alabama/Elba football at a glance
- Head coach: Tyler Winter (7th season)
- Classification: D
- Last season's record: 1-8 (lost to Canisteo-Greenwood in D quarterfinal)
- Last Section V championship: 2022
Oakfield-Alabama/Elba football schedule for 2026
All home games at Oakfield-Alabama
- Friday, Sept. 4: vs. C.G. Finney, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 11: at Geneseo/Mt. Morris, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 18: vs. Attica, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 25: at Canisteo-Greenwood, 7 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 1: vs. Batavia Notre Dame/Byron-Bergen, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 9: at York/Pavilion, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 16: vs. Holley/Lyndonville, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Oct. 23: vs. Avon, 7 p.m.
Watch New York HS football games on NFHS Network
Oakfield-Alabama/Elba's top returning players
Sophomore RB/LB Jayden Blew, senior WR/DB Brayden Jachimowicz, junior WR/DB Eyon Matla, sophomore RB/DB Alex Ohlson, senior OL/DL Landon Pangrazio, senior LB Ty Reilly, sophomore QB/LB Carson Shetler, senior WR/LB Brady Werth, freshman OL/DL Andrew Williams
Marquee matchups for Oakfield-Alabama/Elba
Just how much did OAE improve during the offseason? The Aggies will have a chance to show it Sept. 25 when they visit Canisteo-Greenwood, which beat them by seven touchdowns in last year's Class D playoffs.
OAE hosts defending Class D champion Avon in its regular season finale Oct. 23.
Jeff Uveino joined the USA Today Network in 2023 and began covering Rochester-area high school sports in 2026. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University's Jandoli School of Communication and native of Perry. Contact him at juveino@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @realjuveino and on Instagram @jeffusports.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Oakfield-Alabama/Elba football young on paper, experienced on the field
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