Defying the odds | News

High school football sectionals get underway tonight and this weekend. One local team is defying the odds both on and off the field.

Brockport has never won a sectional football title. They enter Saturday’s semifinal game with McQuaid on the verge of going farther than they ever have advanced before.

This is a team that's playing inspired by the game and the man who teaches it.

Maybe it's the new helmets -- the Brockport Blue Devils started wearing them this season and they haven't lost a game. Or maybe it's because they are gelling as a team..

Defensive Back Markell Collins said, “I think our speed has a lot to do with it we use our speed to our advantage like against Victor last week and I think we are a family from triples, we've been a family.”

Or just maybe this team is having its best season in school history because of 10-year Coach Greg Pelletier.

His arrival to practice every day unconventional -- at this point one on pays attention.

Pelletier made the decision last summer to continue to teach social studies and coach through treatment for stage four bladder cancer -- a diagnose that would scare most young people has only motivated this group.

Quarterback Tom Sydeski said, “It's never a distraction. It's always motivating to us. He doesn't let anybody know that he's not feeling well that day he helps us motivate us.”

Collins said, “When we look over on the sidelines, you want to go harder for him, do what you can to make his season be the one of the best it can be.”

Defensive Back Mikel DeMonte said, “He doesn't have to motivate us. All that he's doing through motivates us to come out here and practice like that on the field.”

Pelletier is a football guy so much so he didn't want to talk about his illness. He says the focus is the kids and what they've accomplished.

Being a leader by example isn't a play you can fake and maybe that's the real secret to the success of the Brockport Blue Devils.

Sydeski said, “He's our head coach and we love him very much each and every week.”

“I think we just want to spend a lot of time with him and make it the best year of his life,” Collins said.

Brockport faces McQuaid on Saturday at 4:30 at Sahlen’s Stadium in the Section V Class A semifinals.

McQuaid has never won a Section V football title either.