Red Jacket continues foray in 8-man football: Top players, schedule, what to know

Red Jacket's football team takes the field this fall with a new nickname , and with hopes that it can return to former glory.

The Cardinals committed to move to 8-man in 2020 (a season that was delayed to the following spring) and won two consecutive Section V titles out of the gate. The last two seasons, though, Red Jacket was bounced in its first playoff games.

Red Jacket must overcome the losses of quarterback Micah Harshfield , a first team all-state selection last year, and All-Greater Rochester honorable mention Matt Allen . The team returns two offensive and three defensive starters from 2023.

Red Jacket football at a glance

• Head coach: Josh Henninger (12th season)
• Classification: 8-man
• Last season’s record: 4-4
• Last Section V championship: 2020 (8-man)

Red Jacket football schedule for 2024 season

• Friday, Sept. 6/Saturday, Sept. 7: at Allegany-Limestone (Section VI), time TBD
• Friday, Sept. 13: at Groton (Section IV), 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Holley, 12 p.m.
• Friday, Sept. 27: at Pembroke, 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. Bolivar-Richburg, 12 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 18: at Frewsburg (Section VI), time TBD
• Saturday, Oct. 26: vs. Allegany-Limestone (Section VI), 12 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 1: at Wellsville, 7 p.m.

Marquee matchups for Red Jacket

The newly-minted Cardinals will have their chance at redemption when the face Pembroke, the team that ended their season last fall, in Week 4. Pembroke defeated Red Jacket 66-20 en route to the Section V and NYSPHSAA 8-man titles but, fortunately for all 8-man competitors, Pembroke lost Tyson Totten -- the New York state 8-man player of the year in 2023 -- to graduation. Red Jacket faces the other 8-man section finalist, Bolivar-Richburg, the following week. A matchup against Section IV's Groton, an 8-man power from that region, should provide another stiff test.

Red Jacket's top returning players

OL/DL Zach Clarke, RB/LB Skyler Ellersick, TE/DE Truman Hill, RB/LB Wyatt Rossignol, RB/DB Aldric Smith-Fee, RB/DB Hasen Wetherbee

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Red Jacket continues foray in 8-man football: Top players, schedule, what to know