Section V football: 12 players on the way-too-early 2024 All-Greater Rochester watchlist

Aquinas quarterback Trent Buttles throws on the run as he scrambles to his right, away from UPrep’s Tyrell Simmons.

Late June, maybe early July, Aquinas suddenly needed a new starting quarterback for an offense that coach Maurice Jackson claims is one of the most complex in Section V.

Ben Newman, the starter in 2022, decided to transfer and play with East Rochester/Gananda.

The decision was made about a month before practices began to elevate freshman Trent Buttles to the starter’s role, and at the same time potentially weaken the team’s defense.

“I had to hold him back from playing safety,” Jackson said. Buttles had been a defensive starter as an eighth-grader. “He had a lot of work to do.

“What Trent did (in fall 2023) taking the role as late as he did and not play defense like he did before, where he was a starter (with confidence), he had to really be mature. He had to be very, very mature.”

In Jackson’s view, Buttles was very successful.

“I’m not amazed by too much stuff, but what I see from him is crazy,” the former Syracuse University receiver and 1996 Democrat and Chronicle All-Greater Rochester co-Player of the Year said.

Aquinas quarterback Trent Buttles celebrates with wide receiver Noah Collins-Howard after his touchdown reception on a deep ball from Buttles.

Buttles had 13 touchdown passes versus one interception as he threw for 1,150 yards. There were also four rushing touchdowns, as he had 159 yards on the ground.

Aquinas finished with a 6-4 record, including one sectional tournament win and the team’s 35-14 loss to McQuaid in the Class AA semifinals. Hilton by a 17-10 score was one the team’s five regular season wins.

“Let’s do it, I’m ready to go,” Buttles said was his reaction to becoming the starting quarterback at Aquinas. “I’ve put in the work for this opportunity

“I’ve had a relationship with coach…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/section-v-football-12-players-074003712.html

Author : Democrat and Chronicle

Publish date : 2024-02-05 07:40:03

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