Victor, Pittsford kick off high school football tonight in Teddi Bowl

Here are notes to keep in mind during the Teddi Bowl, a high school football matchup at 7 p.m. Thursday between Victor and Pittsford that will kick off the season in Section V.

Playbook for a cause

This game at St. John Fisher College, the third version modeled after the local NCAA Division III college Courage Bowl, is for the benefit of Camp Good Days and Special Times.

Gary Mervis, founder of the organization designed to aid families affected by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, said the 2016 and 2017 Teddi Bowls combined raised $17,500.

Admission is $5 per ticket, and is considered a donation. Pittsford and Victor booster club members also plan to collect funds for Camp Good Days.

"It helps to generate some money to support our programs," Mervis said. "I made a promise 39 years ago that no family would have to choose between paying their bills and letting their child go to Camp Good Days." 

The Victor Blue Devils and Pittsford Panthers will have guests during the practices leading up to the Teddi Bowl, three campers who are honorary captains. Victor is hosting Casey Cronion, Roman Statt and Marli Gergber. Pittsford will have campers Craig Winter, Jacob Quinn and Maggie Riordan.

"(Winter) has been with us a couple of years now," Pittsford senior quarterback Matt LaRocca said. "Usually, he is on the sidelines giving out water bottles and just being there to talk to us.

"I remember last year, he was with us for a couple games and every time I'd come off to the sidelines, he'd coming running up to me, asking how I did, if I was alright, just having the small conversations during the game that mean a lot, not only to me but my teammates, too."

Victor tour

The Victor Blue Devils are considered a strong contender to win this season's Section V Class A championship, after a move from Class AA, when the student enrollment limits in each classification were changed.

The praise for Victor is justified, based on results of the last eight seasons. But the Blue Devils realize they have little room to lose games in a 17-team classification, if they want to be among the eight teams in this class tournament.

"There's so many teams in the 'A' this year that if you lose two games, you might be out of sectionals," Victor senior lineman Justin Bai-Rossi said. "That's a new challenge.

"We actually lost two games last year. We can't do that again." 

Pittsford is one of Victor's rivals, and as a 2017 Class AA sectional finalist, nowhere near a cupcake-class opponent.

Victor's schedule also includes a Monroe County league division crossover game against 2017 Class A sectional finalist Irondequoit, with Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester Player of the Year Freddy June at quarterback.

The Blue Devils step into the regular season after Section V Football's scrimmage day with five starters back on offense, including quarterback Hudson Alread, and three on defense.

"I looked over at the defensive side the other day and we have one starter returning to the same position," Victor coach Geoff Mandile said. "A couple guys have moved. I'm a little nervous, but like I keep saying, they have to grow up quick.

"We lost three All-Greater Rochester guys and I think we've got five from last year's group of seniors playing college football. I just keep saying we need to get used to the speed of the game pretty quickly. They took it to us last year." 

Pittsford Panthers

Pittsford went to Victor during the 2017 regular season and came out with a 16-6 win, but the Panthers' list of returners is not the longest in the area, either.

The fact that LaRocca is back at quarterback, as one of the team's three returning offensive starters, is a help. He touches the ball on every offensive play.

Opponents may also have a 255-pound fullback Wyatt Molinich to deal with on a Pittsford team that has had one of the area's best running games for years. Four players are back as starters on Pittsford's defense.

"Opening up against such a great team like Victor is really going to set the tone, especially if we can win, for a deep sectional-run," third-year Pittsford offensive tackle Jacob Cole said. "The fact that it's for a great cause, makes us all really want to push to win this game. Not only do it for us, but do it for everybody.

"There's always great leaders, especially on the o-line. I've learned from two stellar tackles, the last two years, They taught me everything from technique to being a team leader, and I praise them for that. Oh yeah, I think so, I think we'll be ready to go.' 

Prime-time play

"It's the only game in town (on Aug. 30)," Mandile said.

Most of the other teams around the section play their season-openers on Aug. 31 or Sept. 1, including Honeoye Falls-Lima (31st) and Aquinas (1st) at Syracuse University's Carrier Dome.

Tidbits

Pittsford is believed to have an easier path to the postseason than Victor. The Panthers are among nine Class AA teams in the section, and eight advance to the playoffs. ...  Growney Stadium at Fisher College has seating for 2,500. ... "We started our coaching careers many, many years ago together, and we both serve as guidance counselors," Pittsford coach Keith Molinich said of Mandile. "There is a great bond, and I think, a great love between our staffs and our kids." 

JAMESJ@Gannett.com