'The whole city on our back': East defeats Brighton to bring football title to Rochester

FAIRPORT — Anthony Diaz held his MVP award and gold WWE world heavyweight championship belt for every photo he took with family and friends minutes after East/World of Inquiry completed a historic Section V championship run.

A football team from the Rochester City School District hadn't won a sectional football title in six years. Thanks to Diaz's MVP performance, that drought ended Friday night as East's defeated Brighton 25-8 to capture the Section V Class A championship at Fairport High School.

The Eagles' back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005 were the program's Section V championship teams.

Diaz lost three finals before finally claiming the brick as a senior. The two touchdowns Diaz accounted for were pivotal. Diaz has an innate ability to score touchdowns in many facets, from anywhere on the field, as he did once again in Friday's Class A final.

As one of Section V's best players for years, Diaz can finally add a Section V title to his legacy.

"We had the whole city on our back," said Diaz, who committed to Army in July. "(East) winning in 2004, 2005, us coming close a lot of times, finally getting it is something really great. We're making history."

What it means

East High coaches James Vann and Steve Flagler couldn't escape the celebratory water showers their players dumped on them after extending their unbeaten season to 11-0. East lost finals appearances in 2022, spring 2021, and 2019.

"The tone was set about three years ago," Vann said. "The seniors now are feeding off of that, from the guys that built that culture before. We're going to miss those guys, but we've still got another week with them."

East is the first Rochester city school to win a Section V championship since 2017 — when coach Greg Mortier's Wilson Wildcats won the Class A crown — but Monroe can join the Eagles with a win in Saturday's Class B final against Honeoye Falls-Lima. East clinched a spot in next weekend's region final.

"I can't say enough good things about our senior class. They set the tone at a young age ... (and) bought into everything we did," Flagler said.

Brighton coach Steve Lian's Bruins ended the season 7-4. A few players remained from their Class A1 finals appearance in the fall 2021 season.

Senior lineman Val Kondratenko, junior running back Gavin Parks and senior quarterback Tyler Martinovich sustained many long drives with their power running game but were incapable of scoring on many trips around or inside East's red zone.

Top players

MVP: East/WOI receiver Anthony Diaz

Diaz returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown on the opening drive. He then threw Ervin Wiggins a touchdown on a crafty trick play that gave the Eagles a 14-0 lead they'd take into halftime. Diaz also caught four passes for 58 yards.

Offensive MVP: East/WOI quarterback Zymier Jackson

The senior completed 12 of 21 passes for 160 yards, connecting with Diaz, Ervin Wiggins — who scored a rushing and receiving touchdown — Joshua Chester, Amazie Riley, Anthony Hampton and Da'Mari Green, whose touchdown was called back but led to Yusuf Abdi's 24-yard field. Jackson won one game as a sophomore at Greece Olympia/Odyssey, but is 21-1 since arriving at East/WOI for his junior season.

Defensive MVP: East/WOI defensive lineman Jeremiah Tucker

The junior played all along the Eagles' defensive front. He battled double teams while taking snaps at tackle and end, helping East's bend-don't-break defense. Hampton, Wiggins, Perrion Williams and Clauzel Moore also played well defensively.

Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Val Kondratenko

Brighton's 6-foot-5, 265-pound guard guided Brighton's 250-yard power rushing attack, which was again led by Gavin Parks. Kondratenko's line made way for Parks' breakout season, which ended with a 203-yard rushing performance. A powerful ball carrier, Parks had 31 carries before an apparent injury sidelined him most of the second half. Martinovich rushed for a tough 50 yards and scored the Bruins' only touchdown, putting them with 14-8 of East in the third.

Play of the game

Diaz's MVP performance may be remembered most by his 85-yard interception return. Brighton entered the red zone when Diaz, a four year starter at safety, intercepted a pass at the 15 and made his way up the sideline.

The dynamic defensive back hit two Bruins with a nasty inside cut around the 40, then used key blocks to spring into the end zone for a 7-0 lead over seven minutes into the game. Diaz's smooth juke moves were just as impressive as his pick.

"As soon as I got it, nothing but end zone," Diaz said.

Perrion Williams was the impetus on both ends of Diaz's pick-six. The interception was caused by Williams' hit on Martinovich. After Diaz picked the pass intended for Thomas Welker, Williams ran downfield to make a key block around Brighton's 20 to open a lane for the MVP.

"(Diaz) made a play when we desperately needed one," Flagler said.

Next best plays

East's trick play came with 7:35 left in the second. Diaz motioned left and caught Jackson's pass behind the line of scrimmage. Brighton's defensive backs ate the fake and paid dearly as Diaz found Wiggins wide open for a 10-yard touchdown reception.

Brighton's junior linemen Toby Martin and Allen Rossignol pulled from the left side to lead block on Martinovich's two-yard touchdown run. After Parks' two-point conversion, Brighton trailed 14-8 with 8:25 left in the third quarter. The Bruins hoped to at least tie the game on their next possession, but East forced another turnover-on-downs at its own 22 with 2:49 remaining in the third.

What's next

East/WOI will play Section VI's undefeated Class A champion Clarence in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class A Far West Regionals next weekend in Buffalo. Coach Paul Burgio's Red Devils are also 11-0.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V football: East High wins first title in nearly two decades