Senior QB Nate Meacham prepares to pass during early August training camp on the HF-L practice field. Photo by Peter Carosa
Honeoye Falls-Lima Cougars Varsity Football Overview – Fall 2025
Head Coach: John Russ (14th Season)
Class: B
2024 Overall Record: 5-4 (including Sectionals)
2024 Playoffs: Lost Sectional Semifinal to Eastridge Lancers, 27-24
Key Losses: Owen Englert (OL/DL), Conor Finn (RB/DB), Harrison Houle (RB/LB), Alex Steinhoff (WR/LB), Keaton Yates (WR/DB)
Key Returnees: Patrick Adair (OL/DL), Ezra Gathercole (K/P), Grady Goodberlet (WR/DB), Cal Grasley (OL/DL), Nate Meacham (QB), Chris Settles (OL/DL), August Youngstrum (OL/DL)
Fall 2025 Preview
HF-L has experienced a couple of heartbreaking losses over the last few seasons, but the one this past November might have been the toughest to swallow. With a trip to the program’s fifth Sectional Championship in sixth years on the line, the Cougars lost on a ‘Hail Mary’ touchdown on the final play of the game. Over the last 10 months, HF-L has been stewing on the loss. During that time, players used the defeat to push themselves a little harder in weight room and during summer scrimmages.
First and foremost, its worth mentioning that seventeen players from last season graduated in June, including two 1st Team Class B All-Stars (Owen Englert and Alex Steinhoff) and two 2nd Team Class B All-Stars (Harrison Houle and Keaton Yates). Three returning players were named as All-Stars a season ago: Ezra Gathercole (1st Team), Nate Meacham (1st Team), and August Youngstrum (2nd Team). Joining Gathercole, Meacham, and Youngstrum as the key returnees looking to get back to the mountain top this Fall, are seniors Patrick Adair, Cal Grasley and Chris Settles, and sophomore Grady Goodberlet.
The Sentinel had a chance to speak with the four team captains. When asked about their offseason preparation, senior offensive lineman Patrick Adair noted “it feels like more guys were bought in over the offseason and everyone has a bit of a chip on their shoulder.” Senior offensive lineman Luca Menz stated the team’s goal for this upcoming season is “to leave no stone unturned.” Both Adair and Menz spent more time in the weight room, while the team’s other two captains spent time at football camps. Senior quarterback Nate Meacham and senior offensive/defensive lineman August Youngstrum both have aspirations of playing football after high school. The duo is hoping their time on the road will help them be the best player they can be.
Another goal the team has set for themselves is to do a better job at defending their home field. Between 2017 and 2021, the Cougars did not lose a game at home. Since 2022, the program has lost a total of six home games (including playoffs), however three of them occurred last season. Youngstrom recalled the feeling after losing those games, saying “[we] hated losing them, especially homecoming, we can’t let it happen again.” The four captains noted this won’t be an easy task. In fact, the upcoming schedule might be one of the toughest in recent memory, but more on that later. Meacham relished the more competitive slate saying, “having to face better opponents in the regular season should better prepare us for Sectionals.” Adair added, “our summer scrimmages included higher class schools as well, so in the same way we are hoping to be more prepared for the good teams we face to start the season.” When the captains were asked about some of the specific teams on the schedule, Menz stated, “for us it’s one week at a time and right now we are only focused on this Friday against Batavia.”
Head coach John Russ agreed with his players assessment of the offseason, “I definitely think we had a good attendance over the summer and we purposely scrimmaged against bigger schools with faster and bigger kids.” Now in his fourteenth season at the helm, Russ feels this year’s seniors realize the opportunity lost last year and displayed their motivation in the lead up to this season.
When asked about up-and-coming players which fans should keep an eye on, the captains noted senior Marco Vengoechea and freshman John Guadieri. Vengoechea, who previously played football in high school, decided to come back to the gridiron for his senior year. Meanwhile, the players praised the strength and weight room prowess of Guadieri; while Coach Russ suggested junior Chase Harrison and shared his staff’s hopes of Harrison making some big plays for HF-L this fall.
Fall 2025 Outlook
For another season in a row, Class B has shrunk in size. The defending Section V Class B champions, Eastridge, moved up to Class A, Vertus Charter opted to play as an independent this season, while Monroe dropped down from Class A. The net loss of one team means there are a total of four schools vying for the Sectional block this Fall (in order by enrollment): Monroe, Honeoye Falls-Lima, Batavia, and Rochester Prep/EMHCS. The top two seeds will get home field advantage in the semifinal round with the winners meeting in the title game at Rush-Henrietta.
Unlike last season that saw HF-L play both Eastridge and Vertus Charter twice in the regular season, the Cougars will play eight unique schools this Fall. In order to do so, HF-L will face two Section VI (Buffalo) schools: Bishop Timon and Western New York Maritime. Additionally, the Cougars will play two non-Class B schools throughout the season: Brockport (Class A) and East/WOIS (Class A).
HF-L will open their season at Batavia and will be looking to avenge their loss on Homecoming to the Blue Devils a season ago. The Cougars begin the season with three away games, but will close the 2025 campaign with three home games. As previously stated, this season’s schedule is quite tough. Most pundits will say Monroe is the favorite to capture the #1 seed for Sectionals. If they are correct, then the goal of every other Class B school will be to get the #2 seed to host a Semifinal game and avoid Monroe until the Championship. As both their players and head coach know, if they focus on one week at a time and strive to get better each game, then HF-L has a good shot at meeting their goals.
Fall 2025 Schedule
Sept. 5 – @ Batavia
Sept. 12– @ Bishop Timon
Sept. 19 – @ Eastridge
Sept. 27 – vs. Brockport* (HOMECOMING)
Oct. 3 – @ East/WOIS
Oct. 10 – vs. Monroe*
Oct. 17 – vs. Western New York Maritime*
Oct. 24 – vs. Rochester Prep/EMHCS* (SENIOR NIGHT)
*Game will be broadcast live by The Sentinel
