ROCHESTER – Eastridge has speed.
A lot of it.
Head coach Victor Davidson’s group still touts athleticism two years removed from a Section V high school football championship. One other asset the Lancers added since then?
Increased experience. Key contributors from 2024’s Class B title squad remain, and they’re ready to make last year’s up-and-down campaign a distant memory.
“This group was a lot younger (in 2024) but still understood the program,” said Davidson, who returns a half-dozen starters on each side of the ball. “They’ve matured a lot. You can see not only the buy-in to the weight room, but the maturity with which they go about things.”
Justin Weathers, Myron Stamps and Myles Hammond bring senior leadership to wide receiver. Weathers led Eastridge with 28 receptions for 446 yards and four touchdowns in 2025.
That group will catch passes from senior Brailon Johnson, who shifted from wideout to quarterback after missing last year’s playoffs due to injury. Luis Calixto, a junior who attempted 38 passes last season, will spell Johnson at QB.
Davidson touted the athleticism Johnson showcases on the basketball court. Furthermore, some of Eastridge’s top skill players double as accomplished sprinters in track and field.
“(Johnson) will bring that athletic element to football,” Davidson said. “We’re going to be fast all over the field. We have kids with a lot of varsity experience and we’re excited about that.”
Junior duo Rashaun Jiles and Brayden VanOrden, plus senior Jayden Gary, bring championship experience to the line of scrimmage. Sophomore CB/WR Chance Gary, a varsity newcomer, adds athleticism on the perimeter, while senior RB Sylas Vanscott returns speed to the backfield.
Eastridge stayed in Class A2 for 2026. The East/WOIS team that defeated the Lancers in last season’s Section V semifinals, however, dropped to Class B.
Eastridge football at a glance
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Eastridge football schedule for 2026
Eastridge’s top returning players
Senior OL/DL Jayden Gary, senior WR/LB Myles Hammond, junior OL/DT Rashaun Jiles, senior QB/WR/DB Brailon Johnson, senior WR/DE Myron Stamps, junior C Brayden VanOrden, senior WR/S Justin Weathers
A look back: Eastridge football
Marquee matchups for Eastridge
Davidson said Eastridge “expects” to be in Class A and schedules accordingly. The Lancers booked Aquinas (AA) for their preseason scrimmage and will end the regular season against Brighton (A1).
Seven days before hosting Brighton, the Lancers welcome Canandaigua, a perennial sectional contender which they could see in the Class A2 playoffs.
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: Eastridge football’s speed and experience could reshape the A2 race
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Reporting by Jeff Uveino, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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By Jeff Uveino, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
