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Section V is entrenched in the history of New York state high school football.
Unforgettable seasons and dynasties have culminated in trips to Syracuse's JMA Wireless Dome (known as the Carrier Dome for most of the NYSPHSAA tournament's history), where Section V has claimed 26 New York state titles.
It all started in 1993, when Cal-Mum and Clyde-Savannah became the region's first teams to claim state titles in the inaugural NYSPHSAA football tournaments.
From 1993 to 1995, Cal-Mum became the state's first team to win three consecutive state titles. While Aquinas doesn't have a state title streak to match, no team has more championships than the Lil Irish's eight. And who could forget the peak of 2010, when Section V had representatives in four of the five state title games and exited with three championships.
Before the pads pop to start the 2026 season, we're gauging which Section V football championship team was the best, and looking for an assist from our readers.
While plenty of excellent teams preceded New York's first state tournaments in 1993, we're limiting options to post-93 title teams. And while several schools boast multiple titles, each is represented only once.
Which was the best of the bunch? You tell us.
➤ Jump to the poll: Vote now
Here's the list of 12 candidates:
Aquinas (2015)
- Record: 13-0
- Coach: Chris Battaglia
- State final: 44-19 win vs. Saratoga Springs-2 in Class AA
Aquinas' eight state titles are the most by a Section V team by a comfortable margin, but the 2015 group receives the nod here. That season's Lil Irish, with 26 seniors, eight all-state selections and several Division I commits, was dominant in every sense of the word. The team won all 13 of its games in the state's largest classification, and finished ranked 14th in USA Today's top 25 national rankings.
The Lil Irish's state final against Saratoga Springs was a laugher. Aquinas scored 44 straight points to open the game, while quarterback Jake Zembiec finished with 462 yards and four touchdowns.
Zembiec and teammate Earnest Edwards, a receiver/defensive back, were named Class AA's co-Players of the Year after the season.
If there's one knock against this particular Aquinas team, it's its wealth of postseason nail-biters, in comparison to the school's other state title winners. The Lil Irish narrowly escaped its state semifinal matchup against Liverpool, thanks to a blocked extra point by Edwards in the final minutes.
Still, when the Democrat and Chronicle listed its top five Aquinas football teams ahead of the 2015 final, that year's team ranked No. 2 even before it clinched the championship. The blowout against Saratoga Springs, and the national respect that followed, further reinforced a powerhouse program.
Caledonia-Mumford (1995)
- Record: 13-0
- Coach: Mike Monacelli
- State final: 41-0 win vs. Rensselaer-2 in Class D
The margins between Cal-Mum's four state title teams are ultra-thin, but the 1995 group receives the nod because of what that year meant for the program in totality.
When the Red Raiders shut out Rensselaer in the '95 Class D final, it ensured the team's third consecutive state title (the first team in New York state football history to complete such a feat) and a 31-game winning streak. And unlike the previous season when Cal-Mum outlasted Rensselaer in a semi-competitive matchup, this final was a romp. In this game, the Red Raiders led 28-0 at halftime and held the Rams' DJ Whitman — who entered the game with nearly 1,700 yards — to only 30 on 14 attempts.
In contrast, Cal-Mum's rushing attack had no issues. Offensive MVP Mike Leach had 120 yards and three touchdowns, while the Red Raiders totaled 275 total rushing yards.
“We went out and played to the best of our ability and came out on top,” defensive MVP Tim Seifert said. “We proved we’re the best team around.”
Cal-Mum reinforced that status the following year in reaching its fourth consecutive state final. However, the Red Raiders were denied another title in a 12-8 loss to Section I's Valhalla.
Canandaigua (1999)
- Record: 13-0
- Coach: Mike Foster
- State final: 17-14 win vs. Brewster-I in Class A
The Braves won all 13 of their games to capture the program's lone state title, but there were some close calls along the way. Canandaigua survived one-score wins against Irondequoit, Aquinas and Victor during the regular season, then two more in sectional matchups against Newark and Brighton.
The state final was also a nail-biter. The Braves went ahead 17-0 early in the third quarter, thanks to a pair of touchdowns by Jim Davern. Brewster rallied and had a chance to seize the lead in the final minutes, but a fourth-and-goal throw fell incomplete.
Quarterback Jon Davern was named the final's most valuable player, but Canandaigua's defense deserves a nod too. The Braves allowed only 12 points per game in six postseason contests.
Foster, who was named to the Canandaigua Athletic Hall of Fame in 2002, finished his varsity coaching career there with a 179-36-3 record. None of those wins were bigger than this one.
"What this does is validate our program and all the other great teams we had before this," Foster told the Democrat and Chronicle after the game. "To my mind, it's a great credit to the kids to do something other kids never had the chance to do."
