Rush-Henrietta QB Jared Gerbino scores on a touchdown run in the first quarter against Victor at Sahlen’s Stadium on Nov. 1, 2015.
When the Section V Class AA playoffs began, the Rush-Henrietta Royal Comets had three losses, not exactly the record of a title contender.
The three losses are not going away, but neither are the Royal Comets, who are in the tournament final after knocking off two undefeated teams.
Rush-Henrietta stopped Victor this time, 20-19, during the Class AA semifinals Sunday at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester.
The Royal Comets (6-3), a No. 6 seed who topped No. 3 Pittsford in the first round, face a third undefeated team in the final, No. 1 Aquinas (9-0), 4 p.m. next Sunday back at Sahlen’s. Aquinas, ranked No. 2 in the state, trailed No. 4 tournament seed Hilton (7-2) late in the third quarter, but came back to win 21-14.
The score was tied 13-13 when Rush-Henrietta senior quarterback Jared Gerbino smoothed out a play-call that could have been confusing during the fourth quarter. Gerbino took the snap, dodged some pressure by the Victor defense and threw the ball in the middle of the field to a spot he expected Robinson to occupy. Robinson made the catch and sped to the end zone to give Rush-Henrietta the lead with 4:06 remaining.
Victor was in a tough spot, a team that uses a power-running game that chews up a lot of time. The Blue Devils made it to the end zone quickly, however, on a 17-yard run by Patrick Barrow with 53 seconds remaining. Rush-Henrietta’s lead was 20-19.
Geoff Mandile, the Victor coach, decided to go for two points. Barrow carried again, this time to his left but as he cut upfield, fell to the turf short of the end zone. The Blue Devils then attempted an onside kick and had the ball again when Victor junior Zack Estabrooks made the recovery. Victor’s offense made it to the 32, but Rush-Henrietta defensive back Joseph Ortiz snatched a pass by Jamie Trimboli for an interception with no time remaining.
JAMESJ@GANNETT.COM
Touchdown R-H on 4th and 10 at Victor 37 https://t.co/vkulnMWzod
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James A. Johnson (@jjDandC) November 01, 2015