CANANDAIGUA – Few doubt the Canandaigua football team’s physicality.
Coach Jeff Welch identified "toughness" nearly two months ago as a trait key to the Gray Wolves’ success. Winning playoff games, however, often involves more than just physical toughness.
Canandaigua (6-1) enters the Section V playoffs seeded first in Class A2. It owns regular-season wins over four of seven possible opponents, including second-seeded Brockport (5-2) and No. 3 Eastridge (3-4).
Welch cautioned against overconfidence. Mental toughness, he said, will prove crucial as his program aims to snap its sectional drought.
“It takes mental toughness to prepare and play well,” Welch said. “I’m very confident in this group specifically – they go about their business. We have
our habits and routines established. That doesn’t change, especially with a team which I believe is mentally tough.”
Canandaigua draws familiar opponent in Section V football quarterfinal
Canandaigua opens the Section V playoffs in a Class A2 quarterfinal against the same No. 8 Greece Olympia-Odyssey (1-6) team that it defeated, 42-28, seven days prior. That result gave the Gray Wolves back-to-back wins after their only regular season defeat, a 21-7 setback against surging Fairport (2-5).
Canandaigua scored more than 32 points per game in the regular season. Power rushing fuels its offense.
Dual-threat quarterback Austin Kierst’s backfield mates include Alex Hawryschuk, Isaac Dolph and George Mirras, a group reliant on the offensive line which stands before it.
“We can’t let (Kierst) get hit every play,” said senior offensive guard/defensive tackle Lucas Wyand. “We need to play as hard as we can, lead up front, and be aggressive.”
Scouting the road ahead
Canandaigua edged Eastridge by a touchdown on Oct. 9 after beating Brockport by three scores on Sept. 18. The latter knocked Canandaigua out of last year’s sectional playoffs, a result not lost on these Gray Wolves.
Greece Olympia-Odyssey was the only team which scored more than 21 points against Canandaigua this season. All but six of its 28 points, though, were scored after Canandaigua opened a 29-point lead at halftime.
Many consider this year’s Class A1 field to be deeper than A2. It includes undefeated Brighton, which reached the Class A state final last fall, plus perennial powers Hilton (5-2) and Victor (5-2).
The winner of each bracket will meet to determine Section V’s state tournament representative.
Canandaigua seeks its first Section V football title since 2022. That championship was its fourth consecutive, and 12th in program history.
“Each day is the most important day,” Welch said. “When you handle it that way, you establish your habits and will be ready to play no matter who it is.”
Canandaigua hosts Greece Olympia-Odyssey at 6 p.m. Oct. 22.
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: Canandaigua football has the No. 1 seed. Now the harder part begins