Clyde-Savannah (1993)
- Record: 12-1
- Coach: Ron Vitticore
- State final: 40-0 win vs. Tuckahoe-I in Class D
One of two Section V teams to capture titles at the inaugural state tournaments, Clyde-Savannah's victory put a stamp on a dominant era that, to this point, hadn't proven itself against state competition.
There have been 18 shutouts in New York state final history, but Clyde-Savannah's was the first (and among the most lopsided). Five different players scored in this blowout win, led by Tysean Harris' 99 yards and two scores.
The '93 team stands as Clyde-Savannah's lone state title team, but that's partly a function of poor timing. The Golden Eagles won eight consecutive Section V titles from 1983 to 1990, but those championships preceded the start of the official NYSPHSAA tournament.
“I was born and raised in Clyde, and we had great teams going all the way back to the 1950s,” coach Vitticore said after the final. “I truly mean it when I say this speaks for all the great Clyde-Savannah teams. I truly believe that had there been a state tournament before this, we would have been the champion several times – make no mistake about it.”
Fairport (1997)
- Record: 12-1
- Coach: Dave Lanning
- State final: 35-14 win vs. Troy-2 in Class AA
This Fairport group was the first large school team from Section V to reach the state final, following the tournament's debut in 1993. In that sense, timing didn't favor the Red Raiders, who were the state poll's top-ranked team in 1992 before there was a full-fledged postseason tournament.
Lanning, who was a longtime assistant for legendary coach Don Santini, took over in '93 and immediately pushed Fairport to multiple sectional titles. But that didn't translate to state tournament success until 1997.
State final opponent Troy was the defending champion and entered the championship game on a 23-game winning streak — the longest in the state at the time — but the Flying Horses were no match for Fairport. Quarterback Will Driscoll, who missed a portion of the season with a separated non-throwing shoulder, carved up Troy with four touchdown passes and 231 yards.
"Getting named MVP is great. But state champions, that's enough said. This is the greatest feeling in the world. I had a hard time controlling myself at the end," Driscoll said after the game.
Fairport returned to the final in 1998 for a rematch with Troy, but was on the wrong side of a 26-9 defeat.
Geneva (2006)
- Record: 11-2
- Coach: Dave Whitcomb
- State final: 33-7 win vs. Albany Academy-2 in Class B
This was the second of back-to-back state finals appearances for the Panthers, who were outmatched by Section 2's Amsterdam the previous year.
Geneva left no doubt who New York state's top team was. After falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter, the Panthers reeled off 33 straight points to seize control of the game.
Running back Brian Fowler, who set a program record for yardage (2,042) and touchdowns (36) that season, had 146 yards and three touchdowns.
Whitcomb took over the Geneva program in the late 1990s and orchestrated a major turnaround after totaling four wins in his first two seasons. While Whitcomb's coaching career, which also included stops at Fairport and Midlakes, landed him atop Section V's wins list, the state title is his crowning achievement.
"It's the greatest feeling in the world, besides when I had my kids and when I got married," he said.
Hornell (2010)
- Record: 13-0
- Coach: Gene Mastin
- State final: 50-22 win vs. Schalmont-2 in the Class B final
The second of three consecutive state champions, Hornell's 2010 team was a different animal. The team possessed two 1,000-yard rushers, Sam Stonerock and Scott McKibben, and was ranked No. 1 in New York state from start to finish.
That running attack was pivotal in Hornell's dominant state final win over Schalmont. The Red Raiders had more yards on the ground (332) than the Sabres had in total (208). That victory pushed Hornell's winning streak to 26 games.
Stonerock finished the season with 1,902 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Dominic Scavo, who was MVP of the state final, joined Stonerock on the All-Greater Rochester first team.
Hornell completed a three-peat the following season (despite returning only three starters on each side of the ball), sending longtime coach Gene Mastin into retirement on a 39-game winning streak.
LeRoy (1995)
- Record: 12-1
- Coach: Brian Moran
- State final: 37-27 win vs. Saranac Lake-VII in Class C
Livingston County had a consistent presence in the early days of the New York state tournament, and among Section V's regular representatives was LeRoy. The Oatkan Knights reached consecutive finals in the mid-1990s, and won it all in '95.
LeRoy dominated the early portion of its championship game against Saranac Lake, breaking out with a 23-6 lead in the first half. But the worm turned in the second quarter when fullback Derek Spink, who scored two touchdowns, was injured on a lost fumble. The Indians responded with consecutive scores to cut their deficit to three.
While its advantage slimmed, LeRoy never lost the lead. Led by sophomore quarterback Justin Ausher, the Oatkan Knights rebuilt its multiple-score lead and won comfortably.
