CANANDAIGUA – Brady Davern received a surprise during his eighth-period class Wednesday.
Canandaigua head football coach Jeff Welch called Davern into his office. Welch needed a starting quarterback for the team’s upcoming playoff game.
Davern proved fit for the job.
Davern learned of his assignment less than 30 hours before top-seeded Canandaigua (7-1) kicked off against No. 8 Greece Olympia-Odyssey (1-7) in a Section V Class A2 quarterfinal. The sophomore didn’t miss a beat.
Canandaigua defeated Olympia-Odyssey, 49-13, on Oct. 22. Davern ran for one touchdown and threw for another, helping his team beat the Griffins for the second consecutive week and continue their pursuit of a sectional championship.
“(Davern) is a born competitor. He was ready,” Welch said. “He’s been dreaming about that moment and I thought he played pretty well.”
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Man for the job
Davern started in place of fellow sophomore Austin Kierst, who missed the game due to health issues.
“(Kierst) is my best friend,” Davern said. “I was a little distraught that he was out. But my teammates treated me like they treat him. We came here and took care of business.”
Davern picked up where Kierst left off in the regular season, rushing for Canandaigua’s first touchdown before connecting with Declan Cooney for another. Aleks Hawryschuk ran for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries, overpowering the Griffins behind his bruising offensive line.
Isaac Dolph returned an interception for a touchdown with two minutes left in the third quarter. That stretched the Canandaigua lead to four scores before a rushing TD from Dolph put the game away.
George Mirras and Elijah Laskowski each added a rushing TD for Canandaigua.
“It’s been a dream to come out here and play,” Davern said. “Every time I see my teammates in hallways, lunch or classrooms, they’re always there pushing me to be my best.”
What’s next?
Canandaigua previously defeated Greece Olympia-Odyssey, 42-28, seven days before their playoff battle. The Gray Wolves, seeking their first Section V football championship since 2022, will meet No. 4 Vertus (4-4) in the Class A2 semifinals.
Vertus defeated No. 5 Greece Arcadia (3-5), 34-14, in its quarterfinal.
“These guys all grew up together and (Davern) is one of the best athletes in that class,” Welch said. “They all know that, and they know what type of competitor he is.”
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 rolls in playoff opener with unexpected star