LeRoy finished the game with 285 yards — all of which were via its running game.
"It came down to strap-it-up football," coach Moran said. "We make no bones about it — we're going to strap it up and run at you, and if you stop us you're the better team."
LeRoy returned to the Class C final in 1996, but did not complete its pursuit of back-to-back titles, falling to Section 2's Watervliet in a 20-19 heartbreaker.
Letchworth (2011)
- Record: 12-1
- Coach: Tim McMullen
- State final: 27-0 win vs. Chester-IX in Class D
After winning Section V titles in 2009 and 2010, Letchworth was eager to break through in the state tournament in 2011. And break through they did, as the Indians survived a knock-down, drag-out matchup against Tioga in the semifinals to ensure a championship appearance against Chester.
While Chris Nevinger was Letchworth's bell cow for the duration of the season, it was Clifton Bacon that played a starring role in the final. The fullback, who exited the previous week's state semifinal with an ankle injury, totaled 136 yards and was the game's MVP.
"It's like a fairy tale," Bacon said. "The last week I've been icing it, taking it steady. I wasn't going to miss this game. This is my family, I just wanted to put it out all on the line for them."
Letchworth's defense held Chester's passing attack to three completions and 31 yards on 11 attempts.
Monroe (2025)
- Record: 12-0
- Coach: Terrell Cunningham
- State final: 34-0 win vs. Sleepy Hollow-I in Class B
In terms of pure dominance, no team rivals last year's squad from Monroe, which outscored opponents by 502 points en route to the program's first state title (and the first state title for a Rochester city school).
Monroe's offense, which featured standout receiver Messiah Hampton and quarterback Pooty Cunningham, was explosive. But it was the Red Jackets' defense that took center stage in the Class B state final against Sleepy Hollow. Monroe pitched its seventh shutout of the season. The Horsemen were held to 50 yards of offense and converted only three first downs.
"Top to bottom, when it's all said and done, with what this team has at every position, this is arguably the best team and best season put together," coach Cunningham said.
Rush-Henrietta (2010)
- Record: 13-0
- Coach: Joe Montesano
- State final: 40-28 win vs. Troy-2 in Class AA
This was the Royal Comets' first trip to the state tournament, and they made it count in capturing their lone state title.
Rush-Henrietta's offense peaked at the perfect time. The Royal Comets scored 40-plus points in each of the four games from the state qualifier against Irondequoit through the state final against Troy.
The undefeated season didn't come without its obstacles. Rush-Henrietta trailed in the third quarter of the Class AA championship against Section 2's Flying Horses, but late touchdowns from Ashton Broyld and Devon Wofford (who also returned the game's opening kick for a score) secured a comeback win.
Broyld, a quarterback, was later named the All-Greater Rochester and Class AA Player of the Year, prior to a collegiate career for Syracuse.
Webster Schroeder (2002)
- Record: 13-0
- Coach: Anthony Bianchi
- State final: 28-7 win vs. Shenendehowa-2 in Class AA
After leading Webster's combined team to state titles in 1999 and 2001, then-head coach Anthony Bianchi (now the athletic director at Aquinas) was thrown a curveball when Thomas re-opened and restarted its own varsity team.
The change had little immediate effect on the veteran-laden Warriors, who returned reigning Class AA and All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year Carl Garritano. The Warriors cruised to their fourth (of five) consecutive Section V title, and in three state tournament games scored 103 points and allowed only 14.
Schroeder was locked in a defensive struggle in the final against Shen, as the teams combined for only six points in the first half. The Warriors found their groove after halftime, though, to clinch their third state title in four years.
The second half breakout was prompted by Schroeder's gutsy call to go for it on a fourth-and-1 from its own 35-yard line. Defensive lineman Lee Williams had the conversion.
"It was the biggest play of the game," Garritano said. Garritano, who exited the game as Section V's all-time leading rusher (but has since been passed), was the game's MVP.
Here's a full list of New York state champions from Section V:
- Aquinas: 8 (1998, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2018)
- Caledonia-Mumford: 4 (1993, 1994, 1995, 2003)
- Canandaigua: 1 (1999)
- Clyde-Savannah: 1 (1993)
- Fairport: 1 (1997)
- Geneva: 1 (2006)
- Hornell: 3 (2009, 2010, 2011)
- LeRoy: 1 (1995)
- Letchworth: 1 (2011)
- Monroe: 1 (2025)
- Rush-Henrietta: 1 (2010)
- Webster Schroeder: 3 (1999, 2001, 2002)
Justin Ritzel is a sports reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on Section V athletics and high school trends.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Vote for the best all-time Section V football state champion